Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 6:14 (KJV)

Context

Romans 6:14 comes as the climax of Paul’s argument in Romans 6. In the preceding chapters, Paul explains justification by faith: all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), and salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Romans 3:21-26). In Romans 6, Paul addresses a pressing question raised in Romans 6:1: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” The verse answers that question with a promise and an assurance, not a command.

Meaning

The Greek verb translated “have dominion” (κυριεύσει, kurieusei) means “shall be lord over” or “shall have power, authority, or control over.” Paul declares that sin will not have this dominion over believers. This is not a denial that sin remains present in the believer’s experience; rather, it is the assurance that sin shall not regain its reign. The ground of this assurance is the believer’s new position: “ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Being “under the law” means being subject to the demands and requirements of the Mosaic Law. The law reveals human sinfulness and provokes and condemns sin, giving it leverage, but it cannot provide the power to overcome sin. Being “under grace” means being in a new realm where sin’s power is broken. The believer’s relationship with God is no longer based on adherence to the law but on the unmerited favour, mercy, and love of God extended through Jesus Christ.

This verse is not a licence to sin. The immediate context includes Romans 6:13, which exhorts believers not to yield their members as instruments of unrighteousness, and Romans 6:15, which anticipates the objection that being under grace permits sin. The assurance of Romans 6:14 is the basis for holy living, not an excuse for sin.

Biblical connections

Paul’s contrast between being “under the law” and “under grace” builds on his earlier teaching in Romans 3:21-26, where he establishes justification by faith apart from the law. The law, with its commandments and regulations, revealed human sinfulness but could not provide the power to overcome sin. Grace, however, empowers believers to live a transformed life, no longer controlled by the desires and temptations of sin. As believers rely on God’s grace, the Holy Spirit enables them to resist sin and walk in obedience to God’s commands.

Application

Romans 6:14 reminds believers of the transformative power of God’s grace and their freedom from the dominion of sin. It encourages them to rely on God’s grace to live in victory over sin and to honour Him with their lives. Believers are called to continually seek God’s grace, live in obedience to His Word, and allow the Holy Spirit to empower them to live holy lives that bring glory to God.

While believers are free from the dominion of sin, this does not mean they have a licence to sin. Instead, they have a responsibility to live in accordance with their new identity in Christ. Romans 6:12-13 states, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Believers are called to actively resist sin and present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness.

Reflection

The promise of Romans 6:14 is grounded in union with Christ and the grace of God, not on personal performance under the law. Sin’s dominion is broken for those who are in Christ, enabling them to live righteously. This is a foundational statement on sanctification: the power of sin is broken by grace, and believers are free to serve God.