Romans 6:14 NIVUK
[14] For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Now we come to a deeply controversial subject.
I have no doubt that there are many who will be drawing breath during this post, wondering where it will go, especially if you have read the context of this verse.
Let me start it with an illustration. There is a New Zealand-based organisation that does something some of us might consider a little left-field. While there are organisations like International Justice Mission that seek to prosecute those who enslave others, this organisation raises money to buy slaves’ freedom from the brick kilns of Pakistan by paying their debt and their ransom. So they reward the act of enslaving to gain freedom for the slaves.
While this might sound like it resolves the immediate problem, the issue is that those who are enslaved like this are normally there because they are desperately poor, borrow money from the slave masters to survive and end up in unwilling servitude. If the underlying causes of their slavery – the deep poverty – is not dealt with and resolved, who can say if these people will not end up enslaved all over again?
I concluded in my last post that we have been redeemed. And that is correct. Absolutely.
But this post sets out to answer the question, ‘So what now?’.
And its conclusion might stun you.
Because yes, we are free.
We are free from everything that enslaves us.
But – and this is critically important – we are not completely free.
Because there is no such thing as complete freedom.
Jesus has a helpful illustration of this from another perspective – that of demonic possession:
Matthew 12:43-45 NIVUK
[43] ‘When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. [44] Then it says, “I will return to the house I left.” When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. [45] Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.’
In other words, if you have been redeemed and freed from the deeply satanic evil that held you captive, hallelujah! Amen! Praise the Lord!
But you’d better replace it with something else, otherwise it will come back and take over once again.
Paul talks about the same concept, but uses the picture of rival masters (something Jesus did when He talked about money in Matthew 6:24). He pictures three great masters that exercise decision-making power over us and dominate every area of our existence. They are: sin, law and grace.
These great masters draw us to themselves like gravity. Two of them steal our ability to decide, decimate our agency, and reduce us to mindless, feckless drones.
One of them liberates us to live our best life.
Paul is saying that we must be mastered by one of these – if we are not, then we will be. It is entirely our choice to decide which of these will exercise lordship and mastery over us. If we choose one, then we are free of the others.
We just have to be very careful which one we choose.
We will go through all three so that we can make an educated decision of which one we choose.
The first is Sin.
Sin is self-indulgence. It is ‘me first’. It is replacing the worship of God with the worship of our worst and basest instincts.
Sin reduced us to brute beasts, howling at the moon to satisfy our own carnal desires.
Sin, as we saw in a previous post, is described brutally and straight-forwardly in Romans 1:18-2:24.
Sin ignores God’s Word and His laws and ‘does it my way’.
The effects of sin are written deep into Scripture: the hatred, division, conflict, strife, warped relationships, poor leadership, pain, poverty, deprivation, exploitation... Every evil in the modern world, no matter what they are, had their roots in sin.
Paul calls this out so clearly later on in Romans:
Romans 3:10-18 NIVUK
[10] As it is written: ‘There is no-one righteous, not even one; [11] there is no-one who understands; there is no-one who seeks God. [12] All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no-one who does good, not even one.’ [13] ‘Their throats are open graves; their tongues practise deceit.’ ‘The poison of vipers is on their lips.’ [14] ‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’ [15] ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; [16] ruin and misery mark their ways, [17] and the way of peace they do not know.’ [18] ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’
Every iota of angst, anxiety, dysmorphia, dysphoria and rage has its root in sin, is caused by sin, fed by sin, cheered on by sin.
There is nothing good about sin. Nor can there be.
Yet right from the very beginning, when Adam and Eve were seduced by it, human beings have always been tempted by its bright neon lights and buy-now-pay-later promise.
And the raw, painful truth is that what drives us into sin is not at all the devil but our own desires:
James 1:13-15 NIVUK
[13] When tempted, no-one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. https://bible.com/bible/113/jas.1.13-15.NIVUK
It is our desire and our desire alone that drives our descent and greases the slope to hell.
So let me make an assertion right now that may send shockwaves around my readers.
If you are caught in a sin right now, whatever that sin may be, stop blaming the devil, stop blaming your parents or your upbringing or your schoolmates or your pastor or youth leader or your financial situation or your genetics or society or a political party or anything else. Take responsibility for your actions. You did it. You. And only you.
If you ever want to escape your sin, you must take responsibility for it.
The Bible is absolutely clear. Sin can be enslaving. Sin can take over your life. Look what Paul says later on in Romans:
Romans 7:14-18
[14] We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. [15] I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18] For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
[20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. [21] So I find this law at work: although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. [22] For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; [23] but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. [24] What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
Can you identify with these verses?
Sin is horribly, horribly addictive. When we surrender to its cold-hearted grip, we find ourselves standing shoulder-to-shoulder with alcoholics, drug addicts (both prescription and recreational), sex addicts, porn addicts, gambling addicts...
