Free Not To Sin

Free Not to Sin

Consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. . . . Sin is no longer your master. . . . You live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:11-12, 14

The goal is for us to die to sin once we ask Jesus Christ into our lives. At that moment, the Holy Spirit comes and resides in us. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we seek the way that God wants us to live, a way that is different from the way that the world lives. And it’s not just following a new set of rules. The power of conquering sinful desires is the freedom we’re given when we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

It reminds me a little of Peyton Manning’s role in the Indianapolis Colts offense. Some quarterbacks enter a game with a rigid list of dos and don’ts, certain plays they call in certain situations and other things they shouldn’t do, depending on the situation.

Peyton, however, understood the offense and what we were trying to do so well that our offensive coordinator would give him merely a “concept” of what to do on a given play with a personnel grouping—two running backs, two receivers, and one tight end, for instance—and a formation to use with them. Then Peyton could call the play he thought had the best chance of success for us, even changing the formation if necessary.

Freedom, not rule following.

From a spiritual perspective, it is being so in tune with the Holy Spirit that you understand the “concept” of what you need to do and not do. You have been given the tools of discernment to make decisions without always running to the rules. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit, you become stronger and more intuitive.

Uncommon Key > Is there a specific sin you need to die to today? God desires that we die to sin. He paradoxically gives us the freedom to make the decision to die to sin and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live in a way that is best for us.