Romans 6 (Complete Exegesis)

Romans 6:1-23

As we all know, the book of Romans is such a beautiful book. From chapter 1 to chapter 16, Paul has a consistent message that he is meaning to get across. While there are a few reasons for Paul picking up the pen, I think the most important comes down to the necessity for a proper Gospel presentation as well as its explanation. Throughout the entire book this theme shines bright. As we go through chapter 6, I think it is vital to see the ongoing flow of the overarching idea that Paul is speaking about. To do that, we must know what comes before Romans 6.

In brief summary, Paul opens up his letter to the church at Rome by speaking to the exaltation of the Gospel. He mentions the power the Gospel and the need for the church at Rome when it comes to understanding the Gospel, and using that knowledge to go and make other disciples. However, at the latter part of chapter 1, Paul begins his argument on the unrighteousness of man. He explains that the inherit unrighteousness of man has led to the wrath of God being placed on those who suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness. Chapter 2 continues this argumentation by explaining the righteous judgment that God brings and the lack of an excuse that we as humans can cling to. Because of our immorality and sin, the judgment of God must be acknowledged. In chapter 3 this explanation of the unrighteousness of man reaches its height as Paul uses the Old Testament to explain that there is none righteous. All have turned aside (Rom. 3:12) and the fear of God is not before our eyes (Rom. 3:18). However, in verse 21, Paul shifts his argumentation from the wickedness of man to the righteousness of God that is imputed to the sinner through faith. This continues in chapter 4 as Paul uses vital Old Testament figures such as Abraham and David to prove that justification comes through faith. Because of faith, the righteousness of God is counted toward our account (Rom. 4:22). Finally, in chapter 5 Paul writes of the results of our justification and the gift of righteousness that God gifts the sinner through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just before chapter 6 begins, Paul speaks of the Law being established to bring a proper understanding of the holiness of God and the ever-so-present reality in which we live, which shows us the failure of our own righteousness. He then says that where sin increased, grace abounds even more (Rom. 5:20). He speaks to the reality of sin reigning through death, which is overshadowed and eventually done away with through the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 5:21). Now that we have the proper context to the designated chapter, I believe that it is appropriate for us to move on. As this exegesis progresses, I will list the verse and then give the needed commentary.

Romans 6:1 (LSB): What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

In the first verse of chapter 6, we read of another of the famous rhetorical questions that Paul is asking to his Roman (Jew and Gentile) audience. As Paul gives these rhetorical questions, it is safe to assume that he speaks as a Jewish opponent who heavily knows the Old Testament Law, pushing against the claims of the Christian Apostles. As Paul asks this question, we must ask ourselves why this question would be asked. To do that, we need to look back at verses 20 and 21 of Romans 5. Just as I mentioned a moment ago, Paul refers to the Law as a tool to show the holiness of God as well as the failure of ourselves to live up to said holiness. He is showing the power of the Law to bring forth the condemnation that We deserve. But, at the end of chapter 5, he speaks of Christ (and His work) as being greater than the condemnation that we inherit because of our breaking the Law. So, as Paul writes, the Jewish opponent asks if we should continue to live in sin so that grace can increase. Because grace increases when sin increases, should we continue in this lifestyle? As we will see in a moment, Paul uses this question as a way to solidify the clear Biblical teaching on the way in which we should live after we have had the righteousnesses of Christ imputed onto us, a wretched sinner.

Romans 6:2 (LSB): May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

What is Paul’s response to this question? He responds by giving a definitive no. May it never be! Of course not! Paul says that we are not to continue to live our lives in the same sinful condition that we were in prior to our conversion. But why? Why aren’t we to live in the same way that we used too? Over the course of the next 3 verses Paul gives us the answer to this question. After he responds with such a powerful statement, he then gives another question. How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Here Paul begins his argument in Romans 6 by showing us the position that we are in, in Christ. As we will read in the coming verses, we are not to live in sin because we have died to it. Rather, we are to live godly because we are in Christ.

