The Triumph of Grace over the Power of Sin. - Rom 6:1-11

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Introduction

Romans 5:20–21 ESV
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The New Bible Commentary 5:12–21 The Reign of Grace and Life

His point here is that the law of Moses has done nothing to change the situation of sin and death introduced into the world by Adam. Indeed, the law has made things worse, increasing the trespass by turning sin against God into a more serious rebellion against his explicit commands (see the comments on 4:15). Yet even where sin thus ‘increased’, God’s grace increased all the more. As a result, Paul concludes, the reign of death has been replaced by the reign of grace for those who are in Christ, bringing to us a new status of righteousness (cf. 3:21–4:25) and leading inevitably to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:1 ESV
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
Romans 3:8 ESV
And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
Paul asks a question to lead the reader into his next point
All is under sin (1:18-3:20)
Justification by faith (3:21-5:21)
Sanctification (6-8)
Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Nature of Sanctification

Sanctification is the continuing work of God in the life of believers, making them actually holy. By “holy” here is meant “bearing an actual likeness to God.” Sanctification is a process by which one’s moral condition is brought into conformity with one’s legal status before God. It is a continuation of what was begun in regeneration, when a newness of life was conferred upon and instilled within the believer. In particular, sanctification is the Holy Spirit’s applying to the life of the believer the work done by Jesus Christ.

Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Nature of Sanctification

There are two basic senses of the word “sanctification,” which are related to two basic concepts of holiness. On the one hand, there is holiness as a formal characteristic of particular objects, persons, and places. In this sense holiness refers to a state of being separate, set apart from the ordinary or mundane and dedicated to a particular purpose or use.

Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Nature of Sanctification

The other sense of sanctification is moral goodness or spiritual worth. This sense gradually came to predominate. It designates not merely the fact that believers are formally set apart, or belong to Christ, but that they are then to conduct themselves accordingly. They are to live lives of purity and goodness.

Paul starts this section with the reality of who we are in Christ.
Our union with Him in his death, burial, and resurrection.
The affect of that union to Sin.
(1-11) reality in Christ
(12-23) Choice in Christ

They have been crucified in Christ (1-3)

Romans 6:1–3 ESV
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Baptized - to be baptized (state) v. — to be or become momentarily immersed in water as a cleansing, ceremonial, and initiatory rite.
Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Meaning of Baptism

What, then, is the meaning of baptism? To answer this question, we note, first, that there is a strong connection between baptism and our being united with Christ in his death and resurrection.

Christian Theology, 3rd ed. The Meaning of Baptism

Baptism is, then, an act of faith and a testimony that one has been united with Christ in his death and resurrection, that one has experienced spiritual circumcision. It is a public indication of one’s commitment to Christ.

Died (vs. 2, 7, 11) - to be apathetic ⇔ be dead v. — to be completely indifferent toward (in feeling, reaction, or response); conceived of as being dead with respect to something.
① to cease to have vital functions, whether at an earthly or transcendent level, die; ⓑ of death on a transcendent level; γ. of person or thing from which one is separated by death, however death may be understood: To Sin Ro 6:2; dead to that which held us captive 7:6 “ (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000 : 111. Print.)
Romans 7:6 ESV
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
sin - sin (personification) n. — sin personified as a destructive and depraved principle reigning over unbelievers and persisting in believers; especially as a slavemaster doling out payment with the currency of death and decay.
In our Union with Christ we are free from Sin.
Colossians 1:13 ESV
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

They have been resurrected with Christ (4-5)

Romans 6:4–5 ESV
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. 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.
Raised with Christ to new life (4)
Raised - to resurrect ⇔ wake up v. — to resurrect, conceived of as waking up and arising (out of bed).
Walk - to walk (behavior) v. — to live or behave in a specified manner.
Life - life (course of) n. — the course of existence of an individual; the actions and events that occur in living.
Galatians 2:20 ESV
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
United with Christ (5)
United - organically united adjs. — characterized by a living, growing, and vital unity; being joined into a single living entity.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Dying to Live (Romans 6)

In other words, justification by faith is not simply a legal matter between me and God; it is a living relationship. It is “a justification which brings life” (Rom. 5:18, literal translation). I am in Christ and identified with Him. Therefore, whatever happened to Christ has happened to me. When He died, I died. When He arose, I arose in Him. I am now seated with Him in the heavenlies! (see Eph. 2:1–10; Col. 3:1–3) Because of this living union with Christ, the believer has a totally new relationship to sin.

