Romans 6:14

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

For {G1063} sin {G266} shall {G2961} not {G3756} have dominion over {G2961} you {G5216}: for {G1063} ye are {G2075} not {G3756} under {G5259} the law {G3551}, but {G235} under {G5259} grace {G5485}.

For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace.

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

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

Commentary on Romans 6:14 (KJV)

Romans 6:14 is a powerful declaration of the Christian's new reality in Christ, assuring believers of their freedom from sin's tyranny. It succinctly contrasts the old covenant of law with the new covenant of grace, highlighting the foundation of a transformed life.

Context

This verse is central to Paul's argument in Romans chapter 6, where he addresses the misconception that God's abundant grace might encourage believers to continue in sin. Paul has just emphasized that through baptism, believers have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection, signifying a spiritual death to sin and a new life in righteousness (Romans 6:4). He exhorts believers to "reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11). Romans 6:14 serves as a foundational promise and explanation for why believers *can* and *should* live free from sin's control.

Key Themes

  • Freedom from Sin's Dominion: The core promise is that "sin shall not have dominion over you." The word "dominion" (Greek: kyrieusei) means to be master, lord, or to rule over. This is a profound assurance that for those in Christ, sin no longer holds the ultimate authority or controlling power it once did. Believers are not helpless slaves to sin's impulses, but are empowered to resist them.
  • Transition from Law to Grace: The reason sin no longer has dominion is explicitly stated: "for ye are not under the law, but under grace."
    • Not Under the Law: Being "under the law" refers to living under a system where one's standing before God is determined by perfect adherence to a set of divine commands. The law, though holy and good, could not provide righteousness or power over sin; instead, it exposed sin (Romans 3:20) and even highlighted humanity's inability to keep it perfectly.
    • Under Grace: Being "under grace" means living in the sphere of God's unmerited favor, divine enablement, and unconditional acceptance through faith in Jesus Christ. This grace empowers believers to live righteously, not out of fear of punishment or a desire to earn salvation, but as a response to God's love and the indwelling Holy Spirit. This shift is fundamental to Christian living and freedom.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "dominion" is kyrieusei (κυριεύσει), which is derived from kyrios, meaning "lord" or "master." Its use here strongly emphasizes that sin's authority and controlling power are broken for the believer. The word "grace," charis (χάρις), frequently used by Paul, signifies God's undeserved kindness, favor, and divine enablement. It stands in stark contrast to human effort or merit under the law.

Related Scriptures

This foundational truth about being freed from the law and living under grace resonates throughout Paul's epistles. For instance, in Romans 7:6, Paul elaborates on being "delivered from the law," and in Galatians 5:18, he states, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." The ultimate source of this spiritual freedom is Christ Himself, as declared in John 8:36: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." This freedom is not a license to sin, but the power to live righteously through God's empowering grace, which "much more abound" where sin abounded (Romans 5:20).

Practical Application

For the Christian, Romans 6:14 is both a profound promise and a call to embrace our new identity. It assures us that we are no longer helpless victims of sin's power or bound by the impossible demands of the law to earn our salvation. Our justification and sanctification are rooted in God's unmerited favor through Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Living "under grace" means relying on the Holy Spirit's power to overcome temptation, not striving in our own strength. This understanding fosters gratitude, humility, and a genuine desire to live in obedience and righteousness, not out of legalistic obligation, but out of love and responsive worship to the God who has so graciously saved and empowered us.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Galatians 5:18

    But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

  • Romans 8:2

    For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

  • Romans 7:4

    Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

  • Romans 7:11

    For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew [me].

  • Hebrews 8:10

    For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

  • Romans 6:12

    Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

  • Galatians 4:4

    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

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