Romans 6:3 (LSB): Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Paul responds to his earlier question (Rom. 6:2) by asking another question. Do you not know? Here Paul questions the knowledge of his audience. He does this for two reasons. Firstly, to emphasize the importance of such a topic. The issue of sin in the life of the believer is something that is very important. As Paul further explains the dynamic of becoming less like the world and more like Christ, he stresses its importance. Secondly, he questions the readers knowledge so his audience can understand that this is not new teaching. When Paul is speaking here, he isn’t describing something that is foreign to the Christian thought of the day. Christ preached this very same message. So, as Paul questions his audience, he does so with tact. Looking now at the question itself, here he explains the work of Christ in the believer because of their salvation. We have been baptized unto Christ. This means that we have adhered to the command of the Gospel. We have repented of our sins and have believed in the Gospel message. Now, the Spirit lives inside of us and moves in a way that conforms our life to the ways of God. Through our baptism into Christ (salvation apart from water baptism) we have thus become baptized into the death of Christ. This means that we, along with Christ, have died. This is a topic that is covered in more detail in later verses.

Romans 6:4 (LSB): Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Here we see the clear teaching of the believer’s relationship with the death and burial of Christ. If we are in Christ, we have a unity with Him. Thus, through His death, we died. Seeing as how Christ is the one who has granted us life, our spiritual condition prior to our conversation has died. We are no longer the creature that we once were. As we look to the latter part of this verse, we see great truth. Just as we died with Christ, we have been raised from the dead with Christ. Again, there is a great sense of unity between us (once wretched and unworthy sinner) and our holy Savior. Because Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we must be different. Because we have been changed, we are to now walk in newness of life. The old ways that we used to walk, should now become foreign. Because we have been changed into a bring that has the ability to please our Creator, we should now walk in a way that lives up to that calling.

Romans 6:5 (LSB): For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

This verse again continues the argument that Paul is making. Because Christ succeeded in the mission that He was sent on, all believers have been transformed. No longer are we creatures of sin, iniquity, and wrath. Rather, we have been transformed into new creatures with a new nature (2 Cor. 5:17). We have become united in Christ. That unity leads to being made in right standing with God. Because we have been saved by the power of Christ, we have been transformed in such a way wherein we are to live in the likeness of His resurrection. The implications of this can be seen in the next verse.

Romans 6:6 (LSB): knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Here is the practicality of what Paul has been speaking of up until this point. Here in the book of Romans, like other Pauline Epistles, the topic of sanctification is brought up and expounded on. Sanctification is such a vital work in the life of the believer. It is the process by which we take off the old man, renew the spirit of our minds, and put on the new man in the shape and likeness of Christ (Eph. 4:22-24). As Paul speaks about the us being set apart, He says that our old man has been crucified with Christ. Because of Christ’s death and the work that He has done in us, our old man is crucified. Not only that, through His resurrection, we have such a change of nature that leads us to good works. In the latter part of this verse we see the primary implications of being made in the likeness of Jesus’ resurrection. We are not to live our lives in such a way that resembles our former ways. Rather, we are to live righteously; crucifying the flesh and getting rid of the sin in our lives. Why? Why all of this? Paul concludes this verse by saying that all this should come so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. Through salvation, our slavery has been shifted. No longer are we to be slaves to sin. Rather, we are to be slaves of Christ and His rIghteousness.

Romans 6:7 (LSB): for he who has died has been justified from sin.

This verse continues the ongoing statement that Paul makes in verse 6. Remember, our old man has been crucified with Chirst, so that our sin could be done away with, therefore becoming no longer enslaved in sin. Here, Paul says that the one who has died has been justified from sin. We must remember the person that Paul is describing here. He is clearly speaking of the believer who has been covered in the atonement of Christ. For God to be just, sin must be punished. If God simply dropped the charges for sin, He wouldn’t be a righteous or just judge. However, our justification comes from Christ paying the fine of our guilt. Thus, through HIs finished work, we have been justified sin.

Romans 6:8 (LSB): Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Paul continues to expound on his argument by going back to what he has already said in verses 4 and 5. He is trying to hammer down the idea of the unity of the believer in relation to God, through the justification that God has given to us. If we have died with Christ, we will in turn live with Him. The unity that Paul is describing parallels the same unity that Adam had with God before the fall of man (Gen. 3:8). Our being made in right standing with God promises us, not only our death with Christ, but also our resurrection.

