Romans 6:12
Verse
Context
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
11So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Sermons
Alan Redpath
C.H. Spurgeon
Kay Smith
Kjell Olsen
Tim Conway
R. Edward MillerSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Let not sin therefore reign - This is a prosopopoeia, or personification. Sin is represented as a king, ruler, or tyrant, who has the desires of the mind and the members of the body under his control so that by influencing the passions he governs the body. Do not let sin reign, do not let him work; that is, let him have no place, no being in your souls; because, wherever he is he governs, less or more: and indeed sin is not sin without this. How is sin known? By evil influences in the mind, and evil acts in the life. But do not these influences and these acts prove his dominion? Certainly, the very existence of an evil thought to which passion or appetite attaches itself, is a proof that there sin has dominion; for without dominion such passions could not be excited. Wherever sin is felt, there sin has dominion; for sin is sin only as it works in action or passion against God. Sin cannot be a quiescent thing: if it do not work it does not exist. That ye should obey it in the lusts thereof - Αυτῃ εν ταις επιθυμιαις αυτου. This clause is wanting in the most ancient and reputable MSS. and in the principal versions. Griesbach has left it out of his text; and Professor White says, Certissime delenda: "These words should certainly he expunged" they are not necessary to the apostle's argument; it was enough to say, Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it. If it be there it will reign there; and its reign supposes, necessarily, the subjection of that in which it reigns. A king reigns when his laws are enforced, and the people obey them. When there is no executive government there is no reign. There may be a royal shadow there, but there is no king.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
WHAT PRACTICAL USE BELIEVERS SHOULD MAKE OF THEIR DEATH TO SIN AND LIFE TO GOD THROUGH UNION TO THE CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR. (Rom 6:12-23) Let not sin therefore--as a Master reign--(The reader will observe that wherever in this section the words "Sin," "Obedience," "Righteousness," "Uncleanness," "Iniquity," are figuratively used, to represent a Master, they are here printed in capitals, to make this manifest to the eye, and so save explanation). in your mortal body, that ye should obey it--sin. in the lusts thereof--"the lusts of the body," as the Greek makes evident. (The other reading, perhaps the true one, "that ye should obey the lusts thereof," comes to the same thing). The "body" is here viewed as the instrument by which all the sins of the heart become facts of the outward life, and as itself the seat of the lower appetites; and it is called "our mortal body," probably to remind us how unsuitable is this reign of sin in those who are "alive from the dead." But the reign here meant is the unchecked dominion of sin within us. Its outward acts are next referred to.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,.... Since grace reigns in you, sin should not: seeing ye are dead to sin, are baptized into the death of Christ, and are dead with him, and alive through him, sin therefore should not reign in you, and over you. This exhortation does not suppose a freewill power in man naturally, for this is spoken to persons, who had the Spirit and grace of Christ, and in whom God had wrought both to will and to do of his good pleasure; nor is this exhortation unnecessary to believers, though they are dead to sin, and though God has promised it shall not have the dominion over them, and though reigning sin, as divines say, cannot be in regenerate persons; for though they are entirely dead to sin as justified persons, yet not perfectly so as sanctified: they are indeed dead to sin, but sin is not dead in them; it struggles, it makes war, leads captive, and threatens absolute and universal dominion, wherefore such an exhortation is necessary; besides, though God has promised that sin shall not have the dominion, yet making use of means, such as prayer to God that it may not, striving against it, opposing it, in order to hinder its dominion, are no ways inconsistent with the promise of God, whose promises often have their accomplishment in the use of means: moreover, whereas some divines say, that reigning sin may be and others that it cannot be in regenerate persons, it should be observed, that if by reigning sin is meant, sinning against God out of malice and contempt, with the whole heart, without any struggle against it, or repentance for it, or so as to lose the grace of God, and never rise more, then it must be said that it cannot be in a regenerate man; but if by it is meant, falling into sin against their consciences, knowingly and willingly, so as to distress their minds, lose their peace, and grieve the Spirit of God, so as to be held under it, and be led captive by it, such power sin may have in them, and over them; and therefore the exhortation is not needless; and when the apostle says, let it not reign "in your mortal body", by it is either meant the whole man, or rather the body only, which is the instrument of sinning, and is become mortal through sin; and being so, is a reason why it should not reign in it, since it has done so much mischief to it already: and this also denotes the time of sin's being in us, and of the danger of its reigning in us; it is only whilst we are in this mortal body; and the consideration of our mortality should quicken us to war against sin, and be careful not to obey it in the lusts thereof; the lusts of the body, or flesh, which are therefore sometimes called fleshly lusts, are many, and have great power and influence; and may be said to be obeyed, when provision is made to fulfil them, when these are the business of a man's life, and the whole of his conversation is taken up in them, without struggle against them, or opposition to them; and heroin lies the reign of sin.
