Romans 6:1–23: Dead to Sin, Alive to God (two sessions)
Dead to sin, alive to God in Christ Jesus
See why grace gives no license to sin: believers were united with Christ in his death and resurrection, so that they “should no longer be slaves to sin” (6:6), and are now to count themselves “dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11).
Outline
- Shall we continue in sin? Buried with him through baptismRom 6:1–4
- United with him in death and resurrection; dead to sin, alive to GodRom 6:5–11
- Do not let sin reign; not under law, but under graceRom 6:12–14
observation · 4
Read 6:5–10. What has happened to “our old self,” and for what purpose? What does Paul say about Christ's death and life in 6:9–10?
In 6:11–14, what are believers to count themselves? What must they not let sin do, and what are they to present to God? Why will sin not be their master?
interpretation · 5
In 6:3–4, is Paul thinking chiefly of the water rite, or of Spirit baptism and union with Christ (compare Gal 3:27; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 2:12)? How do the Reformed, Baptist, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic traditions read baptism, and on what grounds? What is clear whichever view is taken?
Is the crucifixion of “our old self” (6:6) a definitive break, done once for all, or an ongoing process? Compare Col 3:9 and Eph 4:22–24. What is “the body of sin,” and what does σύμφυτοι (symphytoi, 6:5) mean?
Uncertain Definitive break or ongoing process. The exegetical notes and the commentary follow the Greek note's lean to a definitive break. Grounds: συνεσταυρώθη (synestaurōthē) is aorist, like ἀπεθάνομεν (apethanomen, 6:2) and ἐβαπτίσθημεν (ebaptisthēmen, 6:3); Christ's death to sin was once for all (6:10); Col 3:9 speaks of the old self as already taken off; and Gal 2:20; 5:24 speak of crucifixion with Christ as done. The alternative is an ongoing process: Eph 4:22–24 urges putting off the old self, and 6:12–13 still command.
Uncertain τὸ σῶμα τῆς ἁμαρτίας (to sōma tēs hamartias, “the body of sin”). The lean is the bodily person as ruled by sin: a genitive of definition, as in 7:24, with sin's reign placed “in your mortal body” (6:12). The alternative takes σῶμα (sōma) figuratively, sin as a whole mass, as Calvin read it (by reference).
Uncertain σύμφυτοι (symphytoi, 6:5). The lean is “united with, grown together” (BSB “united with Him”), from συμφύω (symphyō). The alternative is “planted together” (literal), from φυτεύω (phyteuō, “plant”). ὁμοίωμα (homoiōma) is “likeness.”
The BSB renders 6:7 “anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” The Greek verb is δεδικαίωται (dedikaiōtai), from the verb usually translated “justify.” Does 6:7 speak of acquittal, or of release from sin's power? What in 6:6 and 6:18, 22 bears on the question?
Are “we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection” (6:5) and “we will also live with Him” (6:8) about the future resurrection, or about new life now? Compare 8:11. What does “once for all” (6:10) add? Compare Heb 7:27.
Does union with Christ mean that believers no longer sin at all? If not, what has changed? In 6:14, is “sin shall not be your master” a promise or a command, and why is it true of those “under grace”?
application · 3
When you are tempted to excuse a sin because God forgives, how does 6:1–4 answer you?
Paul says to “count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (6:11). What would that look like this week when a familiar temptation comes?
Paul says to “present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness” (6:13). Name one part of your daily life (speech, time, money, screens) to present to God this week. Why is the struggle not a sign that union with Christ has failed?
Quotations from LXX (Swete) are used under CC BY-SA 4.0 · Credits