Romans 6

Introduction: The Backdrop

The question in Romans 6:1 is Paul’s return to an earlier point made concerning his doctrine of faith and grace. Many individuals accused Paul of preaching a form of grace that grants believers the permission to sin (see Romans 3:8, c.f. Romans 5:20).

Romans 3:8 NLT

8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

Romans 6, then, is Paul’s defense to such accusations. Here he takes the time to provide a full explanation on why he does not promote the sort of “cheap” grace that is so familiar to the times we currently live in and how the believer should as believers and recipients of grace.

Furthermore, Romans 5 was an incredible backdrop to the content of Romans 6. Here are the two major arguments of Romans 5.

Sin entered the world by one man, who is Adam.

Death entered by sin.

Therefore, we can conclude that the issues of this world, that is the current circumstances of this world is due to man’s self-imposed death. This is the bigger argument that would have been most relevant to the immediate audience. They would have discovered that Satan, as they had heard, was not the reason for the evil in the world. Rather, the mankind is responsible for the evils in the world, by consequence of the one man who gave sin and death reign over mankind and consequently, creation.

Wisdom of Solomon 2:21–24 “21 Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, 22 and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hoped for the wages of holiness, nor discerned the prize for blameless souls; 23 for God created us for incorruption, and made us in the image of his own eternity, 24 but through the devil’s envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his company experience it.”

Here, I argue that the natural evils (tornados, forest fires, hurricanes, etc.) are hardly as negatively affective as those evils of man. Yet, God bears the greatest blame for evil in the world. In Paul’s understanding, the greatest problem with creation is the sin and death that reigns over mankind. Therefore, the solution to this problem is the deliverance of man from the power of sin and death.

The Power of Baptism (Romans 6:1-5)

The leading argument in Romans 6:1-5 is the idea we have died to sin (Romans 6:2). Since we have died to sin, we should no longer be under the bondage of sin. Therefore, we cannot possibly continue to sin so grace can continue to cover us as we sin. The question in Romans 6:1 is towards the perpetual act of sin. However, it also speaks of the feeling towards sin. So then it is one thing to act, but the root of the problem is upon the feeling that leads to the action. Here, Paul clearly demonstrates this sort of feeling and acting is not appropriate of the believer who is covered by grace.

If Paul was asked how does one overcome such a natural proclivity towards sin, Paul’s answer is baptism. For Paul baptism does two things:

Joins us to Christ (Romans 6:3)

We die and are buried with Christ (Romans 6:4).

As a result, we are raised with Christ to live a new life.

Here, we see serious parallels to the exodus story that was so familiar to the apostle Paul. He is building upon an already existing motif that demonstrates the power of what occurs when one places their faith in Christ. Paul imagines the believer participates in a spiritual exodus that frees one from the bondage of sin and death just as Israel was freed from Pharaoh. This liberation leads to new life (Romans 6:5).

Application: When we became believers, the old person should have died. The old man (Romans 6:6) [human/ anthropos], as Paul describes it, is our beliefs, habits, emotions, and life. Baptism, then, is no magic trick. Rather, it is the publicly announcement by which states they are turning from their old way—literally dying to their old humanity—and turning to God. It is one’s way of dying to Adam and living unto Christ.

New Testament 6:1–11—Dead to Sin

For Jewish people, baptism was the act by which non-Jews converted to Judaism, the final removal of Gentile impurity; by it one turned one’s back on life in paganism and sin, vowed to follow God’s commandments, and became a new person with regard to Jewish law. A person who became a follower of Jesus likewise gave up his or her old life; through participation with Christ’s death, Paul says, their death to the old life in sin, which was crucified in Christ, is an accomplished fact.

Dead to Sin and Alive to God (Romans 6:6-11)

Now, here is an interesting thing that Paul introduces. We are well aware that there is a general view of resurrection that may be applicable in a variety of ways. There’s the corporate resurrection of the nation of Israel as they wish to return to their restored status. Then, there’s bodily resurrection, which Paul seems to discuss in great detail in 1 Corinthians 15. However, in Romans 6:6-11, Paul introduces what I call anthropological resurrection, where man somehow returns to his pre-sin liberation.

Anthropological resurrection is man’s return back to its original pre-death position. It is life before the fall. A different sort of death is necessary for this return. The sort of death that unites us with Christ. Therefore, we understand the purpose and the type of death Jesus experienced. Here are the results of this death:

We are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6)

Sin no longer has power over us (Romans 6:7)

Hope: we will live with Christ (Romans 6:8)

Here, Paul assumes a future life, though life has been granted and experienced; a resurrection life.

The confidence one has in all of this is based on the work of Jesus Christ as described in Romans 6:9-11.

Holy Living (Romans 6:12-14)

Now, what is the point of all of this talk? What is Paul’s ultimate aim in delivering this series of arguments? He wants the reader to understand they are no longer under the kingdom of Satan, sin, and death. Rather, they are under a new kingdom—the kingdom of God.

By definition, to live after Adam’s way is to live under the reign of sin. But to live in Jesus Christ is to live under the kingdom of God. This is why Paul says, Don’t let sin reign in your mortal body…(Romans 6:12).

Here are Paul’s admonitions:

Don’t let sin reign in your mortal body [the body that is subject to death] and don’t be obedient to your lusts [evil cravings/ sinful desires] (Romans 6:12).

Don’t let your body parts serve as a tool for evilness and sin (Romans 6:13a).

Present yourself to God (Romans 6:13b)

Two Types of Slavery and Two Results (Romans 6:15-23)

Slaves of sin (Romans 6:17) leads to shame and eternal doom [death] (Romans 6:21)

Slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18) leads to holiness and eternal life (Romans 6:22)