Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ, now applying the doctrine of justification and grace to the believer's changed relationship to sin, obedience, and holiness.
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Romans 6
Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus
Grace does not leave believers under sin’s mastery; through union with Christ’s death and resurrection, they are dead to sin, alive to God, and called to present themselves as servants of righteousness.
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Chapter Summary
Grace does not leave believers under sin’s mastery; through union with Christ’s death and resurrection, they are dead to sin, alive to God, and called to present themselves as servants of righteousness.
Overview
Romans 6 argues that justification by grace cannot produce moral license because believers have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Their old slavery to sin has been broken, they now live to God, and they must embody their new identity by offering themselves to righteousness leading to holiness and eternal life.
Context
The Roman believers, a mixed Jewish-Gentile church needing clarity that grace does not produce moral license but creates a new identity and new obedience in union with Christ.
Romans 6 follows Romans 5:20-21, where Paul declared that grace increased all the more where sin increased and that grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life. Romans 6 answers objections that might twist grace into permission for sin.
Grace does not leave believers under sin’s mastery; through union with Christ’s death and resurrection, they are dead to sin, alive to God, and called to present themselves as servants of righteousness.
Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ, now applying the doctrine of justification and grace to the believer's changed relationship to sin, obedience, and holiness.
The Roman believers, a mixed Jewish-Gentile church needing clarity that grace does not produce moral license but creates a new identity and new obedience in union with Christ.
Romans 6 follows Romans 5:20-21, where Paul declared that grace increased all the more where sin increased and that grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life. Romans 6 answers objections that might twist grace into permission for sin.
Social Pressure
- Believers in Rome lived amid moral pluralism, social pressures, and old patterns of slavery to sin. Paul trains them to see themselves no longer under sin's mastery but under grace's lordship in Christ.
The chapter uses baptismal imagery, death-life transfer, and slavery language. In the Roman world, slavery was a familiar social reality, and Paul uses that category to show that human beings are never morally autonomous; they either serve sin leading to death or God leading to righteousness and life.
Romans 6 marks a major transition from justification's benefits to sanctification's foundation. The believer's holiness is rooted not in self-reform but in union with Christ's death and resurrection, transfer from Adamic slavery, and new life under grace.
Chapter Movement
Paul moves from rejecting grace-abusing sin, to explaining union with Christ in death and resurrection, to commanding believers to present themselves to God, to contrasting slavery to sin with slavery to righteousness, and finally to the eternal outcomes of death or life.
Discourse Insight
Theological exposition and fulfillment
Romans 6 clarifies that the gospel of grace does not merely pardon sinners while leaving them under sin's mastery. Through union with Christ, believers have died to sin, been raised to newness of life, set free from slavery to sin, placed under grace, and called to present themselves to God. Eternal life remains God's gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Structural Flow
Grace cannot be used to justify continued sin because believers have died to sin.
Baptism points to the believer's participation in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection life.
The believer's old identity under sin's dominion has been crucified with Christ, breaking slavery to sin.
Christ's once-for-all death to sin and present life to God define the believer's new existence.
Believers must think and act in line with their union with Christ by refusing sin's reign and presenting themselves to God.
Being under grace does not authorize sin, because one's obedience reveals the master one serves.
Believers have been transferred from slavery to sin into obedience from the heart and slavery to righteousness.
Presenting oneself to righteousness leads to holiness, while sin pays death; God's gift is eternal life in Christ.
Chapter Outline
- 6:1-2: Paul rejects the misuse of grace because believers have died to sin.
- 6:3-4: Union with Christ's death and burial through baptism leads to walking in newness of life.
- 6:5-7: The believer is united with Christ in death so that slavery to sin is broken.
- 6:8-10: Christ's death is once-for-all, death no longer masters Him, and He lives to God.
- 6:11-14: Believers must reckon themselves dead to sin and alive to God, refusing sin's reign and offering themselves to righteousness.
- 6:15-16: Being under grace does not permit sin because obedience reveals whether one serves sin or righteousness.
- 6:17-19: Believers have obeyed the gospel pattern from the heart and are now to offer themselves to righteousness leading to holiness.
- 6:20-23: Sin's fruit is shame and death, but slavery to God bears holiness and eternal life in Christ.
Theological Argument
Romans 6 argues that justification by grace cannot produce moral license because believers have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Their old slavery to sin has been broken, they now live to God, and they must embody their new identity by offering themselves to righteousness leading to holiness and eternal life.
The chapter moves from grace misunderstood, to union with Christ, to new identity reckoned true, to embodied obedience, to slavery transferred, and finally to the contrast between sin's wages and God's gift.
- 1.Grace increasing beyond sin does not mean believers should continue in sin.
- 2.Believers cannot live in sin as their settled realm because they have died to sin.
- 3.Baptism into Christ Jesus is baptism into his death.
- 4.Believers were buried with Christ through baptism into death.
- 5.Christ was raised through the glory of the Father, and believers now walk in newness of life.
- 6.Union with Christ in a death like his guarantees participation in resurrection life.
- 7.The old self was crucified with Christ so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless.
- 8.The result is that believers are no longer slaves to sin.
- 9.The one who has died has been freed from sin.
- 10.Christ's resurrection means death no longer has mastery over him.
- 11.Christ died to sin once for all and lives to God.
- 12.Believers must count themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
- 13.Sin must not reign in the mortal body.
- 14.Believers must not offer any part of themselves to sin as instruments of wickedness.
- 15.Believers must offer themselves to God as those brought from death to life.
- 16.Sin shall not be master because believers are not under law but under grace.
- 17.Being under grace does not permit sin because obedience reveals one's master.
- 18.Slavery to sin leads to death; obedience leads to righteousness.
- 19.Believers were once slaves to sin but have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching delivered to them.
- 20.Having been set free from sin, believers have become slaves of righteousness.
- 21.Offering oneself to righteousness leads to holiness.
- 22.The fruit of slavery to sin is shame and death.
- 23.The fruit of slavery to God is holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
- 24.The wages of sin is death, but God's gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Theological Focus
- Union with Christ
- Death to sin
- Newness of life
- Baptism into Christ
- Christ's death and resurrection
- Old self crucified
- Freedom from sin's slavery
- Reckoning gospel identity
- Presenting the body to God
- Grace and obedience
- Slavery to righteousness
- Obedience from the heart
- Sanctification
- Holiness
- Eternal life in Christ
- Sin's wages as death
- Grace Rejects Sin’s Dominion
- Baptismal Identification
- The Old Self Crucified
- Newness of Life
- Reckoning Gospel Reality
- Embodied Obedience
- Not Under Law but Under Grace
- Slavery Transfer
- Obedience from the Heart
- Sanctification and Holiness
- Death and Gift
- Baptism
- Death to Sin
- Resurrection Life
- Old Self
- Freedom from Sin
- Grace
- Law
- Slavery and Lordship
- Eternal Life
- Sin and Death
Theological Themes
Grace is not permission to continue in sin. Grace transfers believers out of sin's mastery into life under God.
