Following Christ is one of the best things a person could ever do. Is it easy? No! Is it hard to live life without him? Yes! The phrase I am of the flesh, sold under sin, points to the spiritual or unspiritual condition of the persons who have not been reborn again in Christ. Paul is explaining the inability of the law to rescue us from sin. Yet, the good news (which is all about our savior and how he saves us) is capable of bringing spiritual salvation and freedom from sin through God’s grace.
Those who are living in the flesh (those driven by unspiritual, selfish and sensual desires) are bearing the fruit of death. This means spiritual death and eternal death. If we continue to live by the flesh, we will die. We won’t have a personal relationship with God.
The statement “sold under sin” means being a captive and slave to sin’s power. When Christ died on the cross, his blood set us free from that bondage of sin, when we follow him. His blood was the ransom that paid for us. He rescued and freed us from sin and declares that sin has no control over us anymore. Christ himself said, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”. John 8:36. Jesus’ name means he will save and save his people from their sins.
When we have the Holy Spirit present within us, we are not enslaved to sin and powerless to overcome sin. In Romans 8:2 says, ‘For the law of the Spirit of life have set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.’ We are free from sin and the captivity of it. God’s word also says that those who truly know Christ will not continue to sin in a habitual way.
This does not mean that as Christians we will not struggle against sin. We will battle against our flesh and our human nature throughout our lives. Sometimes we will fail. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we have the power to prevail and win the victory over sin.
Do you have peace that with The Holy Spirit, he helps us resist sin?
Do you feel that you have to be perfect all the time, but now know that you will fail, however, with you building your relationship with Christ you are free from sin?
Do you know that with God’s grace, mercy, and love you are forgiven?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving each of us. Thank you for letting us know we would not meet the perfect standard of being without sin. I pray that as we are waiting for you to return or when we die, that all you ask of us is to love and spend time with you, that we are not captive to sin anymore. That with the Holy Spirit’s help we can resist our flesh’s desire for sin. We are free in Christ. We have power in you. We may fail, however, we can come running back to you for forgiveness. Thank you for this.
In Jesus Name
Amen
