Romans 6, Verse 14
A verse that causes some confusion, is Romans 6:14, which says; “For sin shall not have dominion over you; For you are not under law, but under grace.” Obviously “law” and “grace” are being contrasted here; But there are two specific things, concerning “law” and “grace”, which are being addressed, and we need to understand what those two things are.
The two things being addressed, are the authority, and the effect, of “law” and of “grace”. When the scripture says, “You are not UNDER the law, but UNDER grace”, it means that you are not under the “authority” of the law, but rather, you are under the “authority” of God’s grace. And since we are not under the authority of the law, that is why “sin shall not have dominion over you”. In order for sin to have “dominion”, or control of you, you must be under the authority, of that which which allows sin, to have it’s “authority” over you. And that which allows sin to have it’s “authority”, is the law.
Now, Romans 5, verse 13 makes a clear statement. It says; “..But sin is not imputed, where there is no law.” “Imputed” means that you are held guilty of your sin. So then, no law, no guilt of sin. It’s that simple. Therefore, in order for sin to have “dominion”, or control over you, you MUST, be living under the authority. of some kind of law, which commands you NOT to do, what you have done, or that commands you to DO, what you have not done. That’s what a law does; It either tells you to do certain things, or it tells you not to do certain things.
1 Corinthians 15, verse 56 makes a statement in regards to the “authority” of sin and of the law; “The sting of death, is sin; And the power of sin (the power which gives sin it’s “sting”) is the law.” There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of, concerning physical death, except for sin. Death itself, is painless; Any pain or suffering, that a person endures before death, is ended, at death. Death is a release, and very often, it’s a very welcome release. At times, it is an absolute blessing! But, where the “sting” comes in, is when a person dies, while being IN sin; In other words, when a person dies while being guilty of sin; And to use the word that the bible uses.. When sin has “dominion” over you. “The STING, of death, is sin.” And the power which gives sin it’s “sting”, is the law! No law, no guilt of sin; The sin is not imputed, you are not held guilty, and the sin has no dominion over you.
Do you see why it’s so important, to have ALL your sins forgiven, before death arrives?
And do you see why Revelation 14, verse 13 says.. “Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; For their work follow with them.” Those who “die in the Lord”, are no longer held guilty of their sins. Even thought there IS a law which governs us, which is the new testament “law of Christ”, and even though we have all transgressed the law of Christ, still the scripture says; “Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord..”
Why is that? Why are those who die in the Lord, blessed, even though they have broken the law? Well, it’s because they don’t LIVE under the law; They don’t live under the authority of the law. The law does not have the “dominion” over them, even though the law is there to guide them, and even to regulate them. Do you understand how this “plan of God” works? God has given us laws, for the purpose of letting us know, what sin is.
It’s like Paul said in Roman 7, verse 7; “I would not have known sin, except through the law.” The law teaches us what sin is. And of course the other purpose of the law, besides to teach us what sin is, is to govern our behavior. “..The way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walketh, to direct his own steps.” Jeremiah 10:23.
Those who “die in the Lord”, have died under the “authority” of grace. What does that mean? Well, God’s grace, is God’s kindness, and God’s favor, and God’s mercy. And because it’s GOD’S grace, it has authority. God’s grace has the “authority” to dictate, that even though you have indeed transgressed the law which governs you, you will NOT be held guilty, because God’s grace is going to allow you to be forgiven. And because of the forgiveness of your sins, “sin shall not have dominion over you; For you are not under law, but under grace.” Once again, if you are “in Christ”, you are not under the authority of the law, but rather, you are under the authority of God’s grace.
The bible says in James 2:13; “..Mercy triumphs over judgment.” In other words, “God’s grace, rules over, the law”. God’s grace, is on a higher plain, than the law. It is more powerful, and it has more, authority.