Believers share in Christ's death and resurrection, making His death-life pattern determinative for their identity and obedience.
Baptism signifies incorporation into Christ's death and resurrection life, marking the believer's break with the old realm.
The believer's former identity under sin has been crucified with Christ so that slavery to sin is no longer the controlling reality.
The resurrection of Christ grounds the believer's present walk in a new life, not merely future hope.
Believers are commanded to count as true what God has done in Christ: they are dead to sin and alive to God.
The body is not spiritually irrelevant; believers must not offer its parts to sin but to God as instruments of righteousness.
Being under grace means sin is no longer master. Grace establishes freedom for obedience, not freedom for rebellion.
Paul presents human life as service to one master or another: sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness.
Christian obedience is not superficial compliance but heart-level submission to the gospel pattern of teaching.
Freedom from sin leads to slavery to God, fruit leading to holiness, and the outcome of eternal life.
Sin pays wages in death, but God gives eternal life as gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Covenant Significance
Romans 6 shows how the reign of grace announced in Romans 5 creates a new covenant people no longer mastered by sin. Believers are united to Christ in His death and resurrection, brought from death to life, and placed under grace rather than under law as a condemning realm. The chapter anticipates the Spirit-shaped obedience of Romans 8 by establishing sanctification in Christ's once-for-all death and resurrection life.
Old Testament Connections
- Grace reigns through righteousness by transferring believers out of sin's dominion.
- Baptism marks the believer's identification with Christ's death and resurrection.
- The old Adamic self under sin's reign is crucified with Christ.
- Being not under law but under grace means sin is no longer master.
- Obedience under grace is heart-level and formative, not mere external code-keeping.
- The believer's body belongs to God as an instrument of righteousness.
- Holiness is the fruit of belonging to God, not the basis of justification.
- Eternal life is the gift of God in Christ Jesus, not wages earned by moral performance.
- Exodus 14:1-31
- Exodus 19:4-6
- Leviticus 11:44-45
- Deuteronomy 30:6
- Ezekiel 36:25-27
- Jeremiah 31:31-34
- Psalm 51:10-12
- Isaiah 61:10
Canonical Connections
Romans 6 develops the biblical pattern of passing from death to life, now grounded in union with Christ's death and resurrection.
Baptism identifies believers with Christ and marks a decisive break with the old life.
Paul's obedience from the heart resonates with Old Testament promises of inward transformation.
Romans 6's call to holiness aligns with God's covenant demand that His people belong to Him in consecrated life.
Believers walk in newness of life because they are united to the risen Christ.
Paul's statement that the old self was crucified with Christ connects with His wider teaching on shared crucifixion and transformed life.
Romans 6 announces that sin no longer has rightful mastery over those under grace.
The chapter reorients freedom as belonging to God and serving righteousness.
Romans 6:23 summarizes the Bible's two-path contrast between death under sin and life as God's gracious gift.
Cross References
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive...
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we...
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Clarifies how the passage points to the gospel of Christ.
Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You...
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
Shows Old Testament grounding that frames or supports this passage.
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his...
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be! Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or...
Provides immediate literary context around the same argument flow.
Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful...
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,...
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give...
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Develops the same theological theme in another location.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
Gospel Clarity
Romans 6 clarifies that the gospel of grace does not merely pardon sinners while leaving them under sin's mastery. Through union with Christ, believers have died to sin, been raised to newness of life, set free from slavery to sin, placed under grace, and called to present themselves to God. Eternal life remains God's gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gospel Guardrails
- Grace must not be used as permission to continue in sin.
- Believers have died to sin.
- Baptism identifies believers with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
- Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father.
- Believers are called to walk in newness of life.
- The old self was crucified with Christ.
- Believers are no longer slaves to sin.
- Christ died to sin once for all and now lives to God.
- Believers must count themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ.
- Sin must not reign in the mortal body.
- Believers are not under law but under grace.
- Grace means sin shall not be master.
- Believers have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching delivered to them.
- Freedom from sin means slavery to righteousness and to God.
- The fruit of belonging to God leads to holiness.
- The wages of sin is death.
- The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Do not preach grace as permission for sin · Paul explicitly rejects that abuse.
- Do not separate justification from sanctification · Romans 6 shows holiness flowing from union with Christ.
- Do not ground sanctification in self-improvement detached from Christ's death and resurrection.
- Do not reduce baptism to a mere religious ceremony · it testifies to union with Christ's death and resurrection life.
- Do not claim sin is absent from the believer's experience · Paul commands believers not to let sin reign.
- Do not treat the body as neutral territory · every part is offered either to sin or to God.
- Do not define Christian freedom as autonomy · freedom from sin means belonging to God.
- Do not confuse lawlessness with grace · being under grace means sin is no longer master.
- Do not make holiness the wage that earns eternal life · eternal life is God's gift, and holiness is the fruit of belonging to God.
- Do not detach eternal life from Christ · it is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gospel Cross References
For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive...
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we...
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.
Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin. A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever. If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
Primary Emphasis
Romans 6 presents Christ as the crucified and risen Lord whose death and resurrection become the believer's own defining reality. Christ died to sin once for all and now lives to God. Those united to Him are no longer enslaved to sin but alive to God in Him. Christ is therefore not only the ground of justification but also the foundation, pattern, and power of sanctification.
Chapter Contribution
Romans 6 argues that justification by grace cannot produce moral license because believers have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Their old slavery to sin has been broken, they now live to God, and they must embody their new identity by offering themselves to righteousness leading to holiness and eternal life.
Doctrines in This Chapter
Sin produces death as its earned outcome.
Through Christ’s death, the believer’s old identity under sin is crucified.
Eternal life is God’s gracious gift, not a wage earned by obedience.
Grace establishes a new realm in which sin no longer rules.
Every person serves a master; grace transfers allegiance to righteousness.
Freedom from sin results in progressive holiness and transformed obedience.
Believers are spiritually united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
Doctrinal Weight
Believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, making His death-life pattern the foundation of their new identity.
Holiness flows from being dead to sin, alive to God, set free from sin, and enslaved to righteousness.
Baptism signifies identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection life.
Believers have died to sin as a ruling realm and must no longer live under its mastery.
Christ's resurrection grounds the believer's walk in newness of life.
The old self was crucified with Christ so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless.
Believers have been set free from sin's slavery, though they must still refuse its reign.
Being under grace means sin is no longer master and obedience to God becomes the believer's new way of life.
Believers are not under law as a condemning realm but under grace, where sin's mastery is broken.
True Christian obedience arises from the heart's submission to the gospel pattern of teaching.
