Romans 6:1-11

Text

Romans 6:1-11. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Romans 6:2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? Romans 6:3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; Romans 6:7 for he that hath died is justified from sin. Romans 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; Romans 6:9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. Romans 6:10 For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Romans 6:11 Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.

REALIZING ROMANS, Romans 6:1-11

229.

How would grace abound by our continuing in sin?

230.

Who believes that sin makes grace abound?

231.

Is this belief a temptation today? Why?

232.

When did we die to sin? Did we die when Christ died? cf. Galatians 2:20. Did we also die later?

233.

What is the point of the argument of Romans 6:2?

234.

In what sense could we say the saints in Rome were ignorant?

235.

In what sense were we baptized into Christ?

236.

How does being baptized into the death of Christ hinder sinning?

237.

Into what were we buried? Is there any objection to saying this represents Holy Spirit baptism?

238.

In what way (specify) is the Christian life new?

239.

We were united with Christ. Where and when?

240.

What resurrection is discussed in Romans 6:5?

241.

What is the old man of Romans 6:6? Where was he crucified with Christ?

242.

What is the body of sin?

243.

We are in bondage to sin when we continue in it, but we cannot continue in sin, for we are dead. Is that the argument of Romans 6:7?

244.

What circumstance of living with Christ is discussed in Romans 6:8here or hereafter?

245.

The type of death and resurrection Christ experienced is an example for us. How so?

246.

We are dead and alive at the same time. Explain.

Paraphrase

Romans 6:1-11. We who have declared the malignity of sin in killing men, what do we say when we teach the superabounding of grace? Do we say, Let us continue in sin, that grace may abound in our pardon?

Romans 6:2 No. We who have died by sin corporally and spiritually, can we hope to live eternally by continuing in it? The thing is impossible, unless the nature of God and of sin were changed.

Romans 6:3 Our baptism teaches us, that we have died by sin. For are ye ignorant, that so many of us as have by baptism become Christ's disciples, have been baptized into the likeness of his death, (Romans 6:5.) have been buried under the water, as persons who, like Christ, have been killed by sin? Romans 6:10.

Romans 6:4 Besides, we have been buried together with Christ by baptism, into the likeness of his death, (Romans 6:5.), to teach us this other lesson, that though we have been killed by sin, (Romans 6:6), yet like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the power of the Father, to live forever, (Romans 6:9), even so we also, by the same power, shall enjoy a new and never-ending life in heaven with him.

Romans 6:5 For seeing Christ and we have been planted together in baptism, in the likeness of his death as occasioned by sin, certainly, by being raised out of the water of baptism, we are taught that we shall be also planted together in the likeness of his resurrection.

Romans 6:6 Ye know this also to be signified by baptism; that our old corrupt nature was crucified together with him, that the body, with its affections and lusts, (Galatians 5:24), which sin has seized, might be rendered inactive, in order that we may not any longer as slaves serve sin in the present life.

Romans 6:7 Sin has no title to rule you; for, as the slave who is dead is freed from his master, he who hath been put to death by sin is freed from sin.

Romans 6:8 Since then we have died with Christ by sin, we believe, what our baptism likewise teaches us, that we shall also rise and live together with him in heaven, to die no more.

Romans 6:9 For we know that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more: death no more lordeth it over him; but he will live eternally in the body, as we shall do also after our resurrection.

Romans 6:10 I say, dieth no more. For Christ who died, died by the malignity of sin once, that being sufficient to procure our pardon; but Christ who liveth after having died, liveth in the body for ever by the power of God;

Romans 6:11 So then, from Christ's death and resurrection, conclude ye yourselves to have been dead verily by sin, but now made alive by God, who at present delivers you from the spiritual death by regeneration, and will deliver you from the bodily death by a blessed resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Summary

We are not to continue in sin that favor may abound. On the contrary, as we died to sin before our immersion, it would be inconsistent to still live in it now. By being immersed into Christ we were immersed into his death, and so were buried with him; and as he rose to live a new life, so we also, being risen like him, are to live in newness of life. We became united with Christ by being buried with him; and we are to remain united with him by doing as he does, not living our former, but a new life. We were crucified with Christ in order to render inactive our sinful bodies, and this is to the end that we might not serve sin. As we died with Christ and rose with him, so we must now live like himwe must live a new life free from sin. Christ being raised from the dead, is to die no more; and so with us. We have died to sin once, and this must be the end of our dying. In order to this we must sin no more. In dying, Christ died to sin once for all, but now lives to God; so our death to sin must be a finality; we must now constantly live to God, and consequently commit no more sin.

Comment

1. Objection as to the Abundance of Grace. Romans 6:1-14

The Objection stated. From what Paul had said about sin and grace (where sin did abound grace did abound more exceedingly) it would seem to some that they would be encouraged to go on sinning. If more sin means more grace, why not continue in sin that grace may abound? Romans 6:1

The apostle is horrified at such a suggestion. He cries out, God forbid. Then follow the reasons for the denial. Romans 6:2 a

