Just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity… so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
—Romans 6:19
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a classic story in the nineteenth century about a man with two natures living in one body. There was Dr. Jekyll, kind, gracious, benevolent. And there was Mr. Hyde, cruel, vindictive, even murderous. Two natures, one skin, locked in a war.
In a small way, every Christian understands the struggle of Jekyll and Hyde. We know that war from the inside. Because while we’ve been given a brand-new nature in Jesus Christ, our flesh, the world, and Satan keep fighting against us. The temptation to fall back into our old patterns of behavior is real, and it’s daily.
But here’s the crucial difference between us and poor Dr. Jekyll: if we’re in Christ, the Bible says we are no longer slaves to the old nature. We are not dominated by our past or controlled by our former way of living. We’ve been set free. And that changes how we read this verse, because Paul issues a command we actually have the power to obey: “present your members as slaves to righteousness.”
Notice the word “present.” It’s an act of the will. Every day, you decide who gets your members, your hands, your eyes, your tongue, your mind, your body. You once handed all of that over to impurity, and it led to more lawlessness. Now Paul says, deliberately hand the very same faculties over to righteousness instead, and watch where that road leads: sanctification, growing holiness, becoming more like Jesus.
Here’s a phrase I want you to hold onto: sin may be dormant in the believer’s life, but it is no longer dominant. Dormant means it’s still there, still capable of stirring, still whispering. But dominant means in charge: and it is not in charge anymore. The throne has changed hands.
What astonishes me is how many Christians talk about sin as if they have no choice in the matter, as if Mr. Hyde simply takes over and there’s nothing to be done. “That’s just how I am.” “I can’t help it.” But that’s surrender language, and it doesn’t fit a person who’s been set free. Sin isn’t your master anymore. Jesus is.
So how do you win the war within? Not by gritting your teeth and trying harder in your own strength, Jekyll tried that and it failed. You win by presenting yourself, again and again, to your true Master. You put to death the deeds of the body by affirming your commitment to Christ and following Him with your entire being.
Every morning is a fresh presentation. Whose are you today? To whom will you hand your eyes, your words, your time, your body? Present them to righteousness. Yield to the Spirit who lives in you, not to the flesh that’s been dethroned.
The war is real, but the outcome is not in doubt. Be victorious in the battle within by following Christ, not your flesh.
SIN MAY BE DORMANT IN THE BELIEVER, BUT IT IS NO LONGER DOMINANT, PRESENT YOUR MEMBERS TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