Human beings serve either sin leading to death or obedience and righteousness leading to holiness and life.
Belonging to God produces fruit leading to holiness.
Eternal life is God's gift in Christ Jesus our Lord, not the wage earned by human holiness.
Sin pays wages in death, exposing the deadly outcome of remaining under sin's mastery.
Reading Lenses
Theological exposition and fulfillment
- Romans 6 clarifies that the gospel of grace does not merely pardon sinners while leaving them under sin's mastery. Through union with Christ, believers have died to sin, been raised to newness of life, set free from slavery to sin, placed under grace, and called to present themselves to God. Eternal life remains God's gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Key Greek Terms
Form in passage Present · Active · Subjunctive · 1st Person · Plural What is this?
Sense to remain; continue; persist
Definition Paul asks whether believers should continue in sin so that grace may increase.
References Romans 6:1
Lexicon to remain; continue; persist
Why it matters This word frames the antinomian distortion Paul rejects: grace does not authorize settled persistence in sin.
Form in passage Dative · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense sin; rebellion; guilt; power or ruling realm
Definition Believers have died to sin and must not let sin reign.
References Romans 6:1-23
Lexicon sin; rebellion; guilt; power or ruling realm
Why it matters Romans 6 treats sin as a former master whose dominion has been broken in Christ.
Sense to die; be separated from a former realm or life
Definition Believers have died to sin through union with Christ.
References Romans 6:2, 6:8, 6:10-11
Lexicon to die; be separated from a former realm or life
Why it matters Death to sin is the theological basis for rejecting continued life under sin's mastery.
Form in passage Aorist · Passive · Indicative · 1st Person · Plural What is this?
Sense to baptize; immerse; identify ceremonially
Definition Believers baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.
References Romans 6:3
Lexicon to baptize; immerse; identify ceremonially
Why it matters Baptism marks identification with Christ's death and resurrection, calling believers to newness of life.
Sense to bury together with
Definition Believers were buried with Christ through baptism into death.
References Romans 6:4
Lexicon to bury together with
Why it matters Burial imagery underscores the decisive break with the old life under sin.
Form in passage Dative · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense newness; freshness; new quality of life
Definition Believers are to walk in newness of life.
References Romans 6:4
Lexicon newness; freshness; new quality of life
Why it matters Union with the risen Christ produces a new mode of life, not mere moral adjustment.
Form in passage Genitive · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense life; resurrection life; true life
Definition Believers walk in newness of life and receive eternal life in Christ.
References Romans 6:4, 6:22-23
Lexicon life; resurrection life; true life
Why it matters Life in Romans 6 is grounded in Christ's resurrection and culminates in eternal life.
Form in passage Nominative · Plural · Masculine What is this?
Sense united with; grown together with; closely joined
Definition Believers have been united with Christ in a death like his and will be united with him in resurrection.
References Romans 6:5
Lexicon united with; grown together with; closely joined
Why it matters This is one of the chapter's central union-with-Christ terms.
Individual words παλαιὸς ἄνθρωπος palaios anthrōpos · φορτίζετε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους phortizete tous anthrōpous
Form in passage Nominative · Singular · Masculine What is this?
Sense old person; former self under Adamic and sinful existence
Definition The believer's old self was crucified with Christ.
References Romans 6:6
Lexicon old person; former self under Adamic and sinful existence
Why it matters Sanctification begins with a decisive change of identity and realm in Christ.
Sense to crucify together with
Definition The old self was crucified with Christ.
References Romans 6:6
Lexicon to crucify together with
Why it matters The believer's break with sin's dominion is grounded in participation in Christ's crucifixion.
Form in passage Nominative · Singular · Neuter What is this?
Sense body under sin's rule; embodied existence dominated by sin
Definition The old self was crucified so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless.
References Romans 6:6
Lexicon body under sin's rule; embodied existence dominated by sin
Why it matters Paul addresses embodied slavery to sin and the liberation of the believer's whole person.
Form in passage Aorist · Passive · Subjunctive · 3rd Person · Singular What is this?
Sense to render powerless; nullify; make ineffective
Definition The body ruled by sin is rendered powerless through the old self's crucifixion with Christ.
References Romans 6:6
Lexicon to render powerless; nullify; make ineffective
Why it matters Sin's dominion is broken, though sin remains an enemy to resist.
Form in passage Present · Active · Infinitive What is this?
Sense to serve as a slave; be enslaved
Definition Believers are no longer slaves to sin but now serve righteousness and God.
References Romans 6:6, 6:16-22
Lexicon to serve as a slave; be enslaved
Why it matters Romans 6 frames sanctification as a transfer of mastery.
Form in passage Perfect · Passive · Indicative · 3rd Person · Singular What is this?
Sense to justify; declare free; release from claim
Definition The one who has died has been freed from sin.
References Romans 6:7
Lexicon to justify; declare free; release from claim
Why it matters Paul applies forensic-release language to the believer's break from sin's claim and mastery.
Form in passage Present · Active · Indicative · 3rd Person · Singular What is this?
Sense to rule; have dominion; be lord over
Definition Death no longer has mastery over Christ, and sin shall not be master over believers.
References Romans 6:9, 6:14
Lexicon to rule; have dominion; be lord over
Why it matters Mastery language clarifies that salvation breaks dominion, not merely guilt.
Sense once for all; once and never repeated
Definition Christ died to sin once for all.
References Romans 6:10
Lexicon once for all; once and never repeated
Why it matters Christ's decisive death is final and unrepeatable, grounding the believer's decisive break with sin.
Form in passage Present · Middle · Imperative · 2nd Person · Plural What is this?
Sense to count; reckon; consider as true
Definition Believers must count themselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ.
References Romans 6:11
Lexicon to count; reckon; consider as true
Why it matters Christian obedience begins by reckoning gospel identity as true.
Form in passage Present · Active · Participle · Plural What is this?
Sense to live; be alive
Definition Believers are alive to God in Christ Jesus.
References Romans 6:11, 6:13
Lexicon to live; be alive
Why it matters The believer's new life is God-directed and Christ-located.
Form in passage Present · Active · Imperative · 3rd Person · Singular What is this?
Sense to reign; rule as king
Definition Believers must not let sin reign in their mortal body.
References Romans 6:12
Lexicon to reign; rule as king
Why it matters Sin seeks royal control, but grace has displaced its reign.
Form in passage Dative · Singular · Neuter What is this?
Sense mortal body; death-subject embodied life
Definition Sin must not reign in the believer's mortal body.
References Romans 6:12
Lexicon mortal body; death-subject embodied life
Why it matters Paul applies gospel identity to embodied desires and practices.
Form in passage Aorist · Active · Imperative · 2nd Person · Plural What is this?
