God’s Grace in Romans | We Are Dead To Sin |
We saw from our last discussion that where sin abounds, grace superabounds. God’s grace reigns through the righteousness of Christ in us.
Then the apostle opens up something worthy of note:
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Romans 6:1
I have had a lot of believers who use milk and are not skilled in the doctrine of righteousness use this scripture without rightly dividing it to taunt the hearts of new grace converts.
This misunderstanding has been dealt with in Romans 3:8; he dealt with it a total of three times in this epistle, in this place and in Romans 6:15.
The gospel is a testimony of God’s grace, if anyone says I am preaching the gospel and is never misunderstood for giving license to sin, then you have not begun preaching the gospel. You have limited the power of the cross by trying to rationalize God’s revelation.
Paul boldly preached God’s grace not minding the audience, whether gross sinners or sensible sinners to an extent people began to ask, Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Observe carefully that in this place he does not say ‘shall we continue sinning?’ but Shall we continue in sin.
There are three Greek words used in the new statement as it pertains to sin, “HAMARTEMA, HAMARTIA, and HAMARTANO” (Strong’s G265, G266, G264).
Specifically the Greek word “HAMARTIA” is a noun, while the word “HAMARTANO” is a verb. A noun signifies a person, place, or thing, while a verb denotes the action of a noun.
The word used in this verse is “HAMARTIA.” This is pivotal because in this place he wasn’t talking of the actions of sin but the sin nature. It was a matter of remaining in the nature of Adam or the old man.
Should we continue to live in the old man who is the source of sin because grace has come?
Observe his answer;
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Roman 6:2
Believers cannot live in sin because we are dead to sin. To be born again is to be cut off from the nature of sin, that nature that loved and produced sin in us.
We are a new creation in Christ Jesus, created righteous and truly holy (Ephesians 4:24). Therefore it is impossible for us to live there any longer. It is no longer in our nature to love to sin. We don’t want to sin.
Our body may still be weak because of the residue of sin it, but in the core of our being, we do not want to sin for that nature is dead and gone.
Genuine born again Christians are at war with our unrewewed minds and not a matter of living in the old self or the old life. All who have the seed of God in them though they may not have attained perfection yet, but they are falling forward;
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John3:3
What Christians are fighting against is not the inclination to sin but the unrenewed mind in us to which the body often obeys.
However, as we keep our eyes on Jesus, looking to him as our righteousness, we reign as kings over sin, devils and the world…
Confession
Thank you Father for what you have done for us. I am a son of God, fashioned after the last Adam, a life giving Spirit, out of my belly flow rivers of living waters manifesting the life of Christ before creation.
Righteousness, holiness, and power flows from me, bringing healing and divine health to everyone I touch. I am a living epistle of Christ, an embodiment of God’s glory in Christ. My life can only get glorious, Hallelujah!
Prophetic Insight
In an encounter with the Lord, I heard “It is all for the word dear Child. The enemy only desires to steal that which I have planted in your heart. Dear one, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the time of rejoicing has come.
I hold your hand and say unto you “rise my love; come with me on this my turtledove, kick off the fear, the season of shame has passed; and you are now in the moment of glory.”
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 2:10-13
Blessings in Christ,
Jahfas Victor Ahua
Living Hill Christian Church