READ: Romans 6:4-11
Context: Romans 6 is a chapter that is about a new objective reality. After explaining the implications of being united to Christ rather than to Adam in Romans 5, Paul now addresses a question that he often received when he proclaimed the justification of sinners by faith and not by works: “What shall we say then? Are we to sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:1-3). The passage we are dealing with is a detailed explanation of why for the Christian it is complete nonsense to consider remaining in sin. It is a description of the breadth and depth of our union with Christ and the implications that has for our relationship to sin.
Observations: Paul chooses to use sin in the singular rather than the plural. He does this because he is referring to sin as a power or as a realm. It’s as if he is anthropomorphizing sin as a master who has power and control over all of the subjects in its realm. The entire chapter alludes to this language of bondage and slavery. Additionally, Paul uses the past tense to describe the Christian’s relationship to sin: “we have died”, “was crucified”, “have been united”, “has died”. This gives us a clue as to what exactly Paul is talking about. He is not talking about something that we (with God) are still doing (sanctification), if he were talking about sanctification he would certainly have used the present or future-present tense because it is a work that is ongoing and progressive. Instead, we can be certain that Paul is talking about our justification, God’s declaration of us as righteous. The unique aspect of God declaring us righteous is that it takes us from one realm (sin, death, slavery), and puts us into another realm (resurrection, life, freedom). Paul is rooting the answer to the question he poses in verse 1, to an objective reality of our position to sin. It has already happened, it is done, it is finished.
Meaning: Objective reality has fundamentally changed for all of those who are united to Christ by faith. Our union to Christ includes freedom from sin, we are no longer under compulsion to sin because we are not controlled by our sin nature. This objective reality is rooted in the resurrection of Christ. Christ was crucified, we were crucified, Christ is alive, so too will we be alive with Christ. To be united to Christ is both a call to die and a call to life. If we are united to Christ it is fundamentally a confession of our guilt and therefore our standing condemned before a perfect and just God. AND, if we are united to Christ it is also fundamentally a confession of Jesus’ perfection and righteousness, and therefore in Christ, we stand before God and he justifies us on account of Christ.
Application: The Christian life can be described as learning to be who you are, but in the following way: our old self has died, was crucified, was buried, with Christ. Therefore, the old is gone and the new is here. Our new identity and position before God is something that changes who we are. Paul’s encouragement for us is to then live like it! Live your life consistently with your new master, and the new power that Jesus gives all of those who are united to him by faith.
QUESTIONS
What does it mean to continue in sin? (vs. 1)
How does being united to Christ change our relationship to sin? (vs. 3-4)
Do you feel any tension with the reality of Christians as those who are “dead to sin”?
Why is it important to know that this passage is primarily about how God sees us?
What is an area of your life where you need to live more consistently with who you are in Christ?
What does it mean to live to God just as Christ lives to God? (vs. 10-11)