Free From Dictatorship

Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.
–Romans 6:6

The Bible says there is a civil war going on in the heart of every believer. By God’s grace we have received a new heart that desires to please God, but we still have the remnants of our old heart, our old sin nature. Paul wrote about the struggle between the two natures in Romans 7:21-23: “When I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (NLT).

Does that resonate with you? If so, here is the good news: that civil war going on inside you is winnable. If you have trusted in Christ as your Savior, then your old heart’s power over you has been destroyed. Paul said in Romans 6:6-7, “Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” When you trust in Christ as your Savior, a spear is driven through that old heart of yours. It has no more power over your life than you choose to allow it to have.

If our old sin nature was crucified, how is it that sin still has regular victories in our lives? Let me illustrate it this way: Maybe you remember twenty years ago when Iraq was under the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. In 2003, American forces invaded Iraq and deposed him. Guerilla forces still loyal to Saddam continued to launch attacks against the soldiers and the Iraqi people, but it did not matter–his regime had been defeated once and for all.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ invaded this planet, and at the cross He conquered sin and death forever. Yes, Satan and his demonic forces are able to launch attacks against you and me, but his dictatorship is done. We have been freed from the power of sin.

Those who spread false grace talk about the two powers–our old nature and our new nature–as if they are equal in force. They say as long as we live in this world, we are slaves to sin; only when we get to heaven will we enjoy victory over sin. That is a lie from the pit of hell. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ defeated the power of sin in your life. He destroyed Satan’s dictatorship over your life. Now live like you are free.

***

Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Under New Management” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2020.

Scripture quotation marked (NLT) is taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved; Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org