Romans 6:1-14 “Jesus is King, Not Sin”

The Truman Show

There is a movie, and many of you may have seen it, called The Truman Show. It features a man, Truman Burbank, who has lived his entire life inside a massive, controlled reality set. Every person around him—his friends, his coworkers, even his wife—are actors. But Truman doesn’t know this. He believes everything in his world is real. He lives content, blissfully unaware that there is a greater reality beyond his manufactured life.

But then, small cracks begin to appear. A studio light labeled “Sirius” falls from the sky. His car radio accidentally picks up the crew’s instructions. He notices people following rigid, repetitive routines, as if they were scripted. These moments slowly wake him up. His ignorance, which once kept him content, begins to fade, and the truth starts to weigh on him—his world is not what he thought.

As viewers, we know the truth from the beginning. We see the illusion for what it is. But Truman has to go through a process of discovery. And as he uncovers more, he faces a choice: remain in the world he now knows is false, or step into the unknown, seeking real life.

There is a saying that is called “ignorance is bliss” and it means that when you don’t know as much or about something, there is actually more peace or happiness because you’re not thinking of what is going on around you. Truman before knowing something was up, was living a great life. Not that he knows something is up, his whole world has been ruined. However, something to realize is that the truth did not create the trauma in Truman’s life, it simply revealed it. This is how truth works and this is what Paul says in Romans when he is talking about the old testament and mosaic law that had rules to keep and abide by. Paul says this in Romans 3:20.

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The Law doesn’t create sin; it simply shines a light on what was already there. And that is why what we see in Romans 4:15 that the knowledge of sin brings about wrath. Because now that we have the law and we don’t keep it, there are consequences.

Romans 4:15 ESV

15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

Law is like our laws today. We have a law that if you commit murder, you will probably go to jail for the rest of your life. The Law is not what made murdering now wrong or a sin. The law is helping reveal that murder is wrong, but the law in itself did not create the sin but gave consequence to it. This is the same way God’s law works. The law reveals the knowledge of sin and it also creates consequence for when you disobey it.

This is the purpose of the Law. This is why Paul has been emphasizing it so much. Just like Truman, once we see the truth—once we understand our sin and tell others about it—we can’t unsee it. The illusion of self-righteousness fades, ignorance is bliss goes away, and we realize that we are guilty before God. Everyone has sinned, everyone is born in sin, and there is wrath awaiting sinners.

However, there is good news. Even though the Law increases trespass and makes sin more evident, God’s grace is greater. Through Christ, believers are given a new status—not one of death and separation, but of grace and newness of life. We are no longer under the reign of sin and wrath but under the rule of a new King. Christ takes our punishment, bears God’s wrath on our behalf, and imputes His righteousness to us, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:20–21 ESV

20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And this leads us up to Romans 6:1-14 Let’s pray.

He is going to answer a potential issue that he feel like he has heard before. Because the law is so precious to the jews and they think they have to earn salvation. The think that keeping the law makes them righteous and Paul has been showing them that it is by grace through faith you are saved. And then there like, well if that is the case Paul, why not keep sinning? If Grace abounds all the more where sin increased, why not just live a life of sin and let grace abound more!

Dead to Sin (Verses 1-4)

Romans 6:1–2 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Paul anticipates a potential misunderstanding of grace—if God’s grace abounds where sin increases, does that mean we should keep sinning so grace keeps increasing? This twisted logic, which Paul already addressed in Romans 3:5-8, is a perversion of the gospel. Some in the early church (and even today) distort grace into a license to sin, thinking they can live however they want while still claiming Christ. But Paul’s response is intense: By no means!

If you truly believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you know you can’t serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). A life that is truly in Christ is incompatible with a life still enslaved to sin.

Romans 3:5–8 ESV

5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

Romans 3:5–8 ESV

Paul had already addressed a similar argument in Romans 3. Some falsely accused him of teaching that sinning more somehow magnifies God’s grace. Paul calls this slander and condemns it outright. The idea that grace permits continued sin is not just a misunderstanding—it is a false gospel.

