Romans 6:1-7 (EHV) What shall we say then? Shall we keep on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 Absolutely not! We died to sin. How can we go on living in it any longer? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him by this baptism into his death, so that just as he was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him, to make our sinful body powerless, so that we would not continue to serve sin. 7 For the person who has died has been declared free from sin.
V1 What shall we say then? Shall we keep on sinning so that grace may increase?
After showing the consequences of sin, Paul asks the Roman believers a question. Should we continue to live a life of sinful pleasure?
Seems reasonable, especially if God is glorified by salvation and forgiveness of sins. Shouldn’t we continue to sin? The more we sin, the greater the grace.
False!!!! As Paul explains in the next verse. We are to live holy lives according to the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
V2 Absolutely not! We died to sin. How can we go on living in it any longer?
Paul’s response and answer is, “No, absolutely no.” No; may it never be.
Reason? We are dead to sin. Being dead to sin is to be alive to righteousness. We were convicted that our sin was wrong, against God’s will, and punishable by eternal torment in hell. Our old, sin nature has been condemned and put to death. We are now a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
We were slaves, addicted to sin. This is an addiction that cannot be stopped.
Death is not annihilation but separation. We are severed from sin by the blood of Jesus and our faith.
V3 Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
This is, I believe, referring to physical, water baptism, which is an outward act that we have repented and identified with Jesus Christ.
Baptism is commanded—Matthew 28:19-20.
Baptism was practiced by the early church—Acts 18:8.
Is not a washing of the body, but it is reflective of a new heart and a cleaned conscience. 1 Peter 3:21 (NLT) And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
V4 We were therefore buried with him by this baptism into his death, so that just as he was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life.
When we physically die, people are usually buried. The illustration, then, is a burial, a death, of the old, sinful nature. It is a renouncing of sin and sinful pleasure. It is a declaration of not serving satan anymore but serving the Lord Jesus.
We are spiritually resurrected to a new life which was affected by God and for the glory of God the Father.
Thus, we are to live this new life. We now have a new worldview (God’s worldview), a new King (Jesus), a new law (the Law of Christ), and a new way of life.
1 Peter 2:24 (WEL) Who himself bore our sins in his own body on the cross in order that we who have died to sins might live for righteousness. By his wound, you were healed.
V5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection.
Jesus literally died physically and was buried, so also our sin nature has died.
Jesus literally resurrected physically, so now we have a new life of living God’s ways.
V6 We know that our old self was crucified with him, to make our sinful body powerless, so that we would not continue to serve sin.
The old self, which is the sin nature, is dead, is crucified, and is gone. It is powerless.
So, we should not pretend that it is alive and live that old life any longer by serving sin.
7 For the person who has died has been declared free from sin.
We have died, thus declared free from sin. We are now justified by faith in Jesus alone. Faith brought regeneration (John 3:15-18, Galatians 3:24, Romans 3:28, and Romans 1:17).
We learn:
- About faith.
- About being freed by our addiction to sin.
- About having all things new, so we can live God’s way.
Questions:
- Have you believed in Jesus alone for salvation?
- Are you seeking to live and think according to God’s ways?