Sense to present; offer; place at another's disposal
Definition Believers must not present themselves to sin but must present themselves to God.
References Romans 6:13, 6:16, 6:19
Lexicon to present; offer; place at another's disposal
Why it matters Sanctification requires active bodily surrender to God.
Form in passage Accusative · Plural · Neuter What is this?
Sense instruments; weapons; tools
Definition The parts of the body may be offered as instruments of wickedness or righteousness.
References Romans 6:13
Lexicon instruments; weapons; tools
Why it matters The believer's embodied life becomes either weaponry for sin or for righteousness.
Form in passage Genitive · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense unrighteousness; wickedness; injustice
Definition Believers must not offer themselves to sin as instruments of wickedness.
References Romans 6:13
Lexicon unrighteousness; wickedness; injustice
Why it matters Sin uses embodied faculties for unrighteous purposes if allowed to reign.
Form in passage Genitive · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense righteousness; right conduct; right standing expressed in obedience
Definition Believers offer themselves as instruments of righteousness and become slaves of righteousness.
References Romans 6:13, 6:16, 6:18-20
Lexicon righteousness; right conduct; right standing expressed in obedience
Why it matters Righteousness in Romans 6 includes the obedient direction of the justified life.
Sense under law; under the law as covenantal/condemning realm
Definition Believers are not under law but under grace.
References Romans 6:14-15
Lexicon under law; under the law as covenantal/condemning realm
Why it matters Paul identifies the believer's realm as grace, where sin is no longer master.
Form in passage Accusative · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense under grace; under the reign and realm of God's gracious power
Definition Believers are under grace, so sin shall not be their master.
References Romans 6:14-15
Lexicon under grace; under the reign and realm of God's gracious power
Why it matters Grace is the ruling reality that breaks sin's dominion and produces holiness.
Form in passage Accusative · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense obedience; submissive hearing and response
Definition Obedience leads to righteousness, and believers obey from the heart.
References Romans 6:16-17
Lexicon obedience; submissive hearing and response
Why it matters Grace creates heart-level obedience rather than lawless autonomy.
Sense heart; inner person; center of desire, thought, and will
Definition Believers obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching delivered to them.
References Romans 6:17
Lexicon heart; inner person; center of desire, thought, and will
Why it matters Christian obedience is inwardly transformed and not merely external compliance.
Form in passage Accusative · Singular · Masculine What is this?
Sense pattern; form; mold; model
Definition Believers obeyed the pattern of teaching delivered to them.
References Romans 6:17
Lexicon pattern; form; mold; model
Why it matters The apostolic gospel teaching forms believers into a new way of life.
Form in passage Genitive · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense teaching; instruction; doctrine
Definition Believers were delivered to a pattern of teaching that they obeyed from the heart.
References Romans 6:17
Lexicon teaching; instruction; doctrine
Why it matters Doctrine is not merely information; it is a formative pattern that claims the believer's allegiance.
Form in passage Aorist · Passive · Participle · Plural What is this?
Sense to set free; liberate
Definition Believers have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
References Romans 6:18, 6:22
Lexicon to set free; liberate
Why it matters Christian freedom is liberation from sin's mastery for service to righteousness.
Form in passage Dative · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense impurity; uncleanness; moral defilement
Definition Believers once offered themselves as slaves to impurity.
References Romans 6:19
Lexicon impurity; uncleanness; moral defilement
Why it matters Paul contrasts the former direction of embodied life with the new direction toward holiness.
Form in passage Accusative · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense lawlessness; wickedness; rebellion against God's order
Definition Former slavery to impurity led to ever-increasing wickedness.
References Romans 6:19
Lexicon lawlessness; wickedness; rebellion against God's order
Why it matters Sin is progressive in corruption when served as master.
Form in passage Accusative · Singular · Masculine What is this?
Sense holiness; sanctification; consecration
Definition Offering oneself to righteousness leads to holiness, and slavery to God bears fruit leading to holiness.
References Romans 6:19, 6:22
Lexicon holiness; sanctification; consecration
Why it matters Holiness is the fruit and direction of life under God.
Sense fruit; outcome; produce
Definition Sin bears shameful fruit, while slavery to God bears fruit leading to holiness.
References Romans 6:21-22
Lexicon fruit; outcome; produce
Why it matters Paul evaluates lives by their produced outcomes under competing masters.
Form in passage Present · Middle · Indicative · 2nd Person · Plural What is this?
Sense to be ashamed; feel disgrace
Definition The former life of slavery to sin produced things believers are now ashamed of.
References Romans 6:21
Lexicon to be ashamed; feel disgrace
Why it matters Grace produces moral clarity about the old life without returning believers to condemnation.
Form in passage Nominative · Plural · Neuter What is this?
Sense wages; pay; compensation
Definition The wages of sin is death.
References Romans 6:23
Lexicon wages; pay; compensation
Why it matters Sin pays what it promises: death. This contrasts with God's free gift.
Form in passage Nominative · Singular · Neuter What is this?
Sense gift; gracious gift
Definition The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
References Romans 6:23
Lexicon gift; gracious gift
Why it matters Eternal life is not earned as wages but given by grace in Christ.
Form in passage Nominative · Singular · Feminine What is this?
Sense eternal life; life of the age to come
Definition God's gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
References Romans 6:23
Lexicon eternal life; life of the age to come
Why it matters Romans 6 concludes by locating final life entirely in God's gift in Christ.