Romans 6:12
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
11So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Fully Yielded to God
By Alan Redpath4.6K47:25Yielded To GodACT 10:14ROM 6:12In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the desperate need for salvation among people who may appear devout but are still in spiritual darkness. He uses the example of Simon Peter in the Bible to illustrate this point. The preacher also highlights the importance of the messenger who is sent to share the message of salvation. He urges the audience to make a clear confession of Christ and submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to experience true transformation and be effective in spreading the gospel.
The Battle of Life (The Christian's Warfare)
By C.H. Spurgeon2.6K45:53PSA 31:5PSA 119:176MAT 6:33ROM 6:121CO 9:7HEB 10:22REV 1:5In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of starting early in the pursuit of a life dedicated to serving God. He warns young men and women that the road to spiritual victory will be filled with challenges and battles. The speaker shares the tragic stories of individuals who achieved worldly success but ultimately felt empty and disappointed. He urges young people to be cautious in their pursuit of success and to prioritize their spiritual lives. The sermon concludes with a reminder to live a life pleasing to God and to commit one's spirit to Him, ultimately finding redemption and eternal glory.
Avoiding Sexual Immorality by Shane Idleman and Steve Gallagher
By Steve Gallagher1.6K1:06:02PRO 4:23ROM 6:121CO 6:182CO 7:10JAS 4:8
This sermon emphasizes the importance of repentance, restoration, and the need to guard our hearts and minds against the influences of the world, particularly in the realm of sexual sin. It highlights the power of desire, the necessity to stay away from temptation, and the significance of repentance for salvation and restoration. The message underscores the need for a heart transformation and a deep commitment to God's kingdom.
Pleasing God - Pt. 3
By Kay Smith8311:02:41Pleasing GodROM 6:12ROM 13:141CO 6:20GAL 5:161TH 4:11TI 3:72TI 2:19In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of realizing Christ's soon return and how it should impact our lives. The speaker urges the audience to consider how this realization is affecting their priorities, schedules, prayer life, and witness. The sermon then focuses on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3, which instructs believers to live in a way that pleases God and to avoid sexual immorality. The speaker encourages the audience to adjust their lives to align with God's will and emphasizes that living a life pleasing to God is the most important thing in this world.
Do Not Gaze on Sin
By Kjell Olsen6711:03:08PRO 23:29MAT 1:21ROM 6:12ROM 6:14HEB 10:14In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Proverbs chapter 23, specifically verses that warn against the dangers of alcohol and the deceptive pleasure of sin. He emphasizes the negative consequences of indulging in alcohol, comparing it to a serpent's bite and a viper's sting. The preacher also draws a parallel between Eve's temptation with the forbidden fruit and the allure of sin. However, he offers hope in the form of Jesus, who can save and redeem people from their sins. The sermon concludes with a reminder that Jesus offers a cure for bondage and the promise of eternal salvation.