Romans 6:9 (LSB): knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

This verse continues the prior verse (Rom. 6:8) by explaining the relationship that Christ now has with death. The relationship that Chirst had with death is not the same as it is now. Paul says that Christ is never to die again. He is never to die again because He has accomplished His task. He died and then was raised from the dead. Therefore, because of the successful work of Christ, death is no longer master over Him. What does that mean? Does it mean that Christ was under subjection to death? Does it mean that Christ was not in total control? We must be careful in the interpretation of this verse. Christ was in total control over all the events that went on during His life. Although He was following the will of the Father, the will of the Father did not contradict the will of Christ. There is a perfect unity between the Father and the Son. So what does Paul say here? Christ in a way was under subjection to death. He was under this subjection in the sole way that He was determined to die. The Father knew the Son would die and the Son knew that He would die. Thus, nothing caught Christ off guard. While death was determined to come in the life of Christ, so was the resurrection. Because Christ has been raised, death is no longer master over Him.

Romans 6:10 (LSB): For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all, but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

In this verse we again, like the last verse, see the finality of death being master over Christ. Christ has succeeded in the mission that He was sent to accomplish. Because of that, He only needed to accomplish it once. Just as Paul says here, the death of Christ was a once for all act. It was perfect in what it sought to do. We know that He has died to sin once for all through the evidence of His resurrection. He lives. Through the life that has been given, Christ therefore lives to God. A way that is pleasing to God. The implications of this statement are seen in the following verse (Rom. 6:11).

Romans 6:11 (LSB): Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

What a profound statement! It parallels the text of Colossians 1-2 as Paul speaks to the church at Colossae of the very same thing. Because we have been saved by the grace of God, we should consider ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ. Here we see such a powerful paradox. How can one be dead to one thing and alive in the other? The answer to this question speaks to one of the primary things that Paul has been speaking of this entire chapter. The answer is in our justification. The change of natures has led us to this paradox. Through the power of the Gospel, we have become dead to sin, yet alive in the power and work of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Romans 6:12 (LSB): Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,

This verse gives us a direct command in relation to our new position in Christ. Unlike the natural position that man has through Adam, we have been transformed into a new creation in the likeness of Christ that puts us into right standing with God. The guilt and the condemnation that we had due the reflection of the mirror (Law) is gone. Now, because of our being resurrected with Christ, we must live as Christ lived. We are commanded to kill the sin that is in our lives. We are to kill it and not let it reign, have control, or influence Our bodies. We must continue to fight the sin in our lives and crucify the flesh. Destroy the power of our lusts and cling to the power of our resurrected Savior. Only through Christ can we find victory in this task.

Romans 6:13 (LSB): and do not go on presenting your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Here the command that we read in the previous verse (Rom. 6:12) is continued and elaborated further on. When Paul speaks of the presentation of our members, he speaks of the bodies of believers. Paul not only is speaking of the differing groups of believers, he speaks to the individual flesh-like bodies that each believer possesses. Paul can’t help but keep up his ongoing argument. The church at Rome needs to understand the contrast between the “deadness” of the natural man and the “aliveness” of being under the headship of Christ. Because of the work that Jesus has accomplished, our bodies must not be subjected to the same things which we subjected to them prior to our conversion. Why? Because the old man has been crucified. Therefore our members (bodies) are to be instruments of righteousness rather than unrighteousness. Paul is solidifying the argument of being changed through God’s working in us. In all, we’ve been made alive despite our inherit “deadness” solidifying the command that we must live differently because of the work of God in us.

Romans 6:14 (LSB): For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

This verse concludes the first primary section of Romans 6 and leads perfectly in to the second section. Why would we conduct ourselves in a way that contradicts the natural way of the flesh? It’s because we are no longer under the Law. Rather, we are under grace. All throughout the book of Romans, Paul speaks of the Law as having the purpose of reflection. He refers to the Law as being a mirror. While we are under the Law, we are under the guilt and the condemnation of the Law. As Paul will further describe in Romans 7, those who are under the Law are in a position of despair. The Law gives no way of escape for the judgement of God. However, Paul says that we are no longer under the Law. Instead, we are under grace. What is that grace? It is the gift of salvation. Again, through the salvation that we have been granted, we have been placed into such a situation wherein we must live for Christ and His righteousness. Where the Law fell short, grace succeeded.