Romans 6

Romans 6:1:
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Paul begins this chapter by posing a question about the implications of the statements that ended chapter 5. There, he wrote that where sin increased, God's grace "super-increased." That is, as sin increased, so did God's grace abound to cover the sin of all those who trusted in Christ's death to cover their sin. We literally cannot out-sin the grace of God. [SOURCE: Bible Ref]

Because of Christ's substitutionary death.. our old life is dead to sin and our new life is alive to Him. We are no longer 'positioned' in Satan but 'positioned' in Christ. We have been given a secure, permanent and eternal position, which is a free gift of God's super-abounding grace to all who trust in Christ as Saviour.

The question in Romans 6:1 was not imaginary, and not just in the first century. For instance, the infamous Russian monk Rasputin rationalized his immoral acts by saying God’s grace needed something to forgive. So if God forgives, then why should God or I care how I live? What makes it better to choose a life free from “sin’s” domination (i.e. attitudes and actions that hinder your relationship with God, others, even yourself) over a life of slavery to sin?

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
By the grace of God we have been given salvation. Grace is a subject that could be discussed for days. I like to say that grace is “God’s riches at Christ expense.” This gift may be free to us, but it cost Jesus His life. We need to be careful however, because grace does not give us a license to continue to sin willfully. Romans 6:1 addresses this. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” Paul answers his own question in the next verse. “God forbid” or may it never be. That is pretty strong language. We have no right to keep on sinning, hoping that God will keep on forgiving us. -Brent Wright

Romans 6:3:
Know ye not. that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

Baptism is a gospel ordinance commemorating the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In baptism public testimony is given to the effect that the one baptized has been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and is raised with Him to walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4:
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.

The day after Easter, the newspaper headline read: "Entire World Celebrates the Risen Christ." On the same page under smaller headings ran stories about war and death, racial clashes, and an ultimatum issued to the United States by a hostile nation. How contradictory. The headline declares that the entire world celebrates the risen Christ, but the balance of the page tells of people disregarding the blessing and grace Christ provided by His resurrection. Apparently the millions of people around the world who flock to churches on Easter don't all live as if they believe in the historical resurrection nor recognize its true spiritual significance.

Even Christians can err in this way. Sometimes we simply go through the motions of expressing our faith without acknowledging our identification with Christ. In Romans 6, Paul said that we have been crucified with Christ and have died to sin. But we have also been raised with Christ so we can "walk in newness of life." That's why the apostle said, "If then you were raised with Christ Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1-2).
Having been crucified with Christ, we are now privileged to live for Him. As we do, we show our gratitude for being "risen with Christ."

Romans 6:5:
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection

The likeness to Christ consists chiefly in two things--the likeness of His death and resurrection. The death of Christ was the consummation of His humility and obedience, the entire giving up of His life to God. In Him we are dead to sin. As we sink down in humility and dependence and entire surrender to God, the power of His death works in us, and we are made comfortable in His death. -Andrew Murray

Romans 6:6-14:
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.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
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.

Romans 6:14:
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace

God’s kingdom is about; righteousness. Right standing with God is imputed into the life of those who trust in Christ. Then the Jesus follower is empowered to live for righteousness. 1 Peter 2:24 says; “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness…”
Because Jesus bore our sins, sin no longer has mastery over those who walk in the power of the Holy Spirit because they’re under grace not law (Romans 6:14).

The transformed life is rooted in righteousness. Christ died to give us grace to live a righteous and holy life. It is not a cheap grace that makes people to live a defeated and sinful life. It is the transforming grace that gives you power to live above sin. It is the grace that purifies us within, makes us live a life that God Himself Has ordained. Christ did not die on the Cross of Calvary, went through all manner of torture on the cross, for us to live a sinful and shameful life. Jesus died to give us power to live above sin and also, that sin will not have dominion over us (Romans 6:14).
There is an ongoing battle for our bodies. Although, Jesus Christ has defeated the old slave master, sin, yet it continues to raise its head, attacking Christians. It tries to take hold of us, but we are not supposed to let it have power over us. Sin will have dominion over your life as much as you allow it, so, you must war against it — not let it reign over your mortal body. Paul says fight against sin and do not let it rule over your body (Romans 6:12). You cannot say you are ready for the rapture if you live in sin. The transformed life cannot allow sin to control his/her body or allow any part of his body to be tool of unrighteousness. -Ejikeme Ejim

Romans 6:15-22:
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
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?
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.
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
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.

Romans 6:20-22:
For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
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.

In ancient Rome, slavery could pay wages. That is, slaves could earn a little money, either on the side or from their master. And if they were lucky, they might eventually buy their freedom. On the other hand, it was also possible for their master to give them the gift of freedom. Wages and gifts are two different economies, both in the world and in sanctification. -Shawn Lazar

Paul uses the Greek word translated “fruit” as a metaphor for converts to Christ (e.g., Romans 1:13; Colossians 1:6) and for the expressions of a godly life (e.g., Romans 6:22, 7:4; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11; Colossians 1:10). John the Baptist also admonished his hearers to bear “good fruit” and Jesus himself taught the importance of producing “good fruit.” We could say, then, that the presence of the Spirit’s “fruit” is a telltale sign of a Christian. -William EW Robinson

Romans 6:23:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

There are in Gods word specified consequences, curses, and blessings for disobedience and obedience. We cannot understand history apart from that reality.

