BEING A SLAVE TO SIN

Psalms 19:13

Morning Meditation 5/7/15

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."

The word "dominion" translates "katakurieuo" and means, "to bring under one's power, to hold in subjection, to be master of, exercise lordship over."

This definition definitely teaches that we can be under sins dominion. It means we are being controlled by Satan and demons have a field day with those who do not think this is possible.

SLAVES TO SIN

John 8:32-34, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."

1. First they answered Him that they had never been in bondage to any man. It is amazing that they made this claim when the nation had been in bondage in Egypt; they had been in bondage to Babylon; they were presently in bondage to Rome.

2. Second, there was the bondage to sin. Jesus said, "Whoso committeth sin is the servant of sin." The word "servant" translates "douleuo" and means, "to become slaves to some base power, to yield to, give one's self up to."

3. What Jesus said here applies to the whole human race. Romans 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" So to deny that one is a sinner is calling the Word of God a liar.

4. There is only one way out of sins bondage: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Next we see the Jews--

REFUSING FREEDOM

Jesus makes the offer and the Jews flatly reject Jesus' claim to be the Messiah. In doing this they judged themselves unworthy of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said in John 8:24, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."

Another clear statement of Jesus to those who heard Him is found in John 5:40, "And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." He did not say, "Ye cannot come to me that you might have life," but, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life." It is a matter of the will. There will be no one in heaven who is there against their will. There will be no one in hell that can say that they did not have a chance. Next we see--

THE POWER TO DELIVER

The Lord is the only one that has the power over sin to deliver the one's in bondage to it. Colossians 1:14, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word for redemption is "apolutrosis", a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid." --Easton's Dictionary of the Bible.

It is difficult for man to accept that he is in bondage and that he is accountable to God for refusing the way out. If one is to be made free, he must come to Christ to obtain that freedom.

GOD'S RESTRAINING POWER AVAILABLE

David prayed, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."

This is the way of holiness. The Lord must keep us . . . from what David calls "presumptuous sins." One might say that keeping one's self from presumptuous sins is our responsibility. That is true but the fact that Paul asked for help with this only proves it can be done. We should pray for the same. "Presumptuous sins" can bring us into bondage. It can bring chastening.

God does restrain sin. It is not enough "to will" not to do something. What ever sin or sins are included in this cry for help, David knew God was available and his faith led him to pray for help.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White