We were all born spiritually dead and powerless under ‘Sin’s dominion.’ ‘Sin’ (singular) is the nature that automatically prompts our wrong, self-centered, doings. But now, as saved believers our powerless “Old Man is crucified with Christ,” thereby, we’ve been ‘freed’ from the dominion of “Sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3).

We’ve been spiritually “raised up” (Rom. 6:3-4) with Christ. As regenerated believers we are now in union with Christ in His death, and then also in His Life (cf. Col. 3:4).

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: (so) that like as Christ was Raised Up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so We Also Should Walk in Newness of Life.” (Romans 6:3-4)
“Knowing this, that our old man ‘is’ crucified with him, (so) that the body of sin might be destroyed (Gk. kartargeo, be made of no effect), (so) that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin (from Sin’s dominion)” (Romans 6:6-7 (KJV)

The Law purposes to ‘control behavior’ under threat of ‘punishment.’ Its focus is solely on behavior, thus making its requirements superficial. The law doesn’t go deep enough to change our heart’s mind and will. This explains the weakness of religion’s law-based ‘performance-based acceptance systems.’

• Law cannot save a soul, cannot remove sin and cannot empower anyone to righteous living.
• Law actually empowers sin.  “… the strength (Gk. dunamis, force) of sin is the law.” (1 Cor. 15:56b)

“For Sin, taking occasion by the commandment (the Law), deceived me, and by it slew me.” (Rom. 7:11)

 “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom. 3:20) “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the (sinful) flesh (of Adam’s’ kin)” (Rom. 8:3a)

Walking righteously is ‘God’s grace in action.’ Grace removes the superficial requirements of the law and by contrast, ‘Repurposes Our Obstinate Hearts.’ Grace reveals to us the finished work of Christ’s cross, saying ‘Trust in Him, so you will be free.’ His Grace ‘motivates’ us to choose righteousness over sin.

Grace is received only by “faith” and faith for living is a ‘learned trust’ that cannot be forced upon us.

• Grace’s first work is seen in Christ’s sacrifice at the Cross … on our behalf, saving our soul.
• Grace … simultaneously ‘washed away our sins’ … and then ‘renews of our soul’ (cf. Titus 3:5)
• Grace works to change the focus of our ‘hearts and minds’… toward the Lord.
• It is In Seeing God’s Pure Grace that ‘repurposes our hearts’ to make the right choices for righteous living.

Immediately upon ‘believing’… the great grace of ‘the deposit of the righteous life of Christ ‘into us’ immediately confronts our “inward man (soul) man” with needed change.’ Still, we likely will sin on occasion, while ‘we don’t want to sin.’

We must realize that God’s focus under ‘grace’ isn’t on our ‘behavior,’ but our belief, our reliance upon the effectual truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ’ Cross-work on our behalf, and the fact of the indwelling life of the Lord.

The faith we had in “the gospel of the grace of Christ” that initially saved us … then works to renew our hearts. Grace’s focus is not our works, but the able work of “Christ in you.” He by His cross made a way for us…by His dying not only ‘For Us’ but also ‘As Us,’ to become ‘our new life.’ Our responsive hearts can’t help but to become more and more ‘repurposed… toward Him’ in all our doings.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of (springing from) the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20)

“Every man according as he PURPOSETH in his heart, so let him …” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

God’s intention is two-fold, that His Grace saves us, and then Grace works on the premise that a changed person with a repurposed heart will act differently. A believer who has received God’s love and knows the truth of God’s love in the gospel, thereby becomes ‘repurposed in heart and will, without ‘the law.’ By the grace of the Lord’s life working within him, the believer will will carry out what ‘God purposes in him.’

To not commit acts of sin is an act of the soul’s ‘will.’ Being repurposed in our heart comes to us by having come to realize, with great appreciation, “the love of Christ” who died for us and literally commits His overcoming “Spirit of life” to us. Seeing His absolute love, wins our heart, turning it toward Him more and more. This, “the love of Christ constraineth (urges and impels) us…” (2 Cor. 5:14).

So, after our salvation, the Grace of God works to repurpose our hearts, giving us revelatory “knowledge of the truth” and “light of the gospel,” which is necessary for us to trust in the Lord in all circumstances, moving our hearts to make the right choices.

“… but ye have ‘Obeyed From The Heart’ that form of doctrine (teaching) which was delivered you.” (Rom. 6:17)

“[Not in your strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work In you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” (Philippians 2:13)