The Truth Sets You Free From Sexual Lust
By Tim Conway5961:11:30ROM 6:12
This sermon addresses the struggle with sexual immorality, specifically focusing on the battle against lustful thoughts and patterns of sin. It emphasizes the importance of seeking truth from Scripture to set individuals free from the bondage of sin, highlighting the need to have a mindset rooted in God's Word and the eternal glories that await believers. The message encourages abstinence, self-control, and clinging to Christ for strength and victory over temptations.
Covenant of Abraham
By R. Edward Miller48249:49CovenantPSA 22:16LUK 24:25ROM 4:3ROM 6:12HEB 9:12In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of understanding the necessity of Jesus' sacrifice. He references Hebrews 9:12, which states that Jesus entered the holy place with his own blood to obtain eternal redemption for humanity. The preacher then delves into the covenant of Abraham, highlighting Luke 24:25-26, where Jesus refers to the prophecies about his crucifixion and resurrection. The preacher emphasizes the clarity and accuracy of these prophecies, emphasizing that they do not require interpretation but rather serve as a clear testament to the fulfillment of God's plan.
Victory Over Sin: Overcoming Lust (Rom. 6:12-14)
By Mike Bickle2545:45Grace and TransformationVictory Over SinROM 6:12Mike Bickle emphasizes the transformative power of grace in overcoming sin, particularly lust, as outlined in Romans 6:12-14. He explains that believers can access God's power through three key principles: recognizing their identity in Christ, resisting sinful urges, and actively pursuing God. Bickle highlights that while believers may struggle with sin, they are not under its dominion, and through grace, they can experience substantial victory in their lives. He encourages the congregation to embrace these principles consistently, even in their weakness, to live a life free from the control of negative emotions and sinful thoughts.
A Passionate Plea for Full Surrender
By Shane Idleman1228:41Full SurrenderThe Nature of SinMAT 10:28ROM 6:12Shane Idleman passionately pleads for full surrender to Christ, emphasizing that true freedom comes from fearing God rather than man. He warns against the deceptive nature of sin, which grows if not actively dealt with, and encourages believers to repent and believe in the gospel. Idleman highlights the urgency of responding to God's call today, as many in the American church have hardened their hearts to the truth. He contrasts the vibrant faith seen in other countries with the complacency in the U.S. church, urging a return to genuine worship and reliance on God's grace. Ultimately, he calls for a radical commitment to Christ, reminding listeners that grace abounds even in the face of sin.
Cut Off One Head
By Thomas Brooks0Spiritual WarfareThe Nature of SinMAT 5:29ROM 6:122CO 10:5GAL 5:17EPH 6:12COL 3:5HEB 12:1JAS 4:71PE 5:81JN 1:9Thomas Brooks emphasizes the persistent nature of sin, comparing it to the mythical Hydra that grows multiple heads when one is cut off. He illustrates that simply addressing sin once is insufficient, as it continually resurfaces in various forms. The sermon calls for a deeper, more consistent effort to combat sin in our lives, recognizing its tenacity and the need for ongoing vigilance and spiritual warfare.
Enemies!
By Thomas Brooks0Spiritual WarfareSinROM 6:12Thomas Brooks emphasizes the necessity of viewing sin as our greatest enemy, urging believers to confront and detest their sins with the same fervor as one would against a formidable foe. He illustrates the destructive nature of sin, explaining how it leads to spiritual death and separation from God, and how it has dire consequences for the soul. The sincere Christian, recognizing the weight of sin, desires to abandon it completely, akin to a sick person yearning for health or a prisoner longing for freedom. Brooks calls for a deep-seated hatred of sin, advocating for a relentless pursuit of holiness and a commitment to eradicate sin from our lives.
