The Book of Romans: A 16 Day DevotionalSample

Before Jesus and the cross, we were bound to the Law. A law that was unforgiving and rigid. There was no freedom, mercy, or grace in it. At the cross, Jesus broke the power of sin. Sin no longer had the power over us and we were able to enter into a new way. A way of freedom, forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

In verse 1, it’s not in the action of sinning that we receive grace. It’s by our relationship with Him. We don’t need to keep sinning to get more of His grace. He has plenty for us. His love never ends and His mercy is new EVERY day (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Paul doesn’t infer that we won’t sin again, but that we don’t need to allow sin to control us, in our thoughts or actions. We are now able to live a very different life… doing things for His glory, not our own.

Verse 14 talks about the victory we have won in Christ, over sin. Then again in verse 23, the gift of eternal life. Wow. Who doesn’t want to choose that?

The Law was impersonal and distanced man from God. But with Jesus, He brought us right through the torn veil (Matt 27:51) and into the presence of God, into a personal relationship with Him, full of freedom, grace, and eternal life.

Reflection

We get to choose who and what we are slaves to: sin or freedom. The consequences of our choices are clear (v. 23) – death or eternal life. When we choose freedom, we are set free from the pressures that come from sin – shame, guilt, etc.