Living Freed from Sin's Power

Having stated several facts about the salvation that God has provided, the apostle Paul proceeds to give a series of four commands telling believers how to live. Living to please the Lord, having been freed from the tyranny of sin, does not mean the believer's pursuit of holiness will be without ongoing effort.

The commands given in this section are instructions for the believer's behavior and how sin must be dealt with. The believer thinks differently about sin since sin no longer rules over the heart, mind, and will. Thoughts dwell on how to please God while refusing to respond to any and all appeals by sin, or attractions to sin. Thinking right about sin then must be followed up by the deliberate decision not to give sin any opportunity to control attitude or actions.

The believers whole being is to be dedicated in service to the Lord, not in service to sin. In submitting the heart, mind, and will to the will of the Lord, He provides the means to choose and practice righteousness.