Do not let sin reign: not under law but under grace, and no license to sin (Romans 6:12–15)

Says "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires" (6:12, BSB). Believers are to "present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life" (6:13, BSB), and their members to him (παρίστημι, lex.G3936; lex.G3696).

Says "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace" (6:14, BSB).

Uncertain οὐ κυριεύσει (ou kyrieusei, 6:14). This commentary follows the Greek note's lean to a promise, that sin will not rule: its ground (γάρ) is that believers are under grace, not under law. The alternative is an imperatival future, "sin must not rule," continuing the commands of 6:12–13 (note.language.Rom.6.8-Rom.6.14.ephapax-kyrieusei; lex.G2961).

Implies Believers are not under the law as a way to be justified or as sin's ruling power. The law gives knowledge of sin (3:20), brings wrath (4:15), and increased the trespass (5:20), and sin worked through it (7:5) (note.exegetical.Rom.4.13-Rom.4.17.promise-through-faith; note.exegetical.Rom.3.9-Rom.3.20.all-under-sin).

Other readings. A salvation-history reading takes "under law" as the Mosaic era now past (compare Gal 3:23–25). On the New Perspective, see the paragraph in note.exegetical.Rom.3.27-Rom.3.31.boasting-excluded.

Implies Being under grace gives no license to sin: "Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!" (6:15, BSB). This answers the slander of 3:8 again (note.historical.Rom.3.1-Rom.3.31.slander-3-8).