Living Under Grace: Freedom from Sin’s Dominion
Sin can feel like a relentless force, dominating our lives and leaving us feeling helpless to break free. But God, in His infinite love, offers a solution—one that does not rely on our efforts but on His abundant grace. Today’s Day by Day by Grace devotional reminds us of this liberating truth: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).
For many years, I lived under the oppressive weight of sin’s dominion, striving to meet the impossible standards of the law. It felt as though no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape sin’s grip. The truth is, before coming to faith in Christ, we are all under the control of sin. The Bible even describes us as “slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6). But God, in His grace, offers us freedom—a new way of life no longer ruled by sin.
The Law’s Inability to Save
Before understanding grace, many of us turn to the law, hoping to earn righteousness through our efforts. However, the law cannot free us from sin’s power. Instead, it condemns us by exposing our inability to meet its holy standards. As Romans 3:19 declares, “All the world may become guilty before God.”
No amount of striving under the law can justify us before God. “By the works of the law no flesh shall be justified” (Galatians 2:16). The law is like a mirror, showing us our sin but offering no remedy. It reveals our need for a Savior, driving us to the grace of God, which alone can transform us.
The Power of Grace
God’s grace is His sufficient and abundant remedy for sin. Through grace, we receive forgiveness: “The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Grace also brings justification—being declared righteous before God—not through our works, but through faith in Jesus Christ.
Moreover, grace is the power by which we grow in our spiritual lives. As 2 Peter 3:18 encourages us, we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Grace doesn’t just save us; it sustains and transforms us, enabling us to walk in freedom from sin’s dominion.
Walking Under Grace, Not Law
Our relationship with God begins and continues by His grace. From the moment we place our faith in Christ, we step into a life of grace. It is not about striving to obey a set of rules but about trusting in God’s grace to work in us and through us.
This truth is liberating: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). When we live under grace, sin loses its power over us. Our focus shifts from our failures to Christ’s sufficiency, from condemnation to freedom, and from self-effort to reliance on God.
Living Out Grace Today
If you feel weighed down by sin’s dominion or trapped in the cycle of striving under the law, know that God’s grace is available to you. Grace invites you to rest in the finished work of Christ, to walk in His freedom, and to grow in His likeness.
Remember, grace is not a license to sin but the power to overcome it. When we walk under grace, we experience the transforming work of God in our lives, setting us free from the bondage of sin and drawing us closer to His heart.
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for the gift of Your grace, which frees us from sin’s dominion and enables us to walk in newness of life. May we grow in grace each day, resting in the sufficiency of Christ and trusting in Your transforming work within us. Let our lives reflect the freedom and joy that come from living under Your grace. Amen.