Romans 6

Romans 6 is a pivotal chapter in Paul's epistle to the Romans, focusing on the transformative power of grace and the believer's relationship with sin. In this chapter, Paul addresses how believers, through baptism into Christ Jesus, have died to sin and are now called to live a new life in alignment with their identity in Christ. The core message emphasizes that grace is not a license to sin but a powerful motivator for sanctification and a life dedicated to God.

Verse 1: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?"

Paul begins with a rhetorical question, challenging the idea that believers might continue in sin under the assumption that it would merely serve to highlight the abundance of God's grace.

Verse 2: "Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"

Paul emphatically rejects the notion of continuing in sin. He introduces the concept that believers have died to sin through Christ, and thus, living in sin is inconsistent with their new nature.

Verse 3: "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?"

Baptism is presented as a symbol of unity with Christ, particularly in His death. Through baptism, believers symbolically participate in the death of Jesus, which means dying to sin.

Verse 4: "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."

This verse parallels the believer’s experience with that of Christ’s resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, believers are called to live a new, transformed life.

Verse 5: "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,"

Paul asserts a future hope: just as believers share in Christ’s death, they will also share in His resurrection. Ephesians 2:5-6 underscores that believers, once spiritually dead, are now made alive with Christ. Not only are they raised up, but they are also seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, signifying a present state of honor and authority in the spiritual realm.

Verse 6: "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."

The crucifixion of the "old self" with Christ breaks the dominion of sin, liberating believers from its enslavement.

Verse 7: "For he who has died has been freed from sin."

Death severs the binding power of sin, emphasizing that those who have died with Christ are freed from sin's mastery.

Verse 8: "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,"

Paul connects the believer's death with Christ to the assurance of eternal life and ongoing spiritual vitality with Him.

Verse 9: "knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him."

Christ's resurrection is depicted as a definitive victory over death, a state that is permanent and empowering for those in Him.

Verse 10: "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."

Christ’s death dealt with sin conclusively and eternally, and His resurrected life is now completely oriented towards God.

Verse 11: "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Believers are encouraged to consider themselves as having the same experience as Christ: dead to sin, but alive to God, thus fostering a life of righteousness.

Verse 12: "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts."

This verse is a practical exhortation for believers to resist sin’s influences and not yield to sinful behaviors.

Verse 13: "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."

Believers are called to dedicate themselves completely to God, using their lives to promote righteousness instead of sin.

Verse 14: "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

The chapter concludes with the affirmation that sin’s dominion is broken not by the law, which highlights sin, but by grace, which empowers righteousness and a new life in Christ.

Verse 15: "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!"

Paul reiterates the rhetorical style to reinforce the message against misusing grace as a license to sin. The question emphasizes that grace should lead to holiness, not lawlessness.

Verse 16: "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"

This verse uses the metaphor of slavery to illustrate a spiritual truth: submission to sin leads to spiritual death, while obedience to God leads to righteousness.

Verse 17: "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered."

Paul expresses gratitude that the believers have moved from being slaves to sin to wholehearted obedience to the teachings of the gospel, which have transformed them.

Verse 18: "And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

Freedom from sin is portrayed not as license, but as an obligation to live righteously, underscoring the transformative power of the gospel.

Verse 19: "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness."

Paul acknowledges the limitations of human understanding and uses a practical example to clarify his point. The believers are urged to devote themselves as fully to righteousness as they once did to sin, which leads to sanctification.

Verse 20: "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness."

This verse highlights that prior to salvation, the believers were not influenced by righteousness, illustrating their complete separation from God’s ways.

Verse 21: "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death."

Paul encourages the believers to reflect on their past lives, emphasizing that the outcomes of their sinful behaviors were shameful and deadly.

Verse 22: "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life."

The contrast is stark: freedom from sin and servitude to God result in holiness and eternal life, highlighting the rewarding nature of a life dedicated to God.

Verse 23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This concluding verse is a powerful summary of the chapter's message. It contrasts the outcomes of sin and God’s grace: sin pays with death, but God gifts eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Throughout Romans 6, Paul deeply engages with the concept of spiritual transformation, emphasizing that believers are to live in a manner consistent with their new identity in Christ, forsaking sin and pursuing holiness. This call to live a transformed life is grounded in the theological truths of the gospel and is pivotal to understanding Christian ethics and sanctification.