One could deduce from this that we Gentiles should make no effort to obey the numerous exhortations to righteous living that are found in the New Testament but should simply "believe." But as we said, Paul was arguing with the teachers of the Law of Moses. Paul was saying we cannot reject the atonement made by the blood of the Lord Jesus and go about seeking to establish our own righteousness.

Paul would never employ "grace" as a means of tempering his stern warnings to believers who continue to walk in the appetites and lusts of the flesh. Rather, Paul was urging his listeners to choose God's way to righteousness through Christ rather than to attempt to keep the numerous commandments of the Law of Moses or to develop some plan of their own for acquiring righteousness.

Righteousness is defined as "that which pleases God." If we would obtain righteousness in God's sight, we must enter the plan of salvation God has ordained. God's plan of salvation includes forgiveness through the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus and also moral transformation until we are in the image of His Son.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be changed into the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

It is inappropriate to attempt to balance a stress on transformation by reminding us of God's grace, because the purpose of grace is to effect moral transformation.

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

The writing of Paul in the two verses that precede the verse above defines what Paul means by sin not having dominion over us.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:12,13)

In the Book of Romans, Paul announces that we have died to the authority of the Law of Moses and are free from its regulations. Our sins have been forgiven. We do not have to worry any longer about the animal sacrifices, circumcision, or the feast days. This does not mean we are free to sin, for then sin would retain dominion over us. It is true rather that through the Presence of God in Christ we are able to turn away from slavery to sin and become the slave of righteousness.

The wages of sin is death. If we believers (for Paul is writing to the saints in Rome) choose through Christ to serve the laws of righteousness, we will receive the gift of eternal life. The gift of life does not come as something handed to us on our acceptance of Christ. The gift of life is the gift of an opportunity to attain life by turning away from slavery to sin, choosing instead to be the slave of righteousness.

To be continued.