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
In 6:3–4, into what were we baptized? With whom were we buried, and for what purpose? Compare Col 2:12.
Says Paul reminds the readers “that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death” (6:3). “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life” (6:4). συνετάφημεν (synetaphēmen, “we were buried with”) is from συνθάπτω (synthaptō), and ἐν καινότητι ζωῆς (en kainotēti zōēs) is “in newness of life.” Col 2:12 also joins burial with him to baptism.
Background: Jewish washings were repeated, as when the Essenes bathed before their common meal (Josephus, J.W. 2.129), and Josephus describes John's washing as for the body once righteousness had cleansed the soul (Ant. 18.117). Heitmüller and Reitzenstein read Rom 6 in the light of the mystery cults; Wedderburn argues against deriving Paul's language from them (all by reference). The non-canonical Didache (7:1–3) and Justin (1 Apol. 61) show second-century practice; they are cited for historical context only. Uncertain Whether the mystery cults shaped Paul's language here.
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?
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