Lexicon data: MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML (CC0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon (CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible Data (CC BY 4.0) · Full details
Discourse Connectives (41)
grounds / explanation 9inference / conclusion 5strong contrast / correction 4purpose clause 3conditional clause 2content marker or causal 7continuation or mild contrast 10contrast setup (μέν...δέ) 1
| v.1 | οὖνtheninference / conclusionAsk: what has Paul argued up to this point? 'Therefore' is the payoff.ἵναthatpurpose clauseἵνα clauses often contain the theological payoff: 'so that God might...' |
| v.3 | ὅτιthatcontent marker or causalIf ὅτι follows a verb of speaking/knowing/believing, it introduces content. If it follows a statement, it introduces a reason. |
| v.4 | οὖνthereforeinference / conclusionAsk: what has Paul argued up to this point? 'Therefore' is the payoff.ἵναso thatpurpose clauseἵνα clauses often contain the theological payoff: 'so that God might...' |
| v.5 | εἰIfconditional clauseAsk whether Paul treats the 'if' as assumed true (1st class) or merely hypothetical.γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point.ἀλλὰcertainlystrong contrast / correctionAsk: what is being set aside? What is being asserted instead? |
| v.6 | ὅτιthatcontent marker or causalIf ὅτι follows a verb of speaking/knowing/believing, it introduces content. If it follows a statement, it introduces a reason.ἵναso thatpurpose clauseἵνα clauses often contain the theological payoff: 'so that God might...' |
| v.7 | γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point. |
| v.8 | εἰIfconditional clauseAsk whether Paul treats the 'if' as assumed true (1st class) or merely hypothetical.δὲnowcontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast.ὅτιthatcontent marker or causalIf ὅτι follows a verb of speaking/knowing/believing, it introduces content. If it follows a statement, it introduces a reason. |
| v.9 | ὅτιthatcontent marker or causalIf ὅτι follows a verb of speaking/knowing/believing, it introduces content. If it follows a statement, it introduces a reason. |
| v.10 | γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point.δὲhowevercontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast. |
| v.11 | μὲνindeedcontrast setup (μέν...δέ)The μέν...δέ pair is a rhetorical hinge. Both sides matter equally.δὲhowevercontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast. |
| v.12 | οὖνthereforeinference / conclusionAsk: what has Paul argued up to this point? 'Therefore' is the payoff. |
| v.13 | ἀλλὰbutstrong contrast / correctionAsk: what is being set aside? What is being asserted instead? |
| v.14 | γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point.γάρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point.ἀλλ᾽butstrong contrast / correctionAsk: what is being set aside? What is being asserted instead? |
| v.15 | οὖν;then?inference / conclusionAsk: what has Paul argued up to this point? 'Therefore' is the payoff.ὅτιbecausecontent marker or causalIf ὅτι follows a verb of speaking/knowing/believing, it introduces content. If it follows a statement, it introduces a reason.ἀλλ᾽butstrong contrast / correctionAsk: what is being set aside? What is being asserted instead? |
| v.16 | ὅτιthatcontent marker or causalIf ὅτι follows a verb of speaking/knowing/believing, it introduces content. If it follows a statement, it introduces a reason. |
| v.17 | δὲhowevercontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast.ὅτιthatcontent marker or causalIf ὅτι follows a verb of speaking/knowing/believing, it introduces content. If it follows a statement, it introduces a reason.δὲnowcontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast. |
| v.18 | δὲnowcontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast. |
| v.19 | γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point. |
| v.20 | γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point. |
| v.21 | οὖνthereforeinference / conclusionAsk: what has Paul argued up to this point? 'Therefore' is the payoff.γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point. |
| v.22 | δὲhowevercontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast.δὲnowcontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast.δὲnowcontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast. |
| v.23 | γὰρforgrounds / explanationAsk: what claim is this 'for' grounding? That claim is the main point.δὲbutcontinuation or mild contrastNote where δέ appears in a μέν...δέ pair — that structure is a deliberate contrast. |
Discourse data: STEPBible TAGNT (CC BY 4.0)
Verb Aspect (54 main verbs)
completed 13ongoing 11prospective 4resultant 2imperative 5subjunctive 5optative 2background 1infinitive 2participle 9
| v.1 | ἐροῦμενeréōsayfuture active indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised actionἐπιμένωμενepiménōcontinuepresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentπλεονάσῃpleonázōaboundaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingent |
| v.2 | γένοιτοgínomaibeaorist middle optativeoptativeOptative mood — wish or remote possibilityἀπεθάνομενdiedaorist active indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionζήσομενzáōlivefuture active indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised action |
| v.3 | ἀγνοεῖτεnot knowpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthἐβαπτίσθημενbaptizedaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionἐβαπτίσθημενbaptizedaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed action |
| v.4 | συνετάφημενsyntháptōburied withaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionἠγέρθηegeírōraisedaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionπεριπατήσωμενperipatéōwalkaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingent |
| v.6 | γινώσκοντεςginṓskōknowpresent active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionσυνεσταυρώθηsystauróōcrucified withaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionκαταργηθῇkatargéōdone away withaorist passive subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentδουλεύεινdouleúōenslavedpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveInfinitive — verbal noun or complementary verb |
| v.7 | ἀποθανὼνdiedaorist active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionδεδικαίωταιdikaióōfreedperfect passive indicativeresultantPerfect indicative — completed action with present result |
| v.8 | ἀπεθάνομενdiedaorist active indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionπιστεύομενpisteúōbelievepresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthσυζήσομενsyzáōlive withfuture active indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised action |
| v.9 | εἰδότεςeídōknowperfect active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionἐγερθεὶςegeírōraisedaorist passive participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionἀποθνῄσκειdiepresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthκυριεύειkyrieúōmaster overpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.10 | ἀπέθανενdiedaorist active indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionἀπέθανενdiedaorist active indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionζῇzáōlivespresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthζῇzáōlivespresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.11 | λογίζεσθεlogízomaiconsiderpresent middle imperativeimperativeImperative mood — command or exhortationζῶνταςzáōalivepresent active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting action |
| v.12 | βασιλευέτωreignpresent active imperativeimperativeImperative mood — command or exhortationὑπακούεινhypakoúōobeypresent active infinitiveinfinitiveInfinitive — verbal noun or complementary verb |
| v.13 | παριστάνετεparístēmipresentpresent active imperativeimperativeImperative mood — command or exhortationπαραστήσατεparístēmipresentaorist active imperativeimperativeImperative mood — command or exhortationζῶνταςzáōalivepresent active participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting action |
| v.14 | κυριεύσειkyrieúōmaster overfuture active indicativeprospectiveFuture indicative — anticipated or promised action |
| v.15 | ἁμαρτήσωμενsinaorist active subjunctivesubjunctiveSubjunctive mood — conditional, purpose, or contingentγένοιτοgínomaibeaorist middle optativeoptativeOptative mood — wish or remote possibility |
| v.16 | οἴδατεeídōknowperfect active indicativeresultantPerfect indicative — completed action with present resultπαριστάνετεparístēmipresentpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthὑπακούετεhypakoúōobeypresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.17 | ὑπηκούσατεhypakoúōobeyedaorist active indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionπαρεδόθητεparadídōmientrustedaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed action |
| v.18 | ἐλευθερωθέντεςeleutheróōset freeaorist passive participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionἐδουλώθητεdoulóōbecome slavesaorist passive indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed action |
| v.19 | λέγωlégōspeakingpresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truthπαρεστήσατεparístēmipresentedaorist active indicativecompletedAorist indicative — punctiliar or completed actionπαραστήσατεparístēmipresentaorist active imperativeimperativeImperative mood — command or exhortation |
| v.21 | εἴχετεéchōhaveimperfect active indicativebackgroundImperfect indicative — continuous or repeated past actionἐπαισχύνεσθεepaischýnomaiashamedpresent middle indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
| v.22 | ἐλευθερωθέντεςeleutheróōset freeaorist passive participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionδουλωθέντεςdoulóōenslavedaorist passive participleparticipleParticiple — verbal adjective, supporting actionἔχετεéchōhavepresent active indicativeongoingPresent indicative — ongoing, habitual, or general truth |
Verb forms indicate aspect — not interpretive weight. Consult context before drawing conclusions about emphasis.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain
Formation Focus
To show that union with Christ's death and resurrection breaks sin's dominion and grounds the believer's call to holy obedience under grace.
