"Freed From Sin"
Romans 6:7
The Word of God nowhere
teaches us that believers in this world cease to commit sin. Anyone who denies
his sin, his present inward corruption of heart and nature, is a liar. He
deceives himself. The truth is not in him. He walks in darkness. And he
declares that God himself is a liar. All who are born of God freely and fully
confess their sin (I John 1:8-10). What does Paul mean, then, when he declares
that in Christ we are "freed from sin"?
1. CHRIST HAS FREED US
FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN. The penalty of sin is death: spiritual death, physical
death, and eternal death in hell. The Lord Jesus Christ, when he died as our
Substitute at
2. CHRIST HAS FREED US
FROM THE REIGNING POWER AND DOMINION OF SIN. Righteousness has been imputed to
us in justification. And righteousness is imparted to all who believe in
regeneration. This imparted righteousness is the new man created in us, the
nature of Christ imparted to us, the holy seed implanted in us. Though the old man is as evil and corrupt as ever, he no longer
reigns. Sin rises in the believer, but never reigns. Sin disturbs the
believer, but no longer dominates. Sin corrupts all that we do, but does not
control what we do. Sin wars against us, but shall not conquer us. If you are
in Christ, "Sin shall not have dominion over you."
3. AND CHRIST SHALL
FREE US FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN. Soon our Lord shall deliver us completely
from the being of sin, the presence of sin, and all the consequences of sin. At
death, he will take us away from these bodies of sin. In the resurrection he
will deliver even our bodies from sin into glory, righteousness and holiness.
Don Fortner