Note: Words are shown in their original Greek order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?
4We 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.
13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
16Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
Romans 6 addresses one of the most profound objections to the gospel of grace: if God's grace is so generous that it covers all our sins, why shouldn't we keep sinning to receive more grace? Paul's answer is revolutionary and life-changing. He reminds believers that salvation is not merely a legal transaction that forgives our past sins; it is a transformative union with Christ that radically changes our position and our practice. Through baptism (the sign and seal of our faith), we have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and risen to new life. This chapter establishes the doctrine of sanctification—the process by which we increasingly abandon sin and pursue righteousness, not to earn favor with God, but because we have already been united to His risen Son.
Paul opens with a rhetorical question that anticipates a dangerous misunderstanding: "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" His answer is emphatic—"God forbid" (literally, "may it never be!"). The logic is simple: we who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into His death. Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. We are not merely forgiven sinners; we are dead to sin (v. 2). Paul uses the image of being "planted together in the likeness of his death" (v. 5)—just as a seed must die to produce new life, our old sinful self must die so that we can be raised to walk in newness of life. This is not metaphorical only; it is a real spiritual reality that believers have experienced in conversion and baptism.
Application: Have you truly grasped that your old self died at the cross? When you are tempted to sin, remember: that person who loves sin is no longer who you are in Christ.
Paul now explains the purpose of Christ's death: "that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (v. 6). Death breaks all contracts and relationships; a dead person is "freed from sin" (v. 7). Our crucifixion with Christ is not imaginary—it is real and legal before God. The foundation of this freedom is Christ Himself. He was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, never to die again; death has no dominion over Him (v. 9). Because Christ died once to sin, paying sin's full penalty, and now lives forever unto God (v. 10), we who are in Him share in both His death and His resurrection victory.
Application: Sin no longer holds the legal power it once did over your life. You are free—not free to sin, but free from sin.
Doctrine must lead to duty. Paul commands: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body" (v. 12). We are to yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God (v. 13), not as tools of unrighteousness. This is a matter of lordship: "to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are" (v. 16). The Corinthians had obeyed the gospel; they had been "made free from sin" and become "servants of righteousness" (v. 18). Every choice to obey God, every act of worship, every refusal of temptation is an act of gratitude to the God who has liberated us.
Application: Your body is not a neutral tool. Every day, consciously yield your hands, eyes, tongue, and heart to serve God's righteousness instead of sin's corruption.
Paul closes with a powerful contrast. Once, believers yielded their bodies to "uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity" (v. 19), progressively enslaving themselves. The result? Shame and death (v. 21). Now, having been made free and become servants to God, the harvest is "holiness" and its end is "everlasting life" (v. 22). The chapter concludes with the gospel's most succinct summary: "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (v. 23).
Application for Today
If you have trusted in Christ, you are no longer bound to sin. You are not earning righteousness; you are expressing gratitude for a righteousness that has already been given. When you struggle with habitual sin, return to the truth: you died with Christ, and He rose again. Your sin's power is broken. Choose to present yourself—your time, talents, and energy—to serve the One who bought you with His blood. The result will be lasting joy and eternal life.
Study Notes — Romans 6
5 sectionsRomans 6 addresses one of the most profound objections to the gospel of grace: if God's grace is so generous that it covers all our sins, why shouldn't we keep sinning to receive more grace? Paul's answer is revolutionary and life-changing. He reminds believers that salvation is not merely a legal transaction that forgives our past sins; it is a transformative union with Christ that radically changes our position and our practice. Through baptism (the sign and seal of our faith), we have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and risen to new life. This chapter establishes the doctrine of sanctification—the process by which we increasingly abandon sin and pursue righteousness, not to earn favor with God, but because we have already been united to His risen Son.
Paul opens with a rhetorical question that anticipates a dangerous misunderstanding: "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" His answer is emphatic—"God forbid" (literally, "may it never be!"). The logic is simple: we who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into His death. Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. We are not merely forgiven sinners; we are dead to sin (v. 2). Paul uses the image of being "planted together in the likeness of his death" (v. 5)—just as a seed must die to produce new life, our old sinful self must die so that we can be raised to walk in newness of life. This is not metaphorical only; it is a real spiritual reality that believers have experienced in conversion and baptism.
Application: Have you truly grasped that your old self died at the cross? When you are tempted to sin, remember: that person who loves sin is no longer who you are in Christ.
Paul now explains the purpose of Christ's death: "that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (v. 6). Death breaks all contracts and relationships; a dead person is "freed from sin" (v. 7). Our crucifixion with Christ is not imaginary—it is real and legal before God. The foundation of this freedom is Christ Himself. He was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, never to die again; death has no dominion over Him (v. 9). Because Christ died once to sin, paying sin's full penalty, and now lives forever unto God (v. 10), we who are in Him share in both His death and His resurrection victory.
Application: Sin no longer holds the legal power it once did over your life. You are free—not free to sin, but free from sin.
Doctrine must lead to duty. Paul commands: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body" (v. 12). We are to yield our members as instruments of righteousness unto God (v. 13), not as tools of unrighteousness. This is a matter of lordship: "to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are" (v. 16). The Corinthians had obeyed the gospel; they had been "made free from sin" and become "servants of righteousness" (v. 18). Every choice to obey God, every act of worship, every refusal of temptation is an act of gratitude to the God who has liberated us.
Application: Your body is not a neutral tool. Every day, consciously yield your hands, eyes, tongue, and heart to serve God's righteousness instead of sin's corruption.
Paul closes with a powerful contrast. Once, believers yielded their bodies to "uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity" (v. 19), progressively enslaving themselves. The result? Shame and death (v. 21). Now, having been made free and become servants to God, the harvest is "holiness" and its end is "everlasting life" (v. 22). The chapter concludes with the gospel's most succinct summary: "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (v. 23).
If you have trusted in Christ, you are no longer bound to sin. You are not earning righteousness; you are expressing gratitude for a righteousness that has already been given. When you struggle with habitual sin, return to the truth: you died with Christ, and He rose again. Your sin's power is broken. Choose to present yourself—your time, talents, and energy—to serve the One who bought you with His blood. The result will be lasting joy and eternal life.