The Path of Progress: Presenting Ourselves to God 7 the Eternal Purpose
By Watchman Nee0ConsecrationHolinessROM 6:12Watchman Nee emphasizes the true nature of consecration in his sermon, focusing on the importance of presenting ourselves to God as living sacrifices, recognizing that our old selves have been crucified and we are now alive in Christ. He explains that true holiness comes from being set apart for God, not from eradicating evil within us, and that our lives should be viewed as belonging entirely to Him. Nee challenges believers to understand that presenting themselves to God means relinquishing ownership of their time, talents, and resources, and to be willing to follow God's will without reservations. He illustrates this with the example of a Chinese brother who recognized that his hands belonged to the Lord, highlighting the need for a complete transfer of ownership to God. Ultimately, Nee calls for a life of continual surrender and obedience to God's purpose, emphasizing that true consecration is about being wholly devoted to Him.
Let No Evil Remain
By C.H. Spurgeon0SinHolinessDEU 13:17ROM 6:12C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the necessity for Christians to eradicate all forms of sin from their lives, likening it to Israel's command to destroy idolatrous cities and their spoils. He asserts that no evil habit should remain, as this is a spiritual battle that requires total commitment to holiness. Spurgeon teaches that when we show no mercy to our sins, God shows great mercy to us, leading to blessings and growth in our spiritual lives. The sermon encourages believers to actively pursue purity and to understand that their efforts against sin are a response to God's grace. Ultimately, Spurgeon assures that those who resolve to put away sin will experience compassion, prosperity, and joy from the Lord.
Repentance: The Gift of God
By Glenn Meldrum0ROM 6:12Glenn Meldrum preaches about the profound impact of heartfelt repentance as a gift from God, emphasizing its role in true revival. Sin is portrayed as the great separator between God and man, while repentance serves as the restorer of that broken relationship. The Biblical message of repentance is highlighted as the sword of the Spirit that brings salvation, maturity, and hope for a heaven-sent revival, as seen in historical accounts like David Brainerd's experiences with Native Americans in the 1740s.
How Do You Know That?
By Thomas Brooks0HolinessOvercoming SinPSA 18:23ROM 6:12Thomas Brooks emphasizes that a sincere willingness to part with every sin is a clear indication of saving grace. He asserts that true integrity and saving faith are demonstrated by a person's commitment to forsake all sins, including their 'darling' sins. Brooks explains that it requires divine power and grace to overcome these beloved sins, and that a godly person does not engage in a habitual or willful practice of sin. The assurance of being upright before God is rooted in the active choice to keep oneself from sin. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to reflect on their relationship with sin and their commitment to holiness.
The Flesh and Salvation
By Watchman Nee0LUK 22:15ROM 6:12ROM 13:14PHP 1:231TH 2:17TIT 2:121PE 2:11In the sermon 'Lusts', the preacher delves into the concept of epithumia, a term used in the Bible to describe strong desires or impulses, both good and evil, directed towards an object. While occasionally used in a positive sense, most often epithumia refers to perverted and unrestrained desires originating from our sinful nature. The sermon emphasizes the importance of believers resisting and fleeing from lusts, which can lead to spiritual decay and bondage, urging them to pursue righteousness, faith, and godliness instead. Various Bible verses and quotes are used to illustrate the detrimental effects of lusts and the need for believers to rely on God's grace to overcome them.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Let not sin therefore reign - This is a prosopopoeia, or personification. Sin is represented as a king, ruler, or tyrant, who has the desires of the mind and the members of the body under his control so that by influencing the passions he governs the body. Do not let sin reign, do not let him work; that is, let him have no place, no being in your souls; because, wherever he is he governs, less or more: and indeed sin is not sin without this. How is sin known? By evil influences in the mind, and evil acts in the life. But do not these influences and these acts prove his dominion? Certainly, the very existence of an evil thought to which passion or appetite attaches itself, is a proof that there sin has dominion; for without dominion such passions could not be excited. Wherever sin is felt, there sin has dominion; for sin is sin only as it works in action or passion against God. Sin cannot be a quiescent thing: if it do not work it