As Romans tells us, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). It is not a good thing that our Christian friend or family member has passed away. No matter the benefits after death, death itself is an abomination. Death is an unwelcomed guest. It had no place in creation. Rather, it stormed onto the scene as the thief of life upon the entrance of sin into this world. Therefore, death itself is not to be celebrated. We cannot merely rejoice when a Christian dies somehow forgetting that death is an enemy.
For God formed man from the dust of the earth. Creation is turned on its head as man is returned to the dust in his death. There has been loss and loss that was not meant to be in this world. There has been death, which had no place in the good creation. In fact, at death man is torn asunder. His body and soul, created as one person, is separated. It is true that at that moment when a Christian dies, their soul immediately passes into the presence of Christ (Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23), but their body is left to decay. The soul is naked before the Lord. And the body lies lifeless and void of the soul until the resurrection. Therefore, there is a sense in which we could say that our naked souls are longing for the day of resurrection. For on that day they will be reunited to our bodies never to experience that horrible separation again. We will forever dwell as we were created to be. -Kevin DeYoung; Gospel Coalition

Jesus brought hope to a lost world. Never again would the world be the same. Jesus came to save sinners from the penalty of their sins. He came to bridge the gap between a sinful man to a Holy God. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, NLT). Romans 3:23, says “for we have all sinned, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (NLT) giving us a reason we need a Savior. Jesus’ message is simple. Believe on Him and be saved. What peace and comfort comes from knowing one is saved. Fear has no hold over believers because of the peace that passes all understanding for those who are in Christ Jesus. --Linda Holub

Physical life is a gift from God. He gives to all people life and breath (Acts 17:25). Eternal life is a gift from God (Rom. 6:23). To all who want it He grants it by faith. According to His great mercy He causes us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). We see in the Bible the gospel principal that life comes out of death. Jesus illustrated this with the words "unless a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit" (John 12:24). Christians are said to have been spiritually dead and God makes them alive spiritually with Christ (Eph. 2:1-7). God takes us from death to life spiritually. We walk, or live, in newness of life. -Mike Sciarra; Grace Church

What is central to biblical teaching is not where heaven is, but what it is. Heaven is where God dwells in the unapproachable light of his awesome majesty (1 Timothy 6:16). Death is “gain” for believers because we enter heaven, the place where we come into the fullness of Christ’s loving presence in a wholly new way, which is better than life itself (Philippians 1:21–23). It is also the place where sin (Revelation 21:8), sickness (1 Corinthians 15:42, 52–57), and sadness (Revelation 21:4) are no more, and where we live in perfect fellowship with Christ forever.
Contrary to the teaching that believers enter into a state of “soul sleep,” or unconscious resting, until the day of Christ’s return, the Bible teaches that we will enter into conscious communion with Christ upon death. As Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Paul says that faithful service to Christ in this life brings with it abundant blessings, and yet it also means being “away from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6). He knows he still has gospel work to do, but his chief desire is to arrive finally at that day when he will be “at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). --Ben C Dunson; Desiring God

1 John 3:4 declares that sin is lawlessness. It is disobeying a scriptural law of God. For example, murder, lying, and stealing are sins because these actions are violations of the ten commandments. God has pronounced that the penalty of sin is spiritual death and separation from God in a place of judgment called hell: “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Jesus clearly taught that sinners were condemned in sin and would perish and go to hell if they didn’t believe in Him as their Savior (John 3:16-18). Jesus said that He was sent into the world not to condemn sinners but to save them from condemnation: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that world through Him might be SAVED.” This is how a sinner is saved from sin’s penalty of condemnation. The apostle Paul declared in Ephesians 2:1-6 that every sinner is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins but God in His mercy and grace has provided a way to escape sin’s condemnation. Salvation or deliverance from sin’s penalty has been provided thru Christ. This deliverance is called the ‘GOSPEL” in the New Testament. The word literally means the proclamation of “good news.” The apostle Paul clearly discusses the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. The gospel is good news because it saves a sinner from sin’s condemnation. -Gary M Barker

If you yield to sin the first time, you will lose the feeling about sin the second and third time. If you call sin by the right name and acknowledge sin as sin the first time, if you have the right view and right attitude toward sin, and if you deal with sin the right way the first time, you will be able to deal with sin the next time. If you do not consider sin as sin the first time and deal with it, but rather consider losing your temper as a common thing for a Christian, you will commit the same sin the next time. Whoever does not know sin will not know holiness. What is holiness? Holiness is having the knowledge of sin. Adam and Eve were only ignorant and innocent before they sinned; they were not holy. Only those who know sin know the meaning of holiness. --Watchman Nee; The Renewing of the Mind

Why do Christians have to die? Why can't they just live and then go to heaven without passing through the experience of death? Although the wages of sin is death, and believers have certainly sinned, has Christ not paid the full penalty for our sins? So, why do Christians have to die?
The simple answer is, they don’t. Believers do not have to die because Christ has died in their place. There is not an atom of penalty left to pay. Therefore, God could translate Christians to heaven without their experiencing death, just as he did with Enoch and Elijah (Gen. 5:24; 2 Kings 2:11; Heb. 11:5) and as He will do with Christians who are living when Christ returns (1 Thess. 4:17).
So, believers do not have to die, as Christ has purchased deliverance from physical death and the redemption of our bodies. But, in most cases, the Lord has chosen to delay or postpone the application of these benefits until the final resurrection. The question remains, though: Why? If Christians do not have to die, why do they die?
The Heidelberg Catechism asks the same question: “Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?” (Q. 42). Its answer: “Our death does not pay the debt of our sins. Rather it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into life.” -David P Murray