Paul had already addressed a similar argument in Romans 3. Some falsely accused him of teaching that sinning more somehow magnifies God’s grace. Paul calls this slander and condemns it outright. The idea that grace permits continued sin is not just a misunderstanding—it is a false gospel.

This same false gospel exists today. Some churches, intentionally or not, emphasize grace so much that they downplay repentance. They say, “Just come as you are. Jesus loves you.” While that’s true, Paul makes it clear: saving grace transforms. If you follow Christ, you don’t just add Him to your life—you die to sin because you have died with Christ.

Something to point out though, before we move on, we are still sinners and will make mistakes. The important word to focus on is that are we t “continue” in sin. This would mean habitual sin, or a lifestyle of sin. What should make sense is that you continue to sin less and glorify God more with every aspect of your body. Your desires should change overtime and should sin less because sin doesn’t reign over you anymore. We just read that in the last two verses of this chapter. That sin is not the one who reigns over you but Christ does. Grace reigns over you. That old part no longer reigns in you because that old part is dead.

Romans 6:3 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Paul uses baptized here in two senses. The first refers to being immersed—not just in water but into Christ Himself. This isn’t just a ritual but a deep spiritual reality. When we place our faith in Christ, we are immersed in His death and resurrection.

This is why we practice immersion in water baptism. The Greek word baptizó literally means to immerse. But more importantly, Paul is saying that just as we immerse ourselves in work, school, or relationships, we must immerse ourselves fully in Christ. Are you truly immersed in Him?

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Jesus did not die just to improve parts of your life or make you a better version of yourself. He died so that your old self would be completely buried—your sinful nature put to death—so that you could be raised into an entirely new life and not now just stay the same. There is responsibility here. We are supposed to walk in the newness of life.

This is the power of the gospel. It’s not just about believing the right things or making small moral improvements. It’s about dying to sin and being made alive in Christ. If you are in Christ, you have a new identity—one that is no longer enslaved to sin but now walks in the freedom and power of the resurrection.

Alive to God (Verses 5-11)

Romans 6:5–11 ESV

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

1. United - Verse 5

Paul begins by emphasizing that believers are united with Christ in both His death and resurrection. The word united(symphytoi in Greek) is a powerful image. It refers to being joined so closely that two things become one—like a branch that has been grafted onto a tree.

In horticulture, grafting is the process of taking a branch from one tree and attaching it to another tree’s trunk or root system. Over time, the grafted branch fuses with the tree and begins to draw life and nourishment from its new source. This is exactly what happens spiritually when we place our faith in Christ.

We were once separate from God.

But through Christ, we have been grafted into Him, becoming one with Him in His death and resurrection.

Just as the life of a grafted branch comes from the tree, our spiritual life now comes from Christ alone.

2. Crucified - Verse 6

Paul then shifts to the idea of crucifixion, saying:

"We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin."

In the Roman world, crucifixion was a brutal, humiliating, and public form of execution—reserved for criminals and enemies of the state. It was not just a way to kill someone; it was a symbol of complete destruction.

Paul applies this imagery to our sinful nature. When we are united with Christ, our old self—the sinful, rebellious nature that once controlled us—is put to death. This means:

Our identity is no longer rooted in sin.

The power of sin over us is broken—it has been "brought to nothing."

We are no longer slaves to sin; we have a new master—Christ.

This doesn’t mean we never struggle with sin, but it does mean that sin no longer defines us. The cross of Christ has not only paid for our sins but also freed us from sin’s dominion.

3. Free - Verse 7

Paul continues:

"For one who has died has been set free from sin."

Because we are crucified with Christ, we are also freed from sin’s control. Sin no longer owns us—we belong to Christ.

However, this freedom is something we must live into. Even though sin has no legal claim over us, it still tries to influence us. This is why spiritual growth is a process:

Sin is no longer our master, but we must choose daily to live in that freedom.