The list goes on and on..
If we find ourselves locked in a destructive habit that dominates us and steals our joy, it does us no good to quote the drunken man on the street corner who says every week, ‘I'm not addicted. I can stop any time I want. I just don’t want to.’
No. We should admit it. Be honest to ourselves. We have a problem. We need to do something about it.
Let me put it another way:
What are your priorities in life?
What makes your life worth living?
What do you most look forward to?
What fires your enthusiasm, gets your juices flowing, makes you excited?
What do you think of or do when no-one else is around?
If your answers to any of these questions are not anything to do with God and His Word and His people, then it’s time to carry out some brutal self-examination because you may be in thrall and servitude to sin.
Paul is painfully plain on where sin leads:
Romans 6:23 NIVUK
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. https://bible.com/bible/113/rom.6.23.NIVUK
There is a branch of addiction counselling that forces addicts to change how they think about their addiction. When they are tempted to surrender, it reminds them of the serious consequences, intended or not, of their actions. It has a lot of success in freeing addicts from their addiction.
Paul got there first.
Friend, whoever you are, whatever you have done, look at Romans 6:23. See the consequences of your actions.
Don’t you want to be free?
If we want to live, to really live, life as it was intended, we need to admit where we are – that is, enslaved and under the dominion of sin – and seek our freedom in Christ. Now. Before it is too late.
The second force that can master and enslave us is a very interesting one, and one that I doubt you would expect. Seemingly in direct contrast to sin, Paul now talks about Law.
Now, this is a subject discussed at length throughout the New Testament. You see, Christianity did not appear put of nowhere. It began life as what seemed to be a Jewish sect – a group within Judaism that believed Jesus was the Jews’ promised Messiah. It was the Christians’ beliefs about the source of their salvation, their attitude towards Jewish law and its rapid and unrelenting spread among the pagan Gentiles that set it apart.
So don’t let anyone tell you Christianity in any of its forms is a ‘white man’s religion’. How can it be, when its founder was a brown-skinned Middle Easterner and one of its first followers was likely black?
The contrast in opinions over the law was very theological in nature, so allow me to boil it down to its essentials.
The Jews believed that the way to maintain a right relationship with God and other people was to obey Jewish law. As Moses taught:
Deuteronomy 6:25 NIVUK
[25] And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.’
Their close relationship with their God was what set them apart from other nations. Their obedience to both civil and ceremonial law was what brought about that closeness. So their obedience was part of their national identity.
So far, so good.
Well, not quite.
Throughout their history, God’s people found it impossible to keep the demands of the law because of their sin – the first force we discussed.
And who should explain why this took place, but a well-educated Jewish Christian: Paul himself.
Romans 7:7-13 NIVUK
[7] What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ [8] But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. [9] Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. [10] I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. [11] For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. [12] So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. [13] Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognised as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
So Paul gives an example – the clear command to not covet (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21). There are fewer plainer, clearer commands in all Scripture. He knows this command. He knows it well. But sinful human nature steps in, sees the command, and is tempted to do it anyway, despite the clear prohibition.
What Paul is saying is the law is good, but he is not, and that is the problem.
This is the reason why the law could not, and still cannot, save anyone. As Paul explains elsewhere:
Colossians 2:20-23 NIVUK
[20] Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: [21] ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? [22] These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. [23] Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
So how can we apply this?
Religion is a good thing. Let me say that clearly. It encapsulates mankind's longing for the divine, for something bigger and more real than they are. It depicts their search for something beyond. And that motivation is never wrong.
If you have ever stood in a great chapel or cathedral or temple or any other place of worship, I think it's perfectly okay to appreciate the works of art that are there, even if you can’t agree with them. They often are ingenious.
But – and this is a very important message – adherence to any religion, no matter what, and keeping to any of its rules and regulations, no matter how closely, cannot and will not bring us any closer to God. That is true of Judaism, of Islam, of Hinduism, of Sikhism, of Jainism, of Shintoism, of any other belief system you can think of, even Christianity.
Just keeping their rules and regulations is not enough.
Think about it: you can live a moral life, go to church every Sunday, read your Bible every day, give to missions and the poor, yet still have no faith at all that God can and has saved you.
It’s possible to fake it all.
Worse, it’s completely possible to be driven to obey it all down to the finest detail, nervously hoping that God will see you and bless you, but never once trust in Jesus to save you.
And that is the point.
Being dominated by a desire to just tick the boxes of religious requirements, being addicted to religious ordinance and being faultless in religious observance will not get you into Heaven.
Only Jesus will.
Hebrews 9:9-12 NIVUK
[9] This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper. [10] They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings – external regulations applying until the time of the new order. [11] But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. [12] He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, so obtaining eternal redemption.
