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I. THE EVIL WHICH WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESIST. The dominion of sin. St. Paul represents sin as a mighty usurper, exercising absolute dominion over the sinner, taking the heart for his throne, and the members for his slaves (Romans 5:20, 21; Romans 6:12, 20). By a successful stratagem sin obtained the supremacy over our first father; and his posterity, while they remain in their natural state, have never been able to break the yoke (1 John 5:19). This dreadful dominion of sin is promoted —

1. By ignorance of God's will. In some countries this is almost total; in ours it is partial, and in a great measure wilful (Romans 1:28; John 3:19).

2. By our corrupt passions and sensual propensities, which will be gratified, though health, reputation, yea, life itself, are at stake (Job 15:16; Isaiah 5:18).

3. By the worldly interests of men, to which they readily give the decided preference, when they happen to clash with their duty to God. Thus, for the sake of the world, the guests invited to the gospel feast, with one consent, desired to be excused; and the rich man departed from Jesus full of sorrow.

4. By the powerful temptations of Satan.

5. By the countenance and example of the multitude. Sinners readily follow the multitude to do evil. The broad road that leads to destruction is thronged with travellers.

II. THE MEANS AFFORDED FOR OUR ENCOURAGEMENT IN RESISTING SIN: "for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

1. Grace is here opposed to the law, and signifies the gospel (John 1:17; 2 Corinthians 6:1; Acts 14:3).

2. The law was a system of just, but awful severity, and God had wise and holy designs in the establishment of it (Romans 5:20). It was introduced among the Jews, not that they might be justified by it, but that, by discovering how far they fell short of the obedience it required, they might be more deeply impressed with a sense of their abounding sins; and thus it became a schoolmaster to lead them to Christ (Galatians 3:24), and that so, where sin had abounded, grace might much more abound (Romans 5:20).

3. Now, believers in Christ are "not under the law"; they are "dead to the law" (Romans 7:4); they are "delivered from the law" (Romans 7:6). By these expressions we are not to suppose that they are discharged from obedience (1 Corinthians 21); but they are no longer under the law considered as a covenant, the terms of which are, "the man that doeth them" (all and everyone perfectly) "shall live in them" (Galatians 3:12). Christ hath fulfilled all righteousness for His people (Romans 10:4). Being accounted righteous through faith in Christ, they are redeemed from the curse of the law (Romans 8:1, 2).

4. Christians possess greater advantages for the destruction of sin than those under the law.

(1) While the law justly demanded obedience, it afforded no aid for the performance of it. Nor could it encourage anyone to hope for pardon in case of disobedience. The case is now altered. We are not called to "Mount Sinai" to hear the terrible threatenings of the law; but we are come to "Mount Sion," where grace and mercy are published.

(2) The law included the substance of all the holy precepts now contained in the New Testament; but in the gospel they are expanded and full blown, and appear in all the beauty of holiness.

(3) There is a more abundant measure of the Holy Spirit poured out upon the people of God, by which they not only attain a clearer knowledge of His will, but a larger degree of His gracious assistance in overcoming sin (Hebrews 8:10).

(4) All grace is treasured up in Jesus for the use of His people; and of this fulness they may receive, daily, grace for grace (John 1:16; Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9).

(5) The love of Christ is another grand assistant in our victory over sin. Love is the most strong and generous of all the passions, and the hardest service becomes easy when this prevails (2 Corinthians 5:14).

(6) The grace of the gospel affords yet further aid in this great conflict by the cheering views it presents of everlasting glory (Romans 8:31; 1 Corinthians 15:55; 1 John 3:3). Conclusion:

1. Who can behold the general dominion of sin over the world without the deepest concern (Jeremiah 9:1).

2. Having learned that no means are effectual to stop the progress of sin but those afforded by the gospel of grace, let this serve to render the gospel more precious.

3. This subject effectually refutes that vile slander which is so unjustly cast on the doctrines of grace, that they are conducive to sin and unfriendly to holiness.

(G. Burder.)

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KJV: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

WEB: For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.