Length: 5 Minutes

When you’ve gone through some addiction, habit, sickness, or pain for a long time, many people, and unfortunately many believers as well, feel sort of trapped or stuck, wondering if this thing will ever go away. I’ve got good news for you. As a believer you are a slave to righteousness and God’s life-giving power. That’s the only thing you’re stuck in. Let’s unpack that.

In the world, because of Adam’s sin, there are only two problems – sin and death. Sin is where all bad and even uncontrollable habits come from. And death is the word used for the suffering and imperfection in people’s bodies (2 Corinthians 4:12, Romans 4:19, and Romans 8:10). 

Because sin and death are something that everyone is born into (of no fault of their own), and simply cannot escape on their own, it is referred to as “the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:2 (NKJV) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

When it says, “the law” of sin and death, he’s not using the word law as in “a commandment.” He is using the word law as we would say, “the laws of physics.” He’s using it to say that these things are binding. They are a governing authority over people that they cannot escape. It is a law that is in this world.

But as the verse that we just read also states, the Holy Spirit has made us free from that law. Even though a Christian can sin and can even experience death or suffering due to an unrenewed mind, even for those believers that experienced that, it is no longer a law… That means that it is no longer the inevitable outcome for a believer. Sin and death do not have to occur in a believer’s life to begin with, but even if it does, it is easily reversible now because it is not a law! 

If we experience these things, it is due to our lack of knowledge of what we have, not because it is our inevitable outcome. In fact, as we grow in our knowledge of what we have in Jesus, these things are disappearing from our life and falling off from our experience. They are not here to stay because they are not a law to us anymore. We are not bound to it anymore.

Instead, as born-again believers, because Jesus already took upon Himself the law of sin and death, He has instead given us a new law! He has given us a new slavery! He has given us a new bondage from which we cannot escape! That is called “slavery to righteousness” and “the law of the spirit of life.” If you combined many of these terms from Romans chapter 5 – 8, you could call it “the law of righteousness and life.”

Romans 8:2 (NKJV) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 6:18 (NKJV) And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Righteousness is the opposite of sin. That’s referring to all the good, pure, and moral things about the Lord. That’s who you are now! And life is the opposite of death. That’s referring to things like healing, strength, youth, immortality, and resurrection! That’s who you are now!

You’re not a slave to addiction and sin. You’re a slave to righteousness! You’re not a slave to death and suffering! You’re a slave to life (which is like saying the power of God). You’re a slave to it! That means that for those who continue in the knowledge of Jesus, it is the inevitable outcome that you are bound to experience! If you continue in the word of God, you must experience it! You are a slave to it! It is not an option.

There are many that don’t continue in the word of God. They continue for a short while, but never accept the good news. I’m not referring to those people. I’m talking about those who have genuinely received the knowledge of Jesus and continue in it…

albeit not perfectly at times, but continue nonetheless! As you continue in the word of God, the righteousness and life that are inside of you are literally taking over your body and mind. The control of righteousness and life is taking over your experience.

So, you are a slave. That’s for sure! But the only thing you are bound to, because of Jesus, is the righteousness and life of God. That is your bondage, which means, that it is your inevitable, inescapable outcome, as you believe. With sin and death, although you might see it for a moment, it is no longer a law to you. That means that it’s no longer permanent, inevitable, or binding. You may see it, but it is now temporary, passing, and removable. You’re not a slave to it anymore. You’re not stuck anymore. 

Seeing as that is true, stop thinking like a slave. I’m not telling you to deny that you feel something or did something. I’m telling you to acknowledge who you truly are and stop thinking that the experience is there to stay. Because if you think it’s there to stay, you are thinking like a slave. Because slaves to sin and death are stuck in it. Slaves have no option. And that’s not you (Romans 7:23–25).

Start thinking free from sin and death, and a slave instead to righteousness and life. Because those two things are your new realities and that’s something you’re truly stuck in. And if you continue in your knowledge of those things, it is the inevitable outcome for your experience, because you’re a captive now, to all the good things you see in Jesus. He’s loved you and paid for these things with His own flesh and blood, and He’s not letting you out…

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV) …His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness… having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

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