I. The Word: Romans 6:12-14

12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

II. Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to “reign” over something

2. Does a Christ follower have the ability to not sin, why or why not

3. If sin is your master under the law, what is under grace?

Through chapter 5 Paul describes the cause and effect of sin as a “law” effected as the inescapable byproduct of our predecessor Adam’s trespass and passed on to us involuntarily, ultimately ending in death. As Paul closes chapter 5 with the introduction of the superseding law of grace (Romans 5:20 where sin abounds grace does much more abound), he lays out how Christ death and life gives us access to a higher law and frees us from the inevitability of sin and to a greater degree death. In Romans 6, Paul transitions and expounds on the practical application of what it means to be dead to sin and alive in Christ. Noting, that in Christ death imputed to us, sin no longer has power over us, but we through grace, have access to live as Christ did.

In verse 12 we see how much stronger the greater Adam’s (Christ) gift is compared to the impact of the law of sin as Paul juxtaposes the end result of sin’s reign and Christ. The verse begins with “let not” indicating there is now a choice, sin is no longer the undisputed king or unchallenged master “reigning” over our actions and enslaving us to death (spiritually, emotionally, physically). Instead we have access to vicariously live as Christ did… free from sin and alive to God. Yep I said it, we can live free from sin, not just from the effects of sin, but from sin itself. We as believers have free will. Even to the extent that we can choose to re-enthrone sin to reign supreme in us, following a false master with our all as if a lemming marching unimpeded to our own death. Opposingly , with Christ, sin is no longer an involuntary response to life. We can live, think, and use our bodies in the freedom that accompanies righteousness. Is this easy, no, particularly if we are relying on pure effort and will, but it is also not impossible given the one who conquered humanities previous ruler is living inside of those who trust in Him. 

What does this mean practically? “Do not offer yourselves as an instrument” your body is not meant to be a tool to serve sin to bring about death. Instead offer your body as a tool of righteousness and bring about life from its only source, Jesus (The way, truth, and life). A slave does not have the option to quit, nor do they decide what to do with their bodies. If your master is sin then you will use your members as instruments to serve your master, because you do not have a choice. There are essentially two options, live and serve your master eventually dying still a slave, or be set free by a far superior power and live accompanying freedom He brings. 

Paul’s closing statement that sin shall not have dominion over you is declarative. Essentially saying, “that master is dead, don’t serve it”, choose to serve the one who gives you the freedom to even have a choice. For you are not under the law of sin, but of grace.