Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

The complacent Christian who received blessing and strength from God can let his guard down to yield to temptation, sinning against God. William MacDonald said well, “We are free from the law but not lawless. Grace means freedom to serve the Lord, not to sin against Him.” No, not so much as a little sin! The Apostle Paul is exhorting the Christians in Rome to spiritual vigilance, consistent holiness. He tells us that this is what the Christian life ought to be!

The Apostle Paul elaborate and emphasise the truth that sin shall not have dominion over the Christian. He has been freed from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ. Therefore, sin has no power over him. He has a choice by the divine strength of God, the Holy Spirit indwelling him, to have victory over sin each time. He is no longer under the condemnation of the law. This is the meaning of the phrase “ye are not under the law, but under grace”. Indeed, we do not deserve such tremendous spiritual privilege. But God has bestowed it upon us.

By an entreaty, the Apostle Paul with a sense of urgency requested the Christians in Rome to live a holy life before God. He urged them not to yield to sin but keep themselves pure! This desire to be holy must be cultivated and formed as a holiness habit in their daily living. The stranglehold of sin in their lives had been broken by Christ. They can now choose not to sin. There is indeed great spiritual strength that God has endued every true believer. He is to exercise it for his good.

The Apostle Paul is presenting the truth that sin is wrecking havoc in the lives of the Christians in Rome. He is giving a command of prohibition to forbid the continuance of sin in their lives. He is giving the strongest form of warning and admonition for them to stop sinning. Since the beginning of chapter 6, he has been reminding them of their privilege in Christ. Holiness should characterise the Christian life. Sadly, this was not so!

To be living victoriously in holiness is to be alive unto God. By a command to spiritual vigilance and habitual holiness, the Apostle Paul described this as the delightful new life in Christ. This ought to be the Christian’s life lived in appreciation of the beauty of holiness. This is God’s will for you. You are to be dead indeed unto sin. Sin must not have a strangle hold upon your life, but you are overcoming sin as a personal holiness habit.

The Christian is “dead with Christ” in that Christ died to bear the punishment of sin on his behalf. The Apostle Paul explains that faith appropriates for the Christian spiritual strength not only through the death of Christ but more so through the resurrection life of Christ. Three days after Christ died, He rose from the dead. Christ died no more thereafter. He appeared to His disciples while He was upon earth for 40 days before He was taken bodily to heaven where He sat down on the right hand of the Father to live forevermore. Death has no more dominion over Him. He conquered death.