Romans 6 | Recon Yourselves Dead to Sin
Note: Paul continues to bring up questions in anticipation of objections. This is likely due to the fact that he has taught these principles many times and knows the common questions. His rhetorical method is effective.
V1-4
Since God covers sin with His abounding grace, the question arises “Should we sin more, so God can be glorified in saving greater sinners?” Paul answers with his firm “May it never be!”
Then Paul gives the reason why we should not continue in sin: Because we have died to sin through our (spiritual) baptism into Christ.
The language here indicates that when I repented and believed the gospel and was baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ, it was as if I was on the cross with/in Christ just as I was with/in Adam when he ate the fruit (see Romans 5:12-21). My old life of sin has been crucified and I live by faith in Christ with the hope of the resurrection (Gal. 2:20).
Thus, I should walk in newness of life, because I am in newness of life.
V5-11
Paul continues this line of thought pointing out that just as we have been united with Christ in His death, so shall we be united with Him in the resurrection.
He uses our death in Christ to show that we are now freed from sin. Since we died to sin, we are no longer ruled by it.
Just as Christ will never die again, so shall we never die again, because death does not have dominion over us now that we are in Christ who has conquered death.
V12-14
Paul’s conclusion is that we should not let sin reign in our bodies since it no longer has dominion over us.
Just as a slave who has been set free from his old master is under no obligation to obey the master, so should we not obey sin or present our bodies as tools of sin. The sin nature can shout orders (temptations), but we no longer have to obey as we once did when we were dead in our sin (Ephesians 2:1-3).
This is a critical reality. We are to “recon” ourselves dead to sin. We must change our mind over to the reality that sin is no longer our master, no matter how forcefully temptation shouts orders for us to sin.
V15-19
Paul raises the question of whether we should sin (even though we are not slaves to sin) since we are under grace. This is really a continuation of the last question as he addresses it from another perspective. The answer is firmy “By No Means!”
Paul points out that whatever you obey is your master. You are slave to whatever it is you obey.
Either you are a slave to sin (which leads to death) or a slave to obedience (which leads to righteousness). As Bob Dylan says “You’ve gotta serve somebody.”
Your new master (righteousness) leads you to sanctification. (Paul notes that he’s using human terms for the sake of illustration)
V20-23
Paul points out that before we were slaves to righteousness, we were “free” in regards to righteousness. However, the fruit of the former life lived apart from obedience was fruit we are now ashamed of. Further, the end result of sin is death.
Note: this is not merely a reference to eternal things (thought that is included). Sinning goes against God’s natural order in this life and in eternity. Sinning will lead to physical death and eternal damnation. Note that the greedy, adulterers, homosexuals, etc. often suffer from anxiety and illness. The murderer fears his own demise. The thief fears he will be robbed. They all descend to addiction, loneliness, and death. Worse, eternal punishment awaits them.
We are either on the path to death (sin) or the path to sanctification (obedience). Be a slave to obedience, a slave to Christ, and live joyfully in sanctification.
Thus, Paul ends this section with the classic verse (23) that so clearly points out the contrast between death and eternal life. However, note that just as justification is by grace, so is sanctification as both are in Christ. The wagest (payment) for sin is death. Note the “works” language. Death through sin is by works…works of the flesh (Gal. 5). However, eternal life is a free gift that we gain by being IN Christ Jesus as we were once in Adam. We call this the doctrine of Federal Headship. Adam was our federal “head” while we were in sin. Now, Christ is our federal Head.
The slave to sin will work to sin. The slave to righteousness will see the free gift of eternal life manifest in obedience, because Christ obeyed and we are in Christ. It is still His works, but we are now obediently growing in spiritual fruit of obedience because we are in Christ (Gal 5:22ff and John 15).
