Three Things to Know

There are three phases that contain the word “know” that we will quickly study to glean some important information about new life in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:1–7 (CSB)

1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin.

The first “we know” in Greek is γινώσκω.

There are several important things to note about the first phrase “we know.”

The use of "we know" (γινώσκοντες) is knowing that is experiential. It’s not head knowledge, but experience. It points to a relationship with the Savior acquired through experience, ups and downs, high and low periods shape this experience. The Power of the Cross is evident in a transformed life, thus it’s not theory, but a fact “we know.”

The phrase “was crucified with him” is in the aorist passive tense which denotes an action that was done in the past for us all. The use of the Aorist passive grounds the statement "we know," because being crucified with Christ was an action that was done for us by the Father. It was His action upon us rather than our action or capability that resulted in the crufixion of the old self.

The phrase “rendered powerless” or “done away with (NKJV)” speaks of the power of the crucifixion. Our death with Christ has resulted in the wasting away, the decaying of the "old self." The Aorist, passive, subjunctive denotes that being brought to nothing is a completed action by Christ. The use of the passive shows that it is the work of God to bring the old self to nothingness. Our responsiblity is to deny the “old self” and have confidence in Christ’s ability to destroy the “old self” and like Paul exclaim "we know." Such confidence in Christ frees us from the power of sin.

We Know that the “old self” was Crucified with Jesus

The second phrase with “know” is indentical in English to what is found in verse 6.

Romans 6:9–11 (CSB)

9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

However, “we know” here is a different Greek word, οἶδα which means knowing that is only cognitive. This is something we know by faith, in other words, “I believe.”

We know that death no longer has dominion over us, because it no longer has dominion over Christ because by faith we believe that he is alive and well in heaven interceeding for us.

We especially need his intercession when we are in the heat of temptation. When we are being actively tempted we ought to give careful thought to the matter, to carefully ponder that we are indeed dead to sin and alive to God. But this is not just a mere intellectual exercise, no it is based on an experience with Christ... γινώσκω! It is based on past victories won that pave the way for future victories.

This is why faith, righteousness by faith is not mere intellectualism, but based on a relationship with Christ.

We Know that because Christ is Alive We are Alive

Because Christ is alive for us, we are alive to God

The final phrase with “know” is found in verse 16. The Greek is also οἶδα, cognitive knowing.

Romans 6:15–17 (CSB)

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over,

Paul presents this argument as something we should know about. It is almost an absurdity if we do not know this.

"Sin, which leads to death" does not make us voluntary slaves. When sin reigns, it is in control and will make us obey its passions (Rom 6:12). Conversly, obedience is a result of presenting our members to God to be used for righteousness.

This obedience is not a mere intellectual obedience, but from the heart. Again, our obedience from the heart stems from this relationship that exists with Christ that leads like Paul to exclaim, "we know".

Slavery to Christ is a willing slavery; it is from the heart. Obedience from the heart speaks of cooperation with Christ, living in harmony with him, so that he mingles his thoughts with our thoughts.

We Know that we are Willing Slaves of Righteousness

Old self is clamouring for attention “common just a little bit” “it’s not so bad,” remind yourself that that old you is dead, and SDAs don’t believe in speaking to the dead

Someone may quip “You think you’re holy now!” Tell them, you are alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Someone may quip “Oh, you can’t do that anymore!” Reply to them “On the contrary, I don’t do that anymore because I’m a willing slave of Jesus.”