Romans 6:1

Romans 6:1-14. Justification organically connected with sanctification: grace the supreme motive to obedience

1. What shall we say then? Here begins the direct treatment of a great topic already suggested, (Romans 3:5-8,) the relation of gratuitous Pardon to Sanctity. This discussion occupies ch. 6 and Romans 7:1-6; and is closely connected with the rest of ch. 7.

Let us distinctly note that up to this point it has not been explicitly in the argument at all. The strongest statementsof the evil and the doom of sin were made e. g. in cch. 1 and 2; but the argumentthus far has been wholly occupied with acceptance; with Justification. No part of the passage from Romans 3:9 to this point, has purification of heartfor its propersubject.

continue, &c. Lit. remain upon sin. The phrase is frequent in other connexions, and tends to mean not mere continuance, but perseverance in will and act. See e.g. 1 Timothy 4:16. The objection anticipated in this verse is abundantly illustrated in Church history. It may be prompted either by the craving for sinful licence, or by a prejudice against the doctrine of purely gratuitous pardon under the belief that it does logically favour security in sin. It is all the more noteworthy that St Paul meets it notby modifying in the least the gratuitous aspect of pardon; notby presenting any merit of the pardoned person as even the minutest element in the causeof pardon. He takes sanctity as entirely the effectof Justification, not at all its cause.