We have so many choices. What clothes to wear? What food to eat? In many regards, how we conduct our day. Thank God for our freedom. I’ve been thinking a lot about a trip that Jen and I took to Romania about a decade ago. At that time, communism had only fallen ten years prior. Romania had been devastated by its effects. The economy was wrecked. The black market dominated business. The morale of the people was demolished, and even worse, their knowledge of our Creator was quenched. On our return to the States, Jen and I were so overwhelmed with the reality of how much we had. We realized how blessed we were with material things, comforts, and choices. Jesus speaks to us, with a more valued level of freedom. If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36). We are exhorted to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4) This makes sense to us if the Lord has interrupted your life of living for self, changed your focus, adjusted your priorities, and your heart begins to break like His. So many people are still in bondage to their own sin. We want to steer clear of those old traps and snares. The apostle Paul reminds us of three important words of application in Romans 6:4-13. Know, reckon, and yield. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (Romans 6:6). Know what the Lord has done. Understand that Jesus has taken your old man, that carnal, self-serving man, and put it to death on the cross with Him. Know that your old man has also been crucified and we no longer have to be slaves to sin. Secondly, reckon or remember. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. When temptation and testing come, remember that Jesus who died on the Cross, to cover all our sins, yesterday, today, and forever, also placed our old nature on that cross, so we should no longer serve sin. Lastly, yield. Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God (Romans 6:13). Know that the work of freedom has been done. Remember that we are to stay in that freedom, and just submit and yield to what is right in God’s eyes.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)