We may still stumble, but we should see real change—a decreasing pattern of sin and an increasing pattern of holiness.

The question we must ask ourselves is: Are we living like freed people, or are we still acting like slaves to sin?

4. Alive - Verse 8-11

Paul ends this section with the powerful truth that our new life is found in Christ alone:

"Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." (v.8)

Jesus didn’t stay in the grave—He rose again. And because we are united with Him, we share in His resurrection life. This means:

Death no longer has dominion over us (v.9) – Just as Christ defeated death, we no longer have to fear spiritual death.

We live to God (v.10) – Jesus’ resurrection was not just a return to life—it was a new kind of life, fully dedicated to the Father. As believers, we are called to do the same.

We must consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God (v.11) – This is both a fact and a daily mindset. We are truly dead to sin, but we must actively walk in that reality.

Who is your King and are you becoming?

Romans 6:12–14 ESV

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

1. "Let Not Sin Reign"—Who Is Your King?

Paul begins with the command:

Romans 6:12 ESV

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

The key word here is "let" (mē basileueto in Greek), which implies that we have a role in this battle. While salvation is entirely God’s work, we are still responsible for resisting sin’s attempts to rule over us.

John MacArthur explains: “Sin is depicted as a ruling power seeking to claim what it no longer has a right to. Before salvation, sin was the master; after salvation, Christ is. But sin will still try to take the throne.” (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary)

The second word to note is the word “reign” (basileueto) means to exercise authority as a king. Before Christ saved us, sin was our master, and we obeyed it (Romans 6:16). But now, we are freed from sin’s dominion (Romans 6:7), and the question becomes:

Who is ruling over you?

Who is your King—Sin or Christ?

R.C. Sproul explains:

“If we still allow sin to reign, we are in a state of rebellion against the One who has freed us. Grace does not free us to sin; it frees us from sin’s power.” (Romans: An Expositional Commentary)

We cannot live with one foot in the kingdom of sin and one in the kingdom of Christ. We must choose daily which King we will serve.

Scary Question for you. What defines you more? Because you need to examine your life. Are you living a life of sin? You will know who is truly king of your life by the way you live it. A really good distinction is this, are you comfortable with sin? If so, that is dangerous.

2. "Present Yourselves"—How Are You Becoming?

Paul continues:“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.” (v.13)

Another word to pay attention is this ”present" (paristemi) means to offer, yield, or place at someone’s disposal. We are always presenting ourselves to something—either to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, or to God as instruments of righteousness.

David Guzik points out:

“The choice is clear: we either present ourselves to sin, allowing it to use us as its tool, or we present ourselves to God, allowing Him to work through us.” (Enduring Word Commentary)

Jesus Himself makes this clear in John 15:10

John 15:10 ESV

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

The evidence of a transformed life is obedience. True faith is not perfection, but it is a real, ongoing submission to God.

Ignorance is not an excuse. We must know God’s Word to obey it.

We are commanded to grow—not to be perfect, but to continually offer ourselves to God.

3. "Sin Will Have No Dominion"—Where Is Your Hope?

Paul concludes with the assurance

Romans 6:14 ESV

14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

This is the hope of the gospel! We are no longer under the law’s condemnation but under the rule of grace.

Sin tries to rule, but grace is greater (Romans 5:20).

Sin still tempts, but it does not own us.

Our identity is in Christ, and our future is resurrection life.

We are becoming more like Christ as we submit to Him daily.

Final Challenge: Who Is Your King? Who Are You Becoming?

Paul’s message is clear:

Sin will try to rule you—but you must not let it.

You are either offering yourself to sin or to God—there is no neutral ground.

Your hope is in grace—not in your own ability to be perfect, but in Christ’s victory over sin.

So ask yourself:

Who is your King? Are you allowing sin to reign in your life, or are you submitting to Christ?

Who are you becoming? Are you presenting yourself to God daily, living in obedience, and growing in grace?

Through Christ, sin has no dominion over you—so live as someone truly set free!