35. Sin not dominate
Romans 6: 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
The promise is that sin will not have dominion over me because I am not under law but under grace. Is that really true? Does not sin still dominate me and lead me into trouble? The troubles I experience prove that sin still dominates (or I wouldn’t have any troubles). Paul himself confesses, Romans 7: “I am of the flesh, sold under sin (v. 14)…I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate (v. 15)…so now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me (v. 17)…I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability (v 18)…I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. (v. 19).”
But here Paul says, “Sin shall not have dominion.” The truth is I still struggle: the struggle will remain as long as I am alive because two warring parties reside within: the saint and the sinner, the flesh and the spirit, the old man and the new man. We cannot win this battle by resolve, or by will power, or by determination, or by one’s own strength. I confess with Paul that sin dwells within me and far too often gets the upper hand.
But at the same time I believe with Paul that sin shall not have dominion over me. Sin may win some battles, but it will not win the War. Forgiveness is always present and available and powerful; grace rules and dominates sin. How much we need to believe this promise. For many years the same sin repeats itself daily (addiction is the go-to example) and the “addict” repents daily and vows to quit. After many attempts he may quit trying and quit on God. BUT, sin shall not have dominion, so the addicted sinner will keep on repenting and believing, no matter how many times, We cannot stop sinning, but at the same time we will not stop believing: grace reigns, grace abounds, and grace finally dominates. Hang on to this promise, for however long it takes Sin is not the last word; Grace is; never, never give up on God or His Grace. Grace wins in the end. Believe it. Experience and the Law say Sin dominates; Faith and Grace say Sin has no dominion. Believe Grace.