Bible Studies

Sin Has No Dominion Over Me

by Michael Edwards 
06/26/26
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“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14 NASB)

This truth stands at the very heart of the New Covenant. Sin has no dominion over the believer specifically because we are not under law but under grace. If we were still under the Old Covenant law, the law of sin and death would still have dominion over us. But in Christ, that dominion has been broken forever.

Paul is speaking here of sin as a noun—a power, a master, a reigning force—not merely individual acts of sinning. In the book of Romans, Paul uses the Greek word for “sin” (hamartia) approximately 48 times. Strikingly, it appears as a verb only twice: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NASB) and “for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead” (Romans 7:8 NASB). Everywhere else, Paul treats sin as a noun—an oppressive ruler. (See Rom 7:14-25) Under law, sin reigns. Under grace, it does not.

In the original Greek, Romans 6:14 reads: “Hamartia gar humōn ou kyriēusei ou gar este hypo nomon alla hypo charin.” The key words are powerful. “Under” (hypo) means to be under the authority, control, or dominion of something—like being under a master. “Dominion” comes from kyriēuō, meaning to rule as lord, to be master over, or to have power over. Paul is declaring that sin no longer rules as lord over the believer because we are not under the law’s authority but under grace.

The law actually gave sin its power: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56 NASB). Without the law, sin is dead (Romans 7:8 NASB). This is why remaining under law keeps believers in bondage.

Paul drives this home with the powerful illustration of marriage in Romans 7. “Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” (Romans 7:1-4 NASB).

Just as a wife is released from the law of marriage when her husband dies, we died to the law through the body of Christ. We are now married to the risen Christ. The old marriage to the law is over. The dominion is broken.

This is why Paul can boldly proclaim freedom: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2 NASB). Under grace, sin is no longer our master. We are under a new authority—the grace of God that teaches us to deny ungodliness and live righteously (Titus 2:11-12 NASB).

Paul anticipates the objection: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” (Romans 6:15 NASB). We are not lawless. We are qualified as ministers of the Spirit, not the letter: “Who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6 NASB). We minister the spirit of the law—love—to ourselves and others. “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law... Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10 NASB).

Believer, declare this New Covenant reality daily: Sin has no dominion over me! I am not under law but under grace. Rest in this truth, walk by the Spirit, and watch the fruit of the New Covenant abound in your life. Will you still sin (verb)? Yes. Are you under the dominion of the law that leads sin to bring death? No. 

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2 NASB).

Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE. Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses. Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross. And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood." Luke 22:20