Romans 6:12-14 – “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 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. 14 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.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was stopped in my tracks regarding how seriously God regards obedience and trust. Many seem to miss it and live like King Saul in self-deception, justifying and excusing sin. There is no justification or excuse!
Saul began right but drifted to the point of no return. Romans 6:19 reveals something we need to embrace. Acts of sin produce more sin, and acts of righteousness produce more righteousness.
Romans 6:12-14 exposes the flawed view that even if we fall short somehow, God will still accept us. If we surrender to the flesh, the flesh rules, and if the flesh rules, Satan rules.
Romans 6:2 exposes the reality that a person who claims to be transformed but continues in sin (yielding to the flesh) is an impossibility. Whatever we yield to owns us. We are either God’s or ruled by sin. We cannot be dead to sin and continue to yield to sin.
Romans 6:12-14 brings to the forefront the responsibility we have. Allowing sin to rule is a choice. In verse 16, Paul forces us to face reality: “Do you not know that to whatever you yield yourself as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to what you obey-whether to sin resulting in death, or to obedience resulting in righteousness.”
It is a choice, and God wants the heart. We dare not convince ourselves we love Him when we repeatedly disobey Him. Romans 3:30 debunks the idea that because we know the Word, we are somehow excused. That knowledge will become our judge! He who knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.
Romans 6:23 is a sobering passage. “For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.” Too many excuse the first part and claim the second while living lives yielded to the flesh. Be sure your sin will find you out! Make the choice to give all to Jesus, and His grace will transform you.
LORD, help us to reject Self-Deception and fully surrender to You!
