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? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We 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. 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. 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.
Romans 6:1-14
People are slandering Paul and twisting his doctrine.
They claim he is light on Law and easy on sin. They falsely present him as preaching, “Who cares about God’s holiness? Who cares about God’s desires? Who cares about God’s demands? His grace is greater than all your sins. Therefore, sin-big! Swim in iniquity. Go ahead and enjoy wickedness while walking in God’s grace.”
If Paul were utilizing modern-technology, his response would be in bold type, all caps, highlighted and underlined. Hear him as he screams, “By no means!” Such thinking and teaching is ludicrous and blasphemous to him.
Paul explains reasons why sinful saints do not delight in practicing sin.
Christians are one with Jesus Christ. They are those identified, baptized, united, circumcised, buried, resurrected, and filled with Christ.
In other imagery, Christians are married to God’s Son; together they are one-flesh.
Consequently, just as Jesus was buried and then raised to walk in newness of life, this is the spiritual reality of Christ’s bride. With Jesus, all saints have been spiritually crucified and killed. With Jesus, all saints have been spiritually resurrected and brought to life. And what is the purpose? All this has transpired that believers might walk in newness of life with their Holy Lover.
Such is the grand situation of Christian’s today, but it does get better. One day, as all sinful saints finds themselves breathing their last breaths and finding their place in the earth, again, they will be gloriously resurrected. They will be raised to newness of life but this time without remaining corruption. On that day, they will see their Heavenly Husband’s face. Sin will be no more. What a glorious day that will be!
However, until that glorious day, Christians have benefits. Sin is no longer their enslaving master. It has been brought to “nothing.” Believers now have a new nature that can say “No!” to devilish invitations.
In addition, Jesus Christ who dominated death, He lives for the joy of his Heavenly Father. This means the Risen Son lives for the sanctification and preservation of his saints. Jesus is their Savior, but that’s not all. Jesus is also the believer’s Lord, Husband, Advocate, Intercessor, Teacher, Counselor, and Finishing Coach. It is true, He, who began a good work is faithfully completing that which he set about to do. (Philippians 1:6) Christians serve a Risen Savior, and he serves them.
Therefore, how are Christians to respond to this Good News?
Paul gives two actions points.
Christians are to repent, believe, and prayer: Tempted Christians are to consistently engage in repenting faith. We are always to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We are to be “transformed by the renewing of their minds.” (Romans 12:2) We are to engage in prayers of repenting faith. In prayerful contemplation, confession, and supplication we turn from:
- Self-worship and turn to the worship of Jesus.
- Self-instruction (Listening to the lies of the world, flesh, and devil) and turn to the counsel of Jesus.
- Self-atonement and turn to the full atonement and pardon of Jesus.
- Self-righteousness and turn to the gifted righteousness of Jesus.
- Self-assurance based on our sinlessness and turn to the promises of Jesus.
- Self-improvement by human works and turn to the power of Jesus.
Then, after turning from self, believing the Gospel, and resting in Christ, we get to prayerfully present the members of their mortal bodies to the God who grants newness of life.
Struggling Christian brothers and sisters, let’s engage in prayers of repenting faith early, often, alone, and together. Let’s pray without ceasing.
Christian are to be responsible in practice: Tempted Christians are to converse with their Wonderful Counselor and consider how they might avoid sin. We get to be responsive and responsible. In the Old Testament, the psalmist engages to “flee evil.” (Psalm 37:27) In a later text the wise king writes, “The prudent man sees the evil and hides himself.” (Proverbs 22:3) Jesus promotes the sacrificing of good legitimate rights that can lead to wrong ends. (Matthew 5:29). He teaches his disciples to pray that they might not be led into temptation. (Matthew 6:13) In another text of scripture, Paul writes, Make no provision to fulfill our remaining sinful lusts.” (Romans 13:14) And here he writes, “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness.” (Romans 6:13) Clearly, the practice of holiness begins with prayer and then continues to include prudence. Practical holiness begins with repenting faith that proves itself in practicing responsibility.
Paul then ends with a Gospel promise.
Believer, though it might seem like the world, flesh, devil, and sin are getting the upper-hand …
Though it might seem like sin is dominating …
Though the Law of God might continue to declare his holiness and our depravity …
Know this — As Christ’s saintly bride, we are buried, crucified, killed, baptized, raised, and identified with him. And every single day, we are only and always viewed through the Gospel. Satan will not win. The ungodly world will not win. Our flesh will not win. Jesus wins and so too does his radiant bride. Grace has the final word for all who are found in Christ Jesus.
Unfathomable Grace 