To confront moral license, strengthen holiness, reshape identity, and train believers to actively present themselves to God as those alive from the dead.
Grace-formed holiness, heart obedience, embodied surrender, hatred of sin's mastery, confidence in Christ-union, and joyful service to God.
Practice Response
- Verbally reject the lie that grace excuses sin.
- Rehearse Romans 6:11 daily: dead to sin, alive to God in Christ Jesus.
- Identify one area where sin is trying to reign in the body.
- Name the bodily members or habits being offered to sin and deliberately offer them to God.
- Connect baptismal identity to present obedience.
- Replace sin-management language with master-transfer language: I no longer belong to sin.
- Submit to the apostolic teaching pattern from the heart, not merely outwardly.
- Ask where shameful fruit is still being cultivated and repent decisively.
- Pursue righteousness leading to holiness through concrete, embodied obedience.
- End the day by remembering that eternal life is God's gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Warnings and Misreadings
- Romans 6 strongly warns against turning grace into permission for sin. It also warns that obedience reveals allegiance: sin leads to death, but obedience under God leads to righteousness, holiness, and eternal life.
- Grace means sin is no longer serious. - Paul says grace does not permit sin because believers have died to sin and must not let sin reign.
- Romans 6 teaches sinless perfection in the present life. - Paul commands believers not to let sin reign, showing that sin remains a real enemy, though no longer the believer's rightful master.
- Baptism mechanically saves apart from faith and union with Christ. - Paul uses baptism as the sign of incorporation into Christ's death and resurrection, not as a detached ritual independent of gospel faith.
- Death to sin means sin no longer tempts or influences believers. - Death to sin means believers have been transferred out of sin's dominion. The commands of verses 11-14 show ongoing resistance is required.
- Counting oneself dead to sin means pretending sin is unreal. - Reckoning means aligning one's thinking with what God has done in Christ, not denying the presence of temptation.
- The body is spiritually unimportant. - Paul explicitly commands believers to offer the parts of their bodies to God as instruments of righteousness.
- Not under law means free from any obligation to obey God. - Paul says being under grace means sin shall not be master and believers are now slaves to righteousness and God.
- Christian freedom is autonomy. - Romans 6 teaches transfer of mastery, not moral independence. Believers are freed from sin to belong to God.
- Obedience from the heart is optional for justified believers. - Paul presents heart obedience as characteristic of those set free from sin.
- Eternal life is the wage of holiness. - Romans 6:23 says eternal life is the gift of God in Christ, while holiness is the fruit of belonging to God.
Discipleship Questions
- Where am I tempted to use grace as an excuse rather than as power for obedience?
- Do I understand myself primarily by my old patterns or by union with Christ?
- How does my baptism testify against continuing in sin?
- What does it mean today to count myself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus?
- Where is sin trying to reign in my mortal body?
- What parts of my body, habits, words, eyes, hands, appetite, or energy have I been offering to sin?
- How can I actively offer those same parts to God as instruments of righteousness?
- Do I think of being under grace as freedom from obedience or freedom for obedience?
- What master is revealed by the patterns I obey?
- Have I obeyed the gospel from the heart, or only outwardly conformed to Christian teaching?
- What fruit is being produced by my present habits: shame or holiness?
- Am I treating eternal life as God's gift in Christ or as something I quietly think I earn?
Pastoral Applications
- Sanctification must be taught from union with Christ, not as bare willpower. Believers fight sin because they have died and risen with Christ.
- Assurance should include both resting in Christ's finished work and recognizing the new direction of heart obedience produced by grace.
- Baptism should be explained as public identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, calling believers to walk in newness of life.
- Romans 6 helps counselees move from identity labels rooted in sin patterns to identity rooted in Christ: dead to sin and alive to God.
- The chapter provides a direct framework: sin is not rightful master, the body must not be offered to wickedness, and the believer must present Himself to God as alive from the dead.
- Grace must be preached as reigning grace that breaks sin's dominion, not as mere pardon language detached from holiness.
- Romans 6 gives the church a way to call believers back from sin without legalism: remember who You are in Christ and stop serving the old master.
- Discipleship must address bodily habits, because Paul commands believers to offer their bodily members to God as instruments of righteousness.
- Heart obedience to the apostolic teaching pattern must be cultivated as the shape of Christian maturity.
- The gospel offer includes liberation from sin's slavery, not only escape from guilt.
Pastoral Trajectories
Paul refuses to let grace be twisted into sin's permission and instead presents grace as the realm where sin is no longer master.
The believer's defining reality is no longer the old self under sin but union with Christ in death and resurrection.
Believers must refuse sin's reign and present themselves to God as those brought from death to life.
Paul calls believers to actively stop offering themselves to sin and to offer themselves to righteousness.
Not being under law but under grace means freedom from sin's dominion, not freedom from God's claim.
Believers have changed masters and must now serve righteousness leading to holiness.
The old life produced shame and death, but life under God bears fruit leading to holiness.
The chapter culminates in the contrast between sin's earned death and God's gifted eternal life in Christ.
Motifs in This Chapter
Study holiness as divine character, covenant identity, and sanctified life across Scripture.
Follow resurrection hope, vindication, and life-over-death patterns across the canon.
Trace servant identity, obedient mission, and suffering service across Scripture.
The Biblical World
Chapter At A Glance
Paul moves from rejecting grace-abusing sin, to explaining union with Christ in death and resurrection, to commanding believers to present themselves to God, to contrasting slavery to sin with slavery to righteousness, and finally to the eternal outcomes of death or life.
Romans 6 shows how the reign of grace announced in Romans 5 creates a new covenant people no longer mastered by sin. Believers are united to Christ in His death and resurrection, brought from death to life, and placed under grace rather than under law as a condemning realm. The chapter anticipates the Spirit-shaped obedience of Romans 8 by establishing sanctification in Christ's once-for-all death and resurrection life.
Romans 6 clarifies that the gospel of grace does not merely pardon sinners while leaving them under sin's mastery. Through union with Christ, believers have died to sin, been raised to newness of life, set free from slavery to sin, placed under grace, and called to present themselves to God. Eternal life remains God's gift in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace-formed holiness, heart obedience, embodied surrender, hatred of sin's mastery, confidence in Christ-union, and joyful service to God.
