Romans — Chapter 6

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1What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?

2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?

3Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

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

5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.

6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.

9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.

10The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.

11So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.

13Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.

14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not!

16Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?

17But thanks be to God that, though you once were slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were committed.

18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to escalating wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.

20For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness.

21What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.

22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.

23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?

3Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

4We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

5For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection;

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;

7for he that hath died is justified from sin.

8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;

9knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him.

10For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:

13neither present your members unto sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.

14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.

15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.

16Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;

18and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members [as] servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members [as] servants to righteousness unto sanctification.

20For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.

21What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

22But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.

23For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?

2Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

3Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

4Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.

5For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.

6We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

7(For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

9We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

10For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires,

13and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness.

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

15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!

16Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?

17But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to,

18and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

19(I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.

21So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.

22But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life.

23For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?

3Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

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

5For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

7For he who has died has been freed from sin.

8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;

9knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!

10For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.

11Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

15What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be!

16Don’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 of obedience to righteousness?

17But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.

18Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.

19I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

20For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

21What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

22But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.

23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Commentary
Videos
Articles
Reflection

Summary

Paul asks whether believers should keep sinning so that grace may increase, and answers emphatically no — those baptized into Christ were baptized into his death and are raised to walk in newness of life (vv. 1-4). Because their old self was crucified with Christ, they are no longer enslaved to sin, and are called to consider themselves dead to sin but alive to God (vv. 5-11). Paul urges them not to let sin reign in their bodies but to offer themselves to God as instruments of righteousness, since sin has no dominion over those under grace rather than law (vv. 12-14). He explains that everyone is a slave to whatever they obey, either sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness, and having been freed from sin they are now slaves to righteousness and holiness (vv. 15-22). The chapter closes with the summary statement that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (v. 23).

Authorship & Background

Author: Paul (see Chapter 1 notes for full authorship details).
Historical Context: Chapter 6 begins the sanctification section of Romans (chapters 6-8). Having established justification by faith (chs.3-5), Paul now addresses the obvious objection: "If grace abounds where sin abounds, should we keep sinning so grace increases?" (v.1). His answer: "God forbid!" — and he explains why the justified person cannot continue in sin.
The Logic of Romans 6: You died with Christ (vv.1-10). Therefore, consider yourself dead to sin (v.11). Therefore, don't let sin reign (vv.12-14). Therefore, present yourself to God as His servant (vv.15-23). The chapter moves from fact (what happened) to FAITH (what you believe) to action (what you do).
Classification: Epistle — Pauline
Key Themes: An objection about grace and continued sin answered before it can even be finished, union with Christ's death offered as identity rather than willpower, reckon named as the first imperative and treated as arithmetic rather than effort, a slave metaphor apologized for even as it is used, and wages of death set against a gift of eternal life in a deliberately asymmetric sentence
Union with Christ (vv.1-10): The foundation of sanctification is not willpower but identity. You were baptized into Christ's death (v.3). Your "old man" was crucified with Him (v.6). You died with Christ (v.8). Since you died with Him, sin's power over you is broken — not because you're strong but because you're dead. Dead men don't respond to temptation.
Reckon Yourselves Dead Indeed (vv.11-14): The first imperative in the chapter arrives at verse 11, and it is a command to do arithmetic rather than to try harder: likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God. What follows are three more, and they concern the body, let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness, but yield yourselves unto God. Then the ground offered, and it is a statement of fact rather than encouragement, for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Servants of Whom Ye Obey (vv.15-19): The objection of verse 1 returns in a new form, shall we sin, because we are not under the law? and the answer is an argument about ownership. His servants ye are to whom ye obey, so there is no third option in which a man belongs to nobody. God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Paul then apologises for the metaphor, I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh, which is a rare admission that the image is imperfect.
The Wages of Sin (vv.20-23): The two services are compared by their outcomes rather than their conditions. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Now being made free from sin, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Then the closing verse, and the asymmetry inside it is deliberate: the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Wages are earned and a gift is not, and the two halves of the sentence are not parallel on purpose.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the objection to grace, union with Christ in death and resurrection, the command to reckon, and the two masters.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

Romans 6 | Dead to Sin, Alive to God | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

United With Christ - Romans 6:5-6
David Guzik

Romans 6:1-14 – God's Grace is Greater than My Stubborn Sin
David Guzik

Romans 6:15-23 – God's Grace is Greater than My Occasional Sin
David Guzik

Articles

  • Crossway: crossway.org On the whole letter: why Romans has carried the weight it has in church history.
  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Romans -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Grace Doesn't License Sin (vv.1-2) — Paul rejects the idea that more sin means more grace, since believers have died to sin's rule. Does your view of grace produce gratitude and change, or a quiet excuse to keep sinning?
  • The Old Self Was Crucified (v.6) — Paul says the person we were apart from Christ was put to death with Him, breaking sin's claim on us. Are you living out of that new identity, or still thinking and acting like your old self?
  • Reckon Yourself Dead to Sin (v.11) — Paul commands believers to actively consider themselves dead to sin's authority and alive to God. Do you live like someone whose chains are actually off, or like a freed prisoner who forgot the door is open?
  • Not Under Law but Under Grace (vv.13-14) — Paul explains that sin no longer has to rule believers because they now live under grace rather than law. How might grace actually motivate you toward holiness more than fear of breaking rules does?
  • Whoever You Obey, You Serve (v.16) — Paul points out that everyone is a servant to whatever they consistently yield themselves to, whether sin or obedience. Looking honestly at your daily choices, who are you actually serving?
  • Wages Versus a Gift (v.23) — Paul closes the chapter by contrasting sin's payout of death with God's gift of eternal life through Christ. Which economy do your everyday decisions reflect right now?