does not exist. That ye should obey it in the lusts thereof - Αυτῃ εν ταις επιθυμιαις αυτου. This clause is wanting in the most ancient and reputable MSS. and in the principal versions. Griesbach has left it out of his text; and Professor White says, Certissime delenda: "These words should certainly he expunged" they are not necessary to the apostle's argument; it was enough to say, Let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, that ye should obey it. If it be there it will reign there; and its reign supposes, necessarily, the subjection of that in which it reigns. A king reigns when his laws are enforced, and the people obey them. When there is no executive government there is no reign. There may be a royal shadow there, but there is no king.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
WHAT PRACTICAL USE BELIEVERS SHOULD MAKE OF THEIR DEATH TO SIN AND LIFE TO GOD THROUGH UNION TO THE CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR. (Rom 6:12-23) Let not sin therefore--as a Master reign--(The reader will observe that wherever in this section the words "Sin," "Obedience," "Righteousness," "Uncleanness," "Iniquity," are figuratively used, to represent a Master, they are here printed in capitals, to make this manifest to the eye, and so save explanation). in your mortal body, that ye should obey it--sin. in the lusts thereof--"the lusts of the body," as the Greek makes evident. (The other reading, perhaps the true one, "that ye should obey the lusts thereof," comes to the same thing). The "body" is here viewed as the instrument by which all the sins of the heart become facts of the outward life, and as itself the seat of the lower appetites; and it is called "our mortal body," probably to remind us how unsuitable is this reign of sin in those who are "alive from the dead." But the reign here meant is the unchecked dominion of sin within us. Its outward acts are next referred to.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,.... Since grace reigns in you, sin should not: seeing ye are dead to sin, are baptized into the death of Christ, and are dead with him, and alive through him, sin therefore should not reign in you, and over you. This exhortation does not suppose a freewill power in man naturally, for this is spoken to persons, who had the Spirit and grace of Christ, and in whom God had wrought both to will and to do of his good pleasure; nor is this exhortation unnecessary to believers, though they are dead to sin, and though God has promised it shall not have the dominion over them, and though reigning sin, as divines say, cannot be in regenerate persons; for though they are entirely dead to sin as justified persons, yet not perfectly so as sanctified: they are indeed dead to sin, but sin is not dead in them; it struggles, it makes war, leads captive, and threatens absolute and universal dominion, wherefore such an exhortation is necessary; besides, though God has promised that sin shall not have the dominion, yet making use of means, such as prayer to God that it may not, striving against it, opposing it, in order to hinder its dominion, are no ways inconsistent with the promise of God, whose promises often have their accomplishment in the use of means: moreover, whereas some divines say, that reigning sin may be and others that it cannot be in regenerate persons, it should be observed, that if by reigning sin is meant, sinning against God out of malice and contempt, with the whole heart, without any struggle against it, or repentance for it, or so as to lose the grace of God, and never rise more, then it must be said that it cannot be in a regenerate man; but if by it is meant, falling into sin against their consciences, knowingly and willingly, so as to distress their minds, lose their peace, and grieve the Spirit of God, so as to be held under it, and be led captive by it, such power sin may have in them, and over them; and therefore the exhortation is not needless; and when the apostle says, let it not reign "in your mortal body", by it is either meant the whole man, or rather the body only, which is the instrument of sinning, and is become mortal through sin; and being so, is a reason why it should not reign in it, since it has done so much mischief to it already: and this also denotes the time of sin's being in us, and of the danger of its reigning in us; it is only whilst we are in this mortal body; and the consideration of our mortality should quicken us to war against sin, and be careful not to obey it in the lusts thereof; the lusts of the body, or flesh, which are therefore sometimes called fleshly lusts, are many, and have great power and influence; and may be said to be obeyed, when provision is made to fulfil them, when these are the business of a man's life, and the whole of his conversation is taken up in them, without struggle against them, or opposition to them; and heroin lies the reign of sin.