INESSA'S JOURNAL

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what sin actually is? Many of us immediately think of a list of behaviors—lying, stealing, adultery, pride, drunkenness, or anger. While these are certainly sins, they are actually the fruit of something much deeper. As I studied Romans 6, I realized Paul wasn’t simply trying to convince believers to stop sinning. He wanted believers to understand what sin really is so they could experience true freedom.

Sin Is More Than Bad Behavior

The Greek word for sin is hamartia, which means “to miss the mark.” Imagine an archer aiming at the center of a target but missing it. That is the picture Scripture gives us. God created humanity to reflect His image—to love Him, trust Him, and represent His character on the earth. Sin causes us to miss that purpose.

But Scripture goes even deeper. Sin isn’t only something we do; it is a condition of the human heart that causes us to live independently from God. At its root, sin says, “I know better. I will decide what is right for my life. I don’t need God in this area.” Faith says the opposite: “Father, I trust You,” even when I don’t understand and even when obedience is difficult.

The deepest issue isn’t simply breaking God’s commands. It is choosing independence over dependence on Him. Sin is living as though we are our own source of wisdom, truth, and direction. Righteousness, on the other hand, is living in complete dependence on God.

Where Did Sin Begin?

Sin did not begin with murder, adultery, or any outward act of rebellion. It began in the Garden of Eden when the serpent caused Adam and Eve to question God’s Word and His goodness. He asked, “Did God really say…?” In that moment, the battle wasn’t simply about eating fruit—it was about trust.

Would they trust God’s wisdom, or would they trust their own understanding?

Adam and Eve chose independence over dependence on God. They believed the lie that they could determine good and evil for themselves instead of trusting the One who created them. At its deepest level, the first sin was rejecting God’s authority and choosing to become their own source of truth.

That same pattern continues today.

Every sin begins with believing something other than what God has said. Before sin becomes an action, it begins with an agreement in our mind and heart. Every act of disobedience starts with believing a lie instead of God’s truth.

This is why the enemy constantly attacks our thoughts. If he can convince us to question God’s character, doubt His promises, or trust ourselves more than Him, our actions will eventually follow.

This is also why renewing our minds is so important. Transformation doesn’t begin by changing our behavior—it begins by replacing lies with God’s truth. When our minds are renewed, our hearts change. When our hearts change, our actions begin to reflect the character of Christ.

Paul builds on this truth throughout Romans. He explains that sin entered the world through Adam and spread to all humanity. But through Jesus Christ, a new way has been opened. Just as Adam’s choice brought sin and death, Christ’s obedience brings righteousness and life to everyone who places their faith in Him.

Sin Begins in the Heart

Jesus shifted people’s understanding of sin. Many believed sin was only about outward actions, but Jesus taught that sin begins internally. Our thoughts, motives, and desires eventually become our actions. The heart is the birthplace of everything we do. This is why transformation must happen from the inside out. God isn’t simply trying to modify our behavior—He wants to renew our hearts.

Sin Wants to Become Your Master

This is where Paul’s teaching becomes incredibly powerful. Romans 6 doesn’t describe sin as an occasional mistake. Paul describes sin as a master—something that wants to rule us, control us, shape our decisions, influence our thoughts, and determine our identity. Before Christ, humanity lived under the authority of sin.

But Jesus changed everything.

Romans 6 reminds us that because of Jesus, sin is no longer our master. We are no longer slaves to the old nature. Through His death and resurrection, we have been given a new identity, a new heart, and the power of the Holy Spirit to live differently.

Grace Doesn’t Excuse Sin

One of the first questions Paul answers is this: “If God’s grace is so great, should we continue sinning so grace increases?” His answer is immediate: Absolutely not. Grace is never permission to remain the same. Grace is the power God gives us to become who He created us to be. Grace doesn’t lower God’s standard; grace empowers us to live it.

Your Identity Has Changed

When you surrendered your life to Jesus, something supernatural happened. Paul says your old self was crucified with Christ. That doesn’t mean temptation disappeared. It means your identity changed. You are no longer defined by your past. You are no longer a slave to sin. You belong to Christ.

This is why Paul says, “Consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Notice he says “consider.” He’s inviting us to agree with what God has already done. Transformation begins with agreement. When our thinking changes, our lives begin changing.

Present Yourself to God

Paul then gives us one of the greatest practical lessons in the Christian life. He writes, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body.”

Notice he doesn’t say sin no longer exists.

He says it no longer has authority unless we give it authority.

Every single day we present ourselves to someone. Either we present ourselves to the flesh, or we present ourselves to God. Whatever we continually surrender to eventually shapes our lives.

The Real Battle

The Christian life isn’t simply about avoiding bad behavior. It is about learning who sits on the throne of our hearts.

Will my emotions lead me?

Will my desires lead me?

Will culture lead me?

Or will the Holy Spirit lead me?

The battle has always been about surrender.

Every day we answer one question:

Who will I trust?

Will I trust my own understanding, or will I trust the One who created me and knows what leads to life?

The beautiful news of Romans 6 is this: Jesus didn’t only die to forgive your sins. He died to break sin’s authority over your life. Freedom isn’t pretending temptation doesn’t exist. Freedom is knowing temptation no longer owns you because Jesus does.

Reflection

Take a moment today and ask yourself:

• What lies have I been believing that cause me to trust myself more than God?
• What areas of my life am I still trying to control instead of surrendering?
• Who is sitting on the throne of my heart today?

The more we understand what sin truly is, the more we appreciate what Jesus actually accomplished on the cross. He didn’t simply forgive us. He came to restore us back into relationship with the Father, renew our minds, transform our hearts, and teach us to walk by His Spirit.

That is the freedom Romans 6 invites us to live every single day.