Romans 3:9 What
shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have
already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of
sin.
Paul says that all people are under the power of sin.
Speaking to the
1st Century church, he uses language that reflects the
domination of the Jews by the ruling power, the Romans. Paul describes humanity
as being under sin, as opposed to committing sin. This reflects his
determination to show sin as bondage and enslavement. People are imprisoned
under sin, unable to be set free by anything that they can do. Knowing this,
God sent our Liberator,
Jesus Christ, The One who has the power to free us from our
sins. After defining the privileges of being a Jew, Paul concludes that in
spite of these privileges, Gentiles and Jews alike are under sin: There is no
one righteous, not even one… (v.10). He then describes, through a series of Old
Testament quotations, what that looks like. (vv.10-18) Keep in mind that God is
faithful, and although we fall into sin, His faithfulness continues to draw us
back to Him.
Have you ever thought of sin as being “bondage”? The
Israelites were slaves, in bondage in Egypt for 400 years. Moses led them out
of Egypt.
Their crossing the Red Sea to freedom is a picture of the
freedom we have in Christ as believers. Imagine the scene: the horses and
chariots of Egypt chasing the Israelites who were filled with confusion, fear,
and perhaps even terror. It seemed a certainty that the Egyptians would catch
up with them. Moses, God’s leader, raises his staff and the waters part,
enabling the Israelites to cross over on the dry seabed. Jesus raised His staff
(the cross) and enabled us to cross over from the bondage of sin into the
freedom of new life in Him. The terror of the enemy is drowned in the sea. What
sin is chasing you today? Raise the cross of God’s righteousness in your life
and cross over into freedom.
Thought for today:
What keeps you bound?
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