This week, we'll cover the last two verses (13-14) in this section (Romans 6:1-14). I've included the entirety of the verses below so you can read all you've studied so far. I've also linked the previous studies to the verses if you need a refresher (we could all use reminders) and bolded the verses we'll dive into this week. 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

In the previous verses of 11-12, we explored the idea of "reckoning" or doing the math. Then, we learned about the practical application of the principle of our death and resurrection with Jesus. 

Once you understand how the reckoning is complete, you can choose whether or not you will sin. You have the choice to allow sin to reign (rule) in your body or the choice to choose holiness. Will you still fall short? Yes, of course. But, your position is not that of a sinner; it's one of a saint. 

In verses 13-14, we learn how to walk in the freedom Jesus has given us. A person can be free yet still imprisoned. The habits of freedom aren't thoroughly ingrained and practiced in their life.

There's a fourteenth-century story of two brothers who fought to rule over a dukedom (now Belgium). The elder brother's name was Raynald, but he was commonly called "Crassus," a Latin nickname meaning "fat," because he was obese. After a heated battle, Raynald's younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him. As a result, he assumed the title of Duke over his lands. But instead of killing Raynald, Edward devised a curious imprisonment. He had a room in the castle built around "Crassus," a room with only one door. The door was not locked, the windows were not barred, and Edward promised that Raynald could regain his land and title at any time. All he would have to do was leave the room. The obstacle to freedom was not in the doors or the windows but with Raynald himself. Being grossly overweight, he could not fit through the door, even though it was of near-normal size. Raynald needed to diet down to a smaller size, then walk out a free man with all he had before his fall. However, his younger brother kept sending him an assortment of delectable foods. Raynald's desire to be free never won out over his desire to eat. Some would accuse Duke Edward of being cruel to his older brother, but he would reply, "My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills." But Raynald stayed in that room for ten years until Edward himself died in battle. 

Unfortunately, this story accurately illustrates the experience of many Christians. Jesus set us forever free legally, and we may walk in that freedom from sin whenever we choose. But since we keep yielding our bodily appetites to the service of sin, we live a life of defeat, discouragement, and imprisonment. Ouch. 

The Apostle Paul says, "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." 

Paul is telling us how to establish habits of freedom: don't use your mind, eyes, ears, lips, hands, and so forth to become tools of wickedness. Tools of evil do not create works of righteousness; they carve idols of sin. And then, we worship them. 

Instead, we are to present ourselves to God. David had righteous hands that slew Goliath, and he had evil eyes that looked upon Bathsheeba. If we desire to give ourselves to God, each action must be committed to Him. And, that does take practice because the renewing of the mind from death to life takes time. It takes time to enlist those tools (our minds, eyes, ears, lips, etc.) into the army of God instead of the army of wickedness. But, if we reckon that old life to be dead and recognize that we owe God everything we are, have, and ever hope to be—we can walk in God's freedom. 

Now that we know how to walk in freedom (presenting our life as a living sacrifice, moment by moment, to God), we must see the path to travel. Verse 14 provides us with that clarity by saying, 

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

The path we are to travel is the pathway of grace. It is not the pathway of legalism (earning God's favor) or perfectionism (performing for His love) -- it is a road that is a gift. Psalm 119:105-112 offers a poetic and picturesque description of what it means to walk the road of grace:

By your words I can see where I'm going;

    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.

I've committed myself and I'll never turn back

    from living by your righteous order.

Everything's falling apart on me, God;

    put me together again with your Word.

Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;

    teach me your holy rules.

My life is as close as my own hands,

    but I don't forget what you have revealed.

The wicked do their best to throw me off track,

    but I don't swerve an inch from your course.

I inherited your book on living; it's mine forever—

    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!

I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—

    I always have and always will.

Grace, not the law, provides the freedom and the power to live over sin. To put it another way: you will not conquer your sin by putting worldly habits, agendas, disciplines, or plans in place. Sin was defeated by Christ's work, which is already done in your life. That's a passive tense sentence I just wrote because the work of Christ is finished, and He's sitting down. Are you still pacing the floor, worried about how you will overcome your wicked flesh? 

Know your position in Christ and sit down and rest. He has already fought for you (Exodus 14:14) and is ready for you to sit with Him. You now know how to walk (verse 13) and what way to go (verse 14). See you at the finish line.