A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 39 Chapter 6:12 – 14

 

  1. Verse 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
    1. Since we have been freed from the master of sin. The old man which was our master to sin died at the cross. Verse 6 “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.”
    2. Paul also told us we are freed (slaves to sin) verse 7 “For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
    3. “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body…” it is absolutely forbidden to serve sin. Let is just remember what it took to free us form being a slave to sin (Jesus Christ had to die) therefore why would we want to serve a dead master rather than a living Master. Remember we cannot serve two masters. Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
    4. So God says not to let it (sin) “reign in your mortal body” that is rule you.
    5. “…that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” If we resurrect the old man from the dead we will once again because a servant of sin rather than a servant of God.
    6. The Life Application Bible Commentary has this: “How to revolt against the reign of sin in our bodies”

a.       Identify personal weaknesses.

b.      Recognize temptations.

c.       Confront sinful desires.

d.      Stay away from known sources of temptation.

e.       Practice self-restraint.

f.       Consciously invest time in good habits and service.

g.      Depend on grace.

h.      And Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart!

  1. Verse 13 “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.”
    1. “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin…” Our bodies has many members, arms, feet, eyes, tongue, and etc. by not “Letting not sin therefore reign in your mortal body” it also means any member of the body not only what is inside. It is just as wrong to touch a woman if you are married to another as it is to simply lust after her in you heart. Adam was guilty of sin once he thought about eating the fruit but when he ate of it he was guiltier.  
    2. Romans 7:5 “For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” The thoughts of sin are sin and the act is another sin.  Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
    3. We (once saved) no longer own our bodies, the old thought “I own my own body” is wrong, we (our bodies) belong to Christ.  1 Corinthians 6:15 “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.” Why would a Christian use something that belongs to Christ for sin?
    4. “…but yield yourselves unto God…” that is not only our heart but every part of our bodies. Even the membership of our bodies should be used to glorify the Lord. What member of your body brings glory to the Lord, your hands, your voice, or etc?   
    5. “…as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Remember we not only died with Christ but was resurrected with Him and because He lives we live. Dead men cannot glorify God, their members cannot please God, but beloved we can and how dare we not glorify the Lord God with every member of our bodies. -Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." 
  2. Verse 14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
    1. Our judgment will not be for the breaking of the law (or for sin), it will not be for sin at all, our judgment will be according to obeying Gods word, our church membership and attendance, our walking in righteousness, and etc.  We are not under the law but of grace.
    2. This does not render the law useless to the Christian because it is still God’s law and should still be obeyed. However this is why sin does not have dominion over us, Jesus cleansed all of our sins.