Sin (6) Romans

In his letter to the Romans, Paul provides an insight into the nature of sin. He explains that it is ubiquitous because humans are under the power of sin (Rom 3:9,23). This is the heart of the human problem. It is not that we have made some bad choices, but that we are under the power of sin. In Romans 5, Paul explained how sin came into the world.

Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned…
Death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses…
By the trespass of the one man, death reigned…
Sin reigned in death… (Romans 5:12, 14, 17, 21).

When Adam and Eve acted on the deceiver’s advice, they were not just being naughty, they were unwittingly submitting to the spiritual powers of evil who had already rebelled against God. The initial victory was won by a spirit called Satan, but a spirit called Death quickly rose to the top and with an assistant called Sin controlled human life on earth from the time of Adam until Moses. (The giving of the law opened the way for Accuser to rise to the top (Rom 7:9-11)).

Sin is not just bad behaviour. Sin is the name of a powerful spiritual ruler. Likewise, Death is the name of an equally powerful spiritual power. These spirits gained power in the earth when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Paul explains that they are ruling in the lives of people who have not been rescued by Jesus. Understanding this reality should make us more sympathetic and less judgmental of people who do not know Jesus, because they have often been manipulated or controlled by a spirit called Sin.

In Romans 6 and 7, Paul explains the consequences of the emergence of these spiritual powers. Humans became slaves of Sin and Death. Those who have not surrendered to Jesus are still slaves of these spirits.

We should no longer be slaves of sin (6:6).
Death no longer has dominion over Him (6:9).
You used to be slaves to sin (6:17).
You were slaves of sin (6:20).
I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin (7:14).

The unavoidable problem is that we become slaves of what we obey.

Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey (Rom 6:16).

People don’t choose to be slaves, but if they submit to the wrong thing, they become a slave to sin and evil. They may still feel like they are free because they are choosing what to do, but they have unwittingly become a slave to the thing they have obeyed. This is a massive problem for the people of the world.

The good news is that Jesus defeated the spirits of Sin and Death when he died on the cross. His followers have been set free from these powers. You have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin (Rom 6:17-18). This deliverance is confirmed in Romans 8.

The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from… Sin and Death (8:2).
He condemned Sin in the flesh (8:3).

Jesus defeated the spirit of Sin on the cross and rescued those who choose to follow him from the power of Death. Those who have not acknowledged Jesus are still slaves of these spirits, often without realising. They deserve our sympathy, not condemnation. We are not better, just different, having been rescued by Jesus.