The labor of Paul in Romans is to bring the Roman believers to the knowledge that they are free from sin. It may be that the Romans think that because of their cultural upbringing and continued presence in the midst of it they are still sinners. Humbly I would like to show you that we are no longer sinners using the above verses.
- We are dead to sin. Dead things have to awareness of anything around them. They are not even aware of themselves because they are dead. Believers are dead to sin. We are completely unaware of it. And it has no power to affect us. When we were baptized into Christ we were baptized into his death. When Christ was raised from the dead we were raised with him. We are actually seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph 2:6) The old man (who we used to be) is crucified. He that is dead is free from sin.
- We were married to sin by the law. The law states that as our husband lives we are bound to serve him. And if I choose to marry someone else while my husband lives I am committing adultery. I cannot be joined to Christ, lawfully, until my husband is dead. As long as my husband lives I am bound to him. Being married I have the responsibility to bring forth fruit. I am not barren. I do bring forth fruit and that unto death. Fruit baring is not an option. The motions of sin demand it. My husband, sin, is dead to me. I can freely be given to Christ. Christ can now be my husband. I have the responsibility to bring forth fruit and do; fruit unto righteousness. I can only bring forth fruit of the one whom I am married.
- I am free from condemnation because I am free from sin. Romans 8:1b is not a statement of qualification but one of fact. The fact is I walk after the Spirit because I am spirit. There is no condemnation to me. Why? Because of the law of the spirit of life. I am free from the law of sin and death. I am not married to sin. Sin is dead to me. I no longer bring forth fruit unto righteousness by nature. My fruit can only be that of righteousness according to my nature. My nature is that of righteousness and I am free from the nature of sin.
- Not knowing this means that you (child of God) are still in bondage to sin even though he is dead to you. You are still bringing forth fruit to death.