We are free from Sin. Sin has no mastery over the believer in Christ.
“In Christ” does not mean that we live life the same and know that we will be forgiven.
We are called out to a new way of Life in Christ.

They are now both dead and alive. (6-11)

Dead to Sin (6-7)

Romans 6:6–7 ESV
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. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Former life gone (6)
Old self - former self n. — a former self especially the former beliefs, habits, emotions, and life of a person before becoming a Christian.
Body of Sin - Body of Sin as Human Nature Opposed to God — Human nature opposed to God is conceptualized as a body of sin. (“The Lexham Figurative Language of the New Testament Dataset.” Lexham Figurative Language of the Bible Glossary. Ed. Joshua R. Westbury et al. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016. Print.)
Brought to nothing - to be inactivated v. — to be or become idle, inactive, inoperative, or useless.
No longer enslaved, but free (6b-7)
Enslaved - to be dominated by ⇔ be a slave to v. — to be or become entirely dominated by some influence or person; conceived of as being the legal property of another.
set free - to be justified v. — to be or become judicially vindicated as having complied with the requirements of the law (of God).
Anyone who repents of their sins and believes the gospel has been freed from the penalty, power, and, one day, the presence of sin; and freed from the power of Satan.” (LifePlan)

Alive in the Savior (8-10)

Romans 6:8–10 ESV
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
Christ is raised to life. (8-10)
We are united in Christ death and resurrection. (8)
Jesus will never die again. (9a)
Revelation 1:17–18 ESV
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Death has no dominion over Christ (9b)
Dominion - to dominate (completely) v. — to exercise control over someone as his master.
Jesus Died to Sin (10)
sin (personification) n. — sin personified as a destructive and depraved principle reigning over unbelievers and persisting in believers; especially as a slavemaster doling out payment with the currency of death and decay.
Once for all
Hebrews 7:27 ESV
He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Hebrews 9:26 ESV
for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 10:8–10 ESV
When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Conclusion Statement (11)

Romans 6:11 ESV
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Consider - to consider (reckon) v. — to deem or reckon to be.
① to determine by mathematical process, reckon, calculate, frequently in a transferred sense (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000 : 597. Print.)
Shawshank redemption - Red (Morgan Freeman) was released from prison and working at a grocery store. “Can I use the restroom Boss?”
Paul is saying that we are no longer enslaved to sin so why live as though we are. We are free in Christ and have a new life. Reckon that reality to yourself.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Five: Dying to Live (Romans 6)

Romans 3:21–5:21

Romans 6–8

Substitution: He died for me

Identification: I died with Him

He died for my sins

He died unto sin

He paid sin’s penalty

He broke sin’s power

Justification: righteousness

Sanctification: righteousness

imputed (put to my account)

imparted (made a part of my life)

Saved by His death

Saved by His life

Takeaways

We have been united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. We now are living in the newness of Life free from the dominion of sin in our lives.
The Bible Guide The Christian and Sin (6:1–23)

We have been baptized into Christ. Our baptism acted out our dying to sin and rising to new life with Christ. We are far too closely identified with Jesus to carry on sinning. We have died to sin. In theory, we can no more sin than a dead body can!

Of course, we still have free will. We can sin if we want to, but it will be out of keeping with our Christian character. But look at it positively: instead of letting sin dictate our actions, we are free to do right! And which master do we prefer? The only wage sin ever paid was death. But now God gives us eternal life. To serve him is perfect freedom.

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