The whole answer to this objection is associated either directly or indirectly with the true meaning of baptism. Note:

a. We cannot continue in sin any more than a corpse could continue in its former life. Just as the dead man has died to his former life, so we have died to sin. Just as he cannot live any longer in his former life because of his death, we cannot live any longer in sin because of our death. This condition was brought about by our belief and repentance preceding our baptism. Romans 6:2 b

b. Then follow comments upon that act that brought about our separation from sin. Since the thought of death to sin in repentance and the separation from sin in baptism were always so closely associated (cp. Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19) the author places this comment in a self explanatory question. Being baptized, we were baptized into Christ and at the same time baptized into his death. This gives abundant reason for not continuing in sin. Not only have we died to sin through our repentance, but in our baptism we have become identified with Christ in his death. The thought of the impossibility of a dead man still manifesting life is developed from a twofold position: (1) our death to sin; (2) our union through baptism with Christ's death. Romans 6:3

c. We find next a description of that act in which we came into the death of Christ. How did we find union with Christ? How did we become associated in his death? The answer is by being buried with him through baptism into his death. But that is not all, for even as Christ did not remain in the tomb, but was raised by the glory of the Father to that new life, even so, we who have met his death in baptism and have thus been buried with him must also be raised to walk in a new life. Here we see a further reason for not continuing in sin. How could we think of continuing in sin following our burial and resurrection any more than Christ could have continued in his former life following his burial and resurrection? The fifth verse expresses this very thought: For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, (this has been thoroughly described) we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. (In other words, we are to follow Christ in this point also; even as Christ's life was not the same after his resurrection, so ours is to be like his. Following our resurrection from the waters of baptism we are to live and walk in a resurrected life.) Romans 6:4-5

d. Verse six carries a word picture of what has already been said. Our old man so often spoken of as the animal nature, or as Paul calls it, the flesh, has been nailed to the cross. When we were being immersed we were thereby signifying that we had died to sin and were now being buried. In the act of baptism we came into his crucifixion. This was carried out for the purpose of nullifying the body of sin or the flesh so we could be given freedom from the bondage in which we were held by the animal nature, The method of attaining the crucifixion of self and thus being released from the bondage of the flesh is by way of faith and repentance before baptism, and repentance and prayer following baptism. This all, of course, presents a further reason for not continuing in sin, for if the whole purpose of our salvation was to free us from the bondage of sin, through self, we would be defeating the very economy of God to continue in sin, The final word of proof on this point is offered in the seventh verse which speaks of a legal fact. There can be no legal claims made on a man who is dead; his death has released him from any such claims. Just so with the Christian and sin, since he is dead, sin can lay no claim to him; through his death he is free from its power. Romans 6:6-7

e.

But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him (Romans 6:8). It must be kept in mind that the apostle is still answering the objection. He has beautifully portrayed our death with Christ, and in this portrayal we saw many reasons why we could not continue in sin. Now he adds one further thought, and that is that if we were in Christ when he died, surely we would be in him when he arose; hence we must live like him, like he now is in his resurrected state. Being in Christ means something; it means living as a transformed new creature in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:8

f. A parallel is formed in the next three verses which serves to illuminate, illustrate and enlarge what has just been said. We have been told that when Christ died and arose again we were in him and thus were to participate in the benefits of his death (by our repentance and baptism) and to walk in the glories of the resurrected life. Notice now the description given of his death and resurrection. See the completeness of his death; behold the glories of his victory over the grave. Well, Christians of Rome, your death to sin is to be like his death. He died unto sin once; even so, you are not to fall back into sin and then have to die all over again. And your new life is to be like his: the life that he liveth he liveth unto God. Romans 6:11

123.

State the first objection to the proposition.

124.

Give the first answer as found in Romans 6:2 b.

125.

Give the second answer as found in Romans 6:3. (This answer is twofold.)

126.

Give the third answer as in Romans 6:4-5.

127.

State in your own words the fourth answer as in Romans 6:6-7.

128.

What is the fifth reason for not continuing in sin as found in Romans 6:8?

Rethinking in Outline Form

OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSITION Romans 6:1, Romans 7:25

1.

Objection as to the Abundance of Grace. Romans 6:1-14

Objection Stated: If more sin means more grace, why not continue in sin that grace may abound? Romans 6:1

Objection answered, or reasons for not continuing in sin. Romans 6:2 a - Romans 6:11

a.

We cannot continue in sin because we have died to sin. We are as dead to sin as a corpse is to its former life. Romans 6:2 b

b.

We cannot continue in sin, for we are in union with Christ and his death. Being in the sinless one, we cannot continue in sin. Being in his death, we can no more live in sin than he could while he was dead. Romans 6:3

c.

We have been raised into a resurrected life, a new life. If we have been raised, how can we think of walking in our former lusts? Romans 6:4-5

d.

The very purpose of our crucifying the old man was that the body of sin (or the flesh) might be done away. Now, if that was the purpose of our death, burial and resurrection, would we not be nullifying the purpose of our redemption if we continued to live after the desires of the flesh? Romans 6:6

e.

It is a legal fact that there can be no claim brought against a man after his death. We are dead to sin. Would it not be a ridiculous spectacle to allow sin to lay claim to our hearts and lives? Romans 6:7

f.

If we were in Christ when he died, surely we would be in him when he arose; hence we must live with him now or like himlike he now is in his resurrected state. Romans 6:8

g.

Note the death of Christ to sin: he died once; he lives unto God. Imitate him. die once to sin, be alive and live unto God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:9-11

Let us describe what happens when we continue in sin. Our members become instruments in the hands of Satan. A call comes to present ourselves to God as alive from the dead and use our members as his instruments for righteousness. Romans 6:12-13

We can know that we are under grace and can be forgiven any time we might stumble, so there is really no reason why sin should have dominion over us. Romans 6:14