Explore the Bible Series for Oct. 23: The lordship of Christ offers mastery over sin

Posted: 10/12/05

Explore the Bible Series for Oct. 23

The lordship of Christ offers mastery over sin

• Romans 6:1-14

By Trey Turner

Canyon Creek Baptist Church, Temple

The old Clint Eastwood westerns are inspiring. The tough, albeit edgy, lone hero discerns the town is petrified of a mob boss who keeps them under control taking what he wants. (Good luck figuring out which movie this is—there are about eight movies mixed together in the second sentence of this paragraph alone.) The hero is confronted by the mob, refuses to leave town and boldly faces an upcoming showdown. A few of the villains are killed or maimed. The town’s people are free from the tyranny of the mob and vow both to protect the families and keep them free.

There also are real-life situations in which someone who is abused is unable to think or act for theirself. An abuser keeps the individual in emotional or physical bondage and tells them what to think and how to act. In some cases, this is called Battered Wife Syndrome and a very real psychological disorder. These two scenarios show both slavery or mastery over a person and the joy of freedom.

New relationship (Romans 6:1-3)

The Apostle Paul talked previously about how the penalty of sin has been paid (5:8). He now shifts his discussion toward the freedom Christ’s salvation brings.

Each person has to begin as those who came out of Egypt did. These men and women had been slaves, and crossing the Red Sea did not wash away their slave mentality. God had to teach them how to be free before they entered the Promised Land.

Is Paul doing less with his teaching? He says with the strongest language exemplified in the New Testament, how people should “by no means” tolerate sinful behavior because the believer’s old life died. The symbolism in baptism is as much a death as it is a new birth—the believer died and now lives. Paul says, come out and be free because you have a new relationship.

New life (Romans 6:4-7)

As much as Paul conveys why to behave, the Christian has more than motivation with which to succeed. The Christian is given resurrection power which is the ability to live. Remembering that death came through Adam, life comes through Jesus Christ.

No one should think, “Well, Jesus died for my sins so I can start over, I will do better next time.” By saying this, the Christian shows a belief that the power for righteous living is centered in the will. People have the same ability to succeed as Adam; “better” simply does not work out.

Chapters 7 and 8 show the power to live is actually manifested by faith acting at the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. The believer is united with Jesus in both his death and resurrection. He or she is free from sin, but now, in the Spirit, he or she is really free to live. Paul says, come out and be free because you have a new life.

New master (Romans 6:8-11)

Jesus died so people would be free from sin’s mastery. Sin had ownership over humanity until Jesus’ death and resurrection. Since raised with Christ in status, Christians are both righteous and children of God; sin no longer masters the believer.

Mastery does not give the believer a choice. The Christian is free from mastery—free to choose a good master. The Lord Jesus does not master anyone; he is chosen and then served from a willing, free soul. Paul says, come out and be free because you have a new master.

New lifestyle (Romans 6:12-14)

Paul urges the believer to make a positive difference with regard to his or her purpose. He says that it matters what a Christian does because each person has the choice to be a tool for righteousness or wickedness. The last verse in the section does not give a blanket permission to be free from guilt saying, “Do not worry about your sin because you are under grace.”

Paul’s purpose is to have the opposite effect. He says, “You are not ruled!” You have the choice whether or not you will serve God or Satan. It is important to remember, grace in Jesus allows the Christian to live in righteousness not merely to be forgiven for unrighteousness. Paul says, come out and be free because you have a new lifestyle.

Discussion question

• What ways do Christians show defeatist attitudes toward sin?

• In what ways have you recently given in to sin’s mastery over you?

• How can you claim your position as a child of God and find victory over sin?

• What is the greatest challenge to doing that?

• When you tell God about how difficult the challenge is, does it sound weak?