I have seen many people in churches, temples and mosques in many countries, earnestly reaching out for God. And that is not wrong. But if they reach out for God without Jesus Christ, it is misguided.
And for all the helpful moral framework their religions have and good deeds they encourage, it will not help them move one centimetre closer to God.
Only Jesus will.
So we see, then, two great monolithic powers, two great masters, who can hold us in slavery and servitude, from seemingly two completely different directions: sin, which is only evil, and the law, which can be good, but is never good enough. It also has a difficult side-effect, in that it’s prohibitions trigger rebellion in us that guide us back under the slavery of sin.
But what about the third master?
The third master is Grace.
But what is grace?
Grace is defined as good-will, loving kindness and favour. It is something that brings us joy and pleasure and delight.
However, there is one very important aspect about the grace of Jesus Christ:
It is never, ever deserved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIVUK
[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – [9] not by works, so that no-one can boast. https://bible.com/bible/113/eph.2.8-9.NIVUK
Grace brings us the ultimate in freedom. There is no freedom like it:
John 8:36 NIVUK
[36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. https://bible.com/bible/113/jhn.8.36.NIVUK
Grace performs to wonderfully liberating actions. Firstly, it frees us from the unpayable cost of our own sin.
Romans 3:22-24 NIVUK
[22] This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. https://bible.com/bible/113/rom.3.22-24.NIVUK
It also provides us with the strength to break away from the sinful deeds that ruin us:
Titus 2:11-14
[11] For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [12] It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. https://bible.com/bible/113/tit.2.11-14.NIVUK
But as well as freeing us from sin, it also frees us from the deadly weight of trying save ourselves by obeying a law that we are unable to obey:
John 1:17 NIVUK
[17] For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. https://bible.com/bible/113/jhn.1.17.NIVUK
Acts 15:10-11 NIVUK
[10] Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? [11] No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.’ https://bible.com/bible/113/act.15.10-11.NIVUK
Galatians 5:1-6 NIVUK
[1] It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [2] Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. [3] Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is required to obey the whole law. [4] You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. [5] For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. [6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. https://bible.com/bible/113/gal.5.1-6.NIVUK
No religion, no matter how pure, no matter how upright, no matter how moral will ever be able to replace the work that Jesus Christ completed for us on the cross.
Grace is a wonderful thing. This undeserved favour from God is heart-warming and soul-thrilling.
But it must also be life-changing. If we accept this grace, we cannot, and should not, remain the same. As Paul explains:
Titus 2:11-14 NIVUK
[11] For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. [12] It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIVUK
[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – [9] not by works, so that no-one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. https://bible.com/bible/113/eph.2.8-10.NIVUK
Every Christian is saved by grace, not by works, but is saved by grace to work. The grace of God is at work in our lives changing our attitudes and actions:
Philippians 2:12-13 NIVUK
[12] Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.
Someone who is under the mastery of grace – a slave to grace, if you will – will seek to do good and feel a deep pang in their conscience when they have done something bad. They are free to sin, but are compelled by the grace of God working in their lives to not sin. But when they do, they are also compelled to keep short accounts with God, seek His forgiveness and repent.
So, then, we see three groups of people here dominated by three separate forces.
We see people dominated by sin, who look, on the outside, as if they really are free.
However, they are not. They are dominated by their baser instincts and addictions. They are anything but free.
There are those who are dominated by the law, be civil or ceremonial. They ere sticklers for tiny details, strainers of gnats who swallow camels (Matthew 23:13-36). They are free from the predilections and addictions of someone under the mastery of sin. However, their way of life will not protect them one bit from the domination of sin.
Lastly, we have those who are under the domination of grace. Their freedom is absolute.
They have no addictions. They seek to flee from their predilections. Should they fall, it is never permanent – they can rise again. They might seem like they are not free because of the sins they do their best to avoid, but they really and truly are.
Freedom is an odd thing. We know countries where people are really not free at all.
However, the ones where people are supposedly ‘free’ are often guilty of enormous hypocrisy. They might be free in name, but how can you free if you are dependent on drugs or alcohol or entertainment or sex? How can you be free if you allow yourself every pleasure and end up enslaved by them all?
That is not freedom.
As we saw earlier, Jesus said these words:
John 8:36 NIVUK
[36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. https://bible.com/bible/113/jhn.8.36.NIVUK
That freedom comes when we are ‘enslaved by grace’: when we are mastered by the grace of God expressed on the cross and seek to please Him with all of our lives.
That is real freedom.
Everything else is a deception and a sham.
So answer me this question: are you free?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, with all of my heart I long to be free. Shed your light on my life. Show me where sin has me enslaved and help me to break through of it. I will follow You with my whole being. Amen.
Questions
1. What are the three forces that enslave us?
2. What happens if we try to break from all three? Are we free, or will we always be mastered by one of them?
3. Are you truly free? Why / why not? What can you do to become free?
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