Focus Points
- Union with Christ
- Death to sin
- Newness of life
- Baptism into Christ
- Christ's death and resurrection
- Old self crucified
- Freedom from sin's slavery
- Reckoning gospel identity
- Presenting the body to God
- Grace and obedience
- Slavery to righteousness
- Obedience from the heart
- Sanctification
- Holiness
- Eternal life in Christ
- Sin's wages as death
- Grace Rejects Sin’s Dominion
- Baptismal Identification
- The Old Self Crucified
- Reckoning Gospel Reality
- Embodied Obedience
- Not Under Law but Under Grace
- Slavery Transfer
- Sanctification and Holiness
- Death and Gift
- Baptism
- Resurrection Life
- Old Self
- Freedom from Sin
- Grace
- Law
- Slavery and Lordship
- Eternal Life
- Sin and Death
Cross References
If You do well, won’t it be lifted up? If You don’t do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for You, but You are to rule over it.”
Sin’s desire to rule
Moses stretched out His hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went in after...
Death-to-life deliverance pattern
‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore You on eagles’ wings, and brought You to myself. Now therefore, if You will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then You shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which...
Redeemed people belonging to God
For I am Yahweh Your God. Sanctify Yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. You shall not defile Yourselves with any kind of creeping thing that moves on the earth. For I am Yahweh who brought You up out of the land of Egypt, to be Your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Holiness command
Yahweh Your God will circumcise Your heart, and the heart of Your offspring, to love Yahweh Your God with all Your heart and with all Your soul, that You may live.
Heart transformation
Behold, I have set before You today life and prosperity, and death and evil. For I command You today to love Yahweh Your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, that You may live and multiply, and that Yahweh Your God may bless You in the land where You go in to possess it. But if Your heart turns away, and...
Life and death contrast
I will sprinkle clean water on You, and You will be clean. I will cleanse You from all Your filthiness, and from all Your idols. I will also give You a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within You. I will take away the stony heart out of Your flesh, and I will give You a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within You, and cause You to walk in my...
Spirit-enabled obedience
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Baptism and discipleship
“Most certainly I tell You, He who hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Passed from death to life
The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Immediate context
Therefore, my brothers, You also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that You would be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law worked in our members to bring out fruit to death. But now we have been discharged...
Death to old realm and new service
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending His own Son in the likeness of...
Life in the Spirit
Or don’t You know that Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in You, whom You have from God? You are not Your own, for You were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in Your body and in Your spirit, which are God’s.
Body belonging to God
For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to Him who for their sakes died and rose again. Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know Him so no...
Died with Christ and new creation
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me.
Crucified with Christ
For as many of You as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Baptized into Christ
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Crucified flesh
In Him You were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which You were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Buried and raised with Christ
If then You were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set Your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. For You died, and Your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Raised with Christ and putting sin to death
You were made alive when You were dead in transgressions and sins, in which You once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. We also all once lived among them in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by...
From death to life by grace
As free, and not using Your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
Freedom as service to God
Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death.
Sin and death
Passages
Chapter opening: Romans 6:1-14
What shall we say then? (τ ουν ερουμεν?) "A debater's phrase" (Morison). Yes, and an echo of the rabbinical method of question and answer, but also an expression of exultant victory of grace versus sin. But Paul sees the possible perversion of this glorious grace. Shall we continue in sin? (επιμενωμεν τη αμαρτιαι?) Present active deliberative subjunctive of επιμενω, old verb to tarry as in Ephesus ( 1Co 16:8 ) with locative case.
The practice of sin as a habit (present tense) is here raised. That grace may abound (ινα η χαρις πτεοναση). Final clause with ingressive aorist subjunctive, to set free the superfluity of grace alluded to like putting money in circulation. Horrible thought (μη γενοιτο) and yet Paul faced it. There are occasionally so-called pietists who actually think that God's pardon gives them liberty to sin without penalty (cf.
the sale of indulgences that stirred Martin Luther).
Died to sin (απεθανομεν τη αμαρτια). Second aorist active of αποθνησκω and the dative case. When we surrendered to Christ and took him as Lord and Saviour. Qualitative relative (οιτινες, we the very ones who). How (πως). Rhetorical question.
Were baptized into Christ (εβαπτισθημεν εις Χριστον). First aorist passive indicative of βαπτιζω. Better, "were baptized unto Christ or in Christ." The translation "into" makes Paul say that the union with Christ was brought to pass by means of baptism, which is not his idea, for Paul was not a sacramentarian. Εις is at bottom the same word as εν. Baptism is the public proclamation of one's inward spiritual relation to Christ attained before the baptism.
See on Ga 3:27 where it is like putting on an outward garment or uniform. Into his death (εις τον θανατον αυτου). So here "unto his death," "in relation to his death," which relation Paul proceeds to explain by the symbolism of the ordinance.
We were buried therefore with him by means of baptism unto death (συνεταφημεν ουν αυτω δια του βαπτισματος εις τον θανατον). Second aorist passive indicative of συνθαπτω, old verb to bury together with, in N. T. only here and Col 2:12 . With associative instrumental case (αυτω) and "by means of baptism unto death" as in verse 3 . In newness of life (εν καινοτητ ζωης).
The picture in baptism points two ways, backwards to Christ's death and burial and to our death to sin (verse 1 ), forwards to Christ's resurrection from the dead and to our new life pledged by the coming out of the watery grave to walk on the other side of the baptismal grave (F. B. Meyer). There is the further picture of our own resurrection from the grave.
It is a tragedy that Paul's majestic picture here has been so blurred by controversy that some refuse to see it. It should be said also that a symbol is not the reality, but the picture of the reality.
For if we have become united with him by the likeness of his death (ε γαρ συμφυτο γεγοναμεν τω ομοιωματ του θανατου αυτου). Condition of the first class, assumed to be true. Συμφυτο is old verbal adjective from συμφυω, to grow together. Baptism as a picture of death and burial symbolizes our likeness to Christ in his death. We shall be also united in the likeness of his resurrection (αλλα κα της αναστασεως εσομεθα).
The conclusion to the previous condition introduced by αλλα κα as often and το ομοιωματ (in the likeness) must be understood before της αναστασεως (of his resurrection). Baptism is a picture of the past and of the present and a prophecy of the future, the matchless preacher of the new life in Christ.
Our old man (ο παλαιος ημων ανθρωπος). Only in Paul (here, Col 3:9 ; Eph 4:22 ). Was crucified with him (συνεσταυρωθη). See on Ga 2:19 for this boldly picturesque word. This took place not at baptism, but only pictured there. It took place when "we died to sin" (verse 1 ). The body of sin (το σωμα της αμαρτιας). "The body of which sin has taken possession" (Sanday and Headlam), the body marked by sin.
That so we should no longer be in bondage to sin (του μηκετ δουλευειν ημας τη αμαρτια). Purpose clause with του and the present active infinitive of δουλευω, continue serving sin (as slaves). Adds "slavery" to living in sin (verse 2 ).
