Romans 6:12-14 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

In this passage, Paul urges believers not to let sin reign in their mortal bodies or present their members as instruments of unrighteousness. He reminds them that through their union with Christ in baptism, they have died to sin and been raised to new life. Now they are alive to God and should present themselves and their bodily members to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over them since they are under grace, not law. Paul wants them to recognize that though they have a choice daily whether or not to yield to sin, the power of sin has been broken in their lives. They now can choose to live free from sin's dominion by relying on God's grace.

This passage is so freeing because it reminds us that in Christ, we are dead to sin and alive to God. Sin need no longer reign over us and control us. The penalty of sin has been paid, and its power broken. We now have the choice daily to present ourselves to God rather than giving in to the passions and desires that wage war against our souls. Through the inner working of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome temptation and not let opportunities for sin rule over our mortal bodies. This is incredibly hope-giving! No matter how often we may fail and give in to sin, we can always start fresh in God's strength and choose righteousness over wickedness. Our past sins are forgiven, and we are new creations in Christ. As this passage says, sin will have no dominion over us, because we are under grace. We can continually come to Jesus in repentance and faith, receive His forgiveness, and move forward in freedom from sin's tyranny.

Lord Jesus, we praise You that through Your death and resurrection, You have set us free from sin's dominion and given us new life in You. Help us daily to live in this freedom by relying on Your Spirit within us to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. When we fail and give in to temptation, grant us grace to repent and receive Your forgiveness. May we walk in the power of Your resurrection life that has defeated sin and death forever. All praise and glory to You alone! Amen.