“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

The largest slave owner in history is “sin,” for multitudes are still enslaved thereby. “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are?” (Romans 6:16). Sin is a hard master, its dominion is vast, and its reward is fearful, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), yet many are content to remain in its bondage to any of a thousand varieties of moral slavery.

There is deliverance, however, for those who desire to be set free, because the grace of God can break the dominion of even the most besetting sin. As the psalmist prayed: “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133). After his great testimony to the perfections of the “law of the LORD” (Psalm 19:7–11), David could pray in sincere faith: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me” (Psalm 19:13).

Liberty from sin’s bondage is thus mediated by instructions from God’s word, but the incentive and power to obey it is God’s gracious gift through faith in Jesus Christ, who Himself received sin’s wages on our behalf. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Christ has broken the power of sin by conquering death itself. “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9).

Because Christ alone has defeated sin, we are set free in Him alone. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34), but “being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). HMM