Is justified (δεδικαιωτα). Perfect passive indicative of δικαιοω, stands justified, set free from, adding this great word to death and life of verses 1 , 2 .
With Christ (συν Χριστω). As pictured by baptism, the crucifixion with Christ of verse 6 .
Dieth no more (ουκετ αποθνησκε). "Christ's particular death occurs but once" (Shedd). See Heb 10:10 . A complete refutation of the "sacrificial" character of the "mass."
The death that he died (ο απεθανεν). Neuter relative, cognative accusative with απεθανεν. Once (εφαπαξ). Once and once only ( Heb 9:26 f. ), not ποτε (once upon a time). The life that he liveth (ο ζη). Cognate accusative of the relative.
Reckon ye also yourselves (κα υμεις λογιζεσθε). Direct middle imperative of λογιζομα and complete proof that Paul does not mean that baptism makes one dead to sin and alive to God. That is a spiritual operation "in Christ Jesus" and only pictured by baptism. This is a plea to live up to the ideal of the baptized life.
Reign (βασιλευετω). Present active imperative, "let not sin continue to reign" as it did once ( 5:12 ). Mortal (θνητο). Verbal adjective from θνησκω, subject to death. The reign of sin is over with you. Self-indulgence is inconsistent with trust in the vicarious atonement. That ye should obey (εις το υπακουειν). With a view to obeying.
Neither present (μηδε παριστανετε). Present active imperative in prohibition of παριστανω, late form of παριστημ, to place beside. Stop presenting your members or do not have the habit of doing so, "do not go on putting your members to sin as weapons of unrighteousness." Instruments (οπλα). Old word for tools of any kind for shop or war ( Joh 18:3 ; 2Co 6:7 ; 10:4 ; Ro 13:12 ).
Possibly here figure of two armies arrayed against each other ( Ga 5:16-24 ), and see οπλα δικαιοσυνης below. The two sets of οπλα clash. But present yourselves unto God (αλλα παραστησατε εαυτους τω θεω). First aorist active imperative of παριστημ, same verb, but different tense, do it now and completely. Our "members" (μελη) should be at the call of God "as alive from the dead."
Shall not have dominion (ου κυριευσε). Future active indicative of κυριευω, old verb from κυριος, "shall not lord it over you," even if not yet wholly dead. Cf. 2Co 1:24 .
What then? (τ ουν?). Another turn in the argument about the excess of grace. Shall we sin? (αμαρτεσωμεν?). First aorist active deliberative subjunctive of αμαρτανω. "Shall we commit sin" (occasional acts of sin as opposed to the life of sin as raised by επιμενωμεν τη αμαρτια in verse 1 )? Because (οτ). The same reason as in verse 1 and taken up from the very words in verse 14 . Surely, the objector says, we may take a night off now and then and sin a little bit "since we are under grace."
His servants ye are whom ye obey (δουλο εστε ω υπακουετε). Bondservants, slaves of the one whom ye obey, whatever one's profession may be, traitors, spies sometimes they are called. As Paul used the figure to illustrate death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ and not in sin, so now he uses slavery against the idea of occasional lapses into sin. Loyalty to Christ will not permit occasional crossing over to the other side to Satan's line.
Whereas ye were (ητε). Imperfect but no "whereas" in the Greek. Paul is not grateful that they were once slaves of sin, but only that, though they once were, they turned from that state. To that form of doctrine whereunto ye were delivered (εις ον παρεδοθητε τυπον διδαχης). Incorporation of the antecedent (τυπον διδαχης) into the relative clause: "to which form of doctrine ye were delivered."
See on 5:14 for τυπον. It is hardly proper to take "form" here to refer to Paul's gospel ( 2:16 ), possibly an allusion to the symbolism of baptism which was the outward sign of the separation.
Ye became servants of righteousness (εδουλωθητε τη δικαιοσυνη). First aorist passive indicative of δουλοω, to enslave. "Ye were made slaves to righteousness." You have simply changed masters, no longer slaves of sin (set free from that tyrant), but ye are slaves of righteousness. There is no middle ground, no "no man's land" in this war.
I speak after the manner of men (ανθρωπινον λεγω). "I speak a human word." He begs pardon for using "slaving" in connection with righteousness. But it is a good word, especially for our times when self-assertiveness and personal liberty bulk so large in modern speech. See 3:5 ; Ga 3:15 where he uses κατα ανθρωπον. Because of the infirmity of your flesh (δια την ασθενειαν της σαρκος υμων).
Because of defective spiritual insight largely due to moral defects also. Servants to uncleanness (δουλα τη ακαθαρσια). Neuter plural form of δουλος to agree with μελη (members). Patently true in sexual sins, in drunkenness, and all fleshly sins, absolutely slaves like narcotic fiends. So now (ουτως νυν). Now that you are born again in Christ. Paul uses twice again the same verb παριστημ, to present (παρεστησατε, παραστησατε).
Servants to righteousness (δουλα τη δικαιοσυνη). Repeats the idea of verse 18 . Unto sanctification (εις αγιασμον). This the goal, the blessed consummation that demands and deserves the new slavery without occasional lapses or sprees (verse 15 ). This late word appears only in LXX, N. T. , and ecclesiastical writers so far. See on 1Th 4:3 ; 1Co 1:30 . Paul includes sanctification in his conception of the God-kind ( 1:17 ) of righteousness (both justification, 1:18-5:21 and sanctification, chapters 6-8 ).
It is a life process of consecration, not an instantaneous act. Paul shows that we ought to be sanctified ( 6:1-7:6 ) and illustrates the obligation by death ( 6:1-14 ), by slavery ( 6:15-23 ), and by marriage ( 7:1-6 ).
Free in regard of righteousness (ελευθερο τη δικαιοσυνη). Ye wore no collar of righteousness, but freely did as ye pleased. They were "free." Note dative case, personal relation, of δικαιοσυνη.
What fruit then had ye at that time? (τινα ουν καρπον ειχετε τοτε?). Imperfect active, used to have. A pertinent question. Ashes in their hands now. They are ashamed now of the memory of them. The end of them is death.
Ye have your fruit unto sanctification (εχετε τον καρπον υμων εις αγιασμον). Freedom from sin and slavery to God bring permanent fruit that leads to sanctification. And the end eternal life (το δε τελος ζωην αιωνιον). Note accusative case ζωην αιωνιον, object of εχετε (ye have), though θανατος in contrast above is nominative.
Wages (οψωνια). Late Greek for wages of soldier, here of sin. See on Lu 3:14 ; 1Co 9:7 ; 2Co 11:8 . Sin pays its wages in full with no cut. But eternal life is God's gift (χαρισμα), not wages. Both θανατος and ζωην are