The Prophetic Word - Day 19: Sin is no longer the boss of you.
- May 8, 2023
- 3 min read
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.”
Romans 6:6-7, 12-16 NLT
The apostle Paul describes a struggle we have all felt at some point in our lives. On the one hand, we desire to do what is right; but on the other hand, there seems to be a force within us “making us” want to do what is not right. And, sometimes it seems that the part of us that wants to do what is not right, seems to have the upper hand.
“Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”
Romans 7:24-25 NLT
As Paul discovered, the answer to overcoming the part that wants to be rebellious against the law of God, is recognizing that we do not have to follow sin’s dictates anymore.
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”
Romans 8:12-14 NLT
Sin’s right to control us died on the cross with our Savior. And, when He was raised, He was raised with the power to give new life to the former slaves of sin: the group to which we all belong.
We can walk in the freedom of spirit-controlled living by becoming a servant of righteousness.
Now, when we were servants of sin, it was more of a compulsion; it seemed to be beyond our ability to control. As such, we didn’t seem to have to make a decision to do the wrong thing; that seemed to come “naturally.”
The way we become servants of righteousness is different in that we must humble ourselves and submit our will to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our life. He will never try to trick us into doing what He wants. He will never manipulate. He directs and leads; He does not drag or push.
Therefore, again, if we have not consciously submitted our will to the Lord and made the decision to be led by His spirit, what will come “naturally,” is to do the wrong thing, and we remain a slave to sin. This is because the devil will use strong-arm tactics and the Holy Spirit will not.
In our opening scripture we see Paul instructing that because our sinful selves were crucified with Christ, we are no longer obligated—no longer subject—to a sin persuasion that always has the upper hand in our lives.
But, the only way the cross will set you free from being a slave to sin—or always seeming to do what is not right, or having certain areas that you never seem to get the victory over—is to recognize that you do not have to be controlled by sin anymore! And with that, you must submit yourself willfully to become a servant or slave of God’s way of being and doing (righteousness).
Instruct that old man of sin who tries to manifest in your life to look at the cross and see where he died. Then—by the power of the Holy Spirit—let your new man look at that same cross and see where he was born.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
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