Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Grace is one of the most powerful forces on earth. But, as we discussed, grace is not automatic. We have to choose to apply grace to both ourselves and others. Grace, when applied properly, has authority over judgment.

In our focus verses today, we see two concepts to consider. First of all, in Romans 6, Paul uses the phrase, “we are not under law but under grace.” This phrase is using the language of authority. We are ‘under’ authority; you are bound to its regulations. The rule of law is that if you are guilty of one part, it isthe same as being guilty of all of it. You, in essence, are always enslaved. This aspect illustrates why, when living by the law, we continually return to sins.

But, when we are ‘under grace’, we are living by a spirit of freedom and not a spirit of bondage. When we understand grace properly, we are empowered to be free from what the law attempts to restrain. In other words, the law is put in place to govern sinfulness. Grace is put into effect to overcome sinfulness. The law attempts to manage. Grace shows up to conquer.

Paul speaks to Titus and says, “grace teaches to say ‘no’ to ungodliness.” The law condemns. Grace frees. The law is heavy. Grace supports. The yoke of the law is burdensome. The yoke of grace is easy.

Why is this? Law attempts to control by outward restraints for an inward problem. Grace overcomes the inward problem and gives strength from within. I John 4:4 says, ‘greater is he that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world.”

So anytime you are feeling overwhelmed, heavy, burdened, look around….are you living under a law of bondage or are you UNDER GRACE, living by His Spirit?

It's time to let go of the heavy burden and walk by grace.