Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 6:14
The concluding verse of the chapter: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Paul’s point is that grace, not legalism, is the environment in which believers live. The law’s demands pointed out sin but could not supply the power to overcome it; grace provides empowerment through Christ. The statement does not license sin but asserts that Jesus’ grace transforms our relationship to sin, enabling a new pattern of life.
This verse highlights a central tension in Pauline theology: the law reveals sin, but grace liberates and motivates obedience. It reframes righteousness as a gift and a partnership with the Spirit, not mere rule-keeping. It also guards against antinomian interpretations by implying that grace produces genuine transformation, not license.
Live as though you inhabit a grace-saturated story rather than a law-driven one. When tempted to slip into old habits, remember you are under grace—empowered to choose differently because of Christ’s work in you. In practical terms, cultivate spiritual disciplines (prayer, Scripture, accountability) that keep you connected to grace’s power. The aim is not license to sin, but freedom to live fully for God.
Cross-References
- Romans 3:24–26
- Romans 8:2
- Titus 2:11–12
- Galatians 5:13