A Sermon Outline by John Kennedy
Romans 6:14. For sin shall not have dominion over you.
There are two great truths in this text; the one is distinctly implied, the other directly expressed.
Sin has dominion over all under the law.
Sin is sometimes represented as a master, service, law.
It is sometimes represented as a work against the law of God.
Sin’s dominion impels to transgression of the law of God.
Sin is essentially enmity to God, and a reign unto death.
Sin is in opposition to the law, which requires perfect love to God.
Sin is in opposition to God’s law of righteousness.
Sin in its dominion includes its reigning and condemning power.
It has this double power over all who are under the law.
“Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them” (Gal 3:10).
The liberty of those under grace.
No one can be delivered from the law without regeneration.
They must have a living, vital union to Christ.
There may be changes that do not amount to this.
These may be changes of practice, of hope and of feeling.
Union to Christ secures change of state.
It also secures the implantation of a new principle and a new state.
They are made the righteousness of God in Christ.
This sets them free from the law as a covenant of works.
This secures an interest in the blood of the covenant of grace.
How certain it is that sin shall not have dominion over them.
Divine righteousness is between them and condemnation; grace reigns.
The grace of the Trinity dwells in true believers.
Application. How fearful is bondage to sin.
How anxious we should be to be under the reign of grace.
How careful not to allow sin to reign in our mortal body.
1Preached in Dingwall, on 8 October 1882, and edited.