What does the Book of Romans 6 Say?
In a single sentence, Romans chapter 6 says: Grace was given as a weapon, not a license, for sin.
More valuable insights from the Book of Romans 6
We have left the country where sin is sovereign–
Paul recognizes the danger of not clarifying the role of grace in a believer’s life. Based on the previous chapter, a believer may erroneously think that the more they sin, the more grace is availed. In chapter 6, Paul sets the record straight. He says that we’re not expected to live in it because we died to it. Dying to sin means that we’re no longer subject to its impulses.
Our liberation from sin came on account of our being crucified with Christ–
When we were baptized in Christ, this action signified our dying (v.3). This means that the old nature was crucified with Christ. The ERV Bible reads: “Christ died, and we have been joined with him by dying too.”
The body retains its capacity for selfish desires but sin cannot impose itself on us again–
Under the law, nothing could be done to stop sin from enticing us into rebellion. In Christ, the demands of the law have been satisfied. As a result, sin has no right to force itself on us. However, Paul tells us that we have a duty to take charge of our bodies.
Sin was defeated on account of a paid penalty-
The blood of Jesus, unlike that of the goats in the Old Testament, did not cover our sins; it dealt with them once and for all (v.6). In verse 23, Paul reminds that the wages of sin is death. Earlier in chapter 4:25, Paul told us that Jesus had to die for our sins and rise for our justification. Therefore, it would be illegal for any sin to retain residence in us. By dying for us, Jesus fulfilled the full demands of sin; we don’t owe sin a dime!
God expects us to live victoriously over sin due to our new position and nature–
Using the AMP Bible, verse 4 of Romans 6 says that we were buried into the death of Christ and rose from the dead that we “might habitually walk in newness of life (abandoning our old ways).” God affirms these words in 1 Peter 2:24 by saying that Christ bore our sins “so that might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.”
Our old nature has been crucified with Christ-
Verse 6 was very problematic to me at first. I wondered, “How can our old, sinful self be crucified with Christ, yet we were not alive when Jesus died?” Just like we inherited the sinful nature from Adam despite not being alive at the time, so it is with Christ. In Adam, the sinful nature was activated (and is still activated in others) the moment we were born. Likewise, our crucifixion with Christ occurs the very minute we believe in His finished work.
Victory over sin starts with the acceptance of the significance of Christ’s death–
Paul in verse 11 tells us to consider ourselves “dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus (ERV).” Before reaching this conclusion, Paul explains that the essence of Jesus crucifying our sinful selves was to ensure “sin loses its power in our lives” (v.6, NLT). This awareness, like any other in life, will change perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors.
The second stage of victory over sin is taking charge of the body–
After revealing to us our spiritual position, which includes our dying and resurrecting with Christ and being set free from the power of sin, Paul now starts a new paragraph by reminding us of our responsibility. He says, “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires” (NLT). He continues, “Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin” (NLT). In practical application, taking charge means that we authoritatively tell the body to stop demanding anything sinful.
The third stage of victory over sin is to yield ourselves completely to God–
It is as if Paul is telling us that we got this new life so we could live for God. He says that instead of giving in to sinful desires, we’re to “offer yourselves to God, as people who have died and now live” (v. 13, ERV). In essence, Paul is saying, “You can’t afford to continue in the old life when you have a new one; showcase the new life of victory over sin, now that you have been empowered to do so!”
Our spiritual growth and the manifestation of our realities in Christ depend on whom or what we submit to–
Paul says something I find very powerful in verse 16. He says that we become the slaves of whatever we give ourselves to. This is why he wants us to give ourselves fully to God. In Galatians 5:16, Paul says that if we are led by the Holy Spirit, we will not gratify the flesh.
Important questions
Why do believers still sin?
If we have been crucified with Christ and our old nature cut off, why then do we still sin? The answer is simple: Believers sin because they are unaware of the meaning and reality of the death of Jesus. Others sin because they do not take a stance over sin. Others due to their refusal to yield to the Holy Spirit. It is insincere or ignorant for a believer to claim or feign helplessness over sin. A believer still struggling in sin is ignorant of their new identity; it is not that sin is powerful.
