Romans

The avenue of sin is a one-way street of ongoing and overwhelming temptation, shame, consequence, and penalty that leads to death.  The only escape is death or rescue. 

Chapter 5 was the 'much more' chapter.  Part of the final thought of chapter 5 was the thought that sin had abounded; increasing, abundant and overwhelming mankind.  The abounding of sin is the depths of depravity, a pit of wickedness going deeper and deeper.  It is hopelessness, a bottomless pit of depression and a sinking, limitless loss of relationship with our maker.  However, as deep and dark as that abounding sin is, grace abounds equally and opposite, not just equaling sin but far exceeding it.  Grace abounds much more.  The word displays grace as soaring heights of relief from the burden of sin.  It's hope eternal and joy everlasting and incomparable freedom.  This abounding grace brings righteousness unimaginable to sinful, fallen men and women submitted to God.

Justification is the foundation of our faith.  Paul wouldn't allow these believers to be justified and then just park there.  There is more, much more.  What is the right response to such an amazing grace from such an amazing God? 

Baptized into Christ Jesus

Romans 6:1-2

Paul returns to his diatribe.  While the word diatribe has negative connotations to us, it was just a method of presenting an argument in Paul's day.  Today it is defined as a bitter denunciation of something.  In Paul's day, it was literally to make a case from many directions; to 'wear out' the point or 'wear down' the opposition.  It was a relentless presentation that made any argument against it weak and insufficient.  The method of argument was used by many philosophers. 

Paul uses his imaginary opposition to ask questions he had probably heard from real opposition in other places.  The idea was that grace abounded much more, so shall we continue to sin that grace may abound?  It may sound like a dumb question to us, but some were teaching this at the time.  Paul had also been accused of teaching to continue in sin.  Paul is setting the record straight about his teaching and about Christian doctrine in general.

We should rest assured that there is no sin so great that grace cannot be greater.  The forgiveness of your sins has no limit.  It doesn't matter how evil, immoral, illegal or disgusting of a sin you committed.  The free gift of forgiveness by the blood of Christ is a grace that is sufficient, without exception.  It's hard to imagine the question being asked out loud. "Now that I'm a Christian, can I just keep on living in sin?  That way God's grace can really abound!"

Do you suppose that question was asked by immature Christians or those just standing in the middle of the road trying to decide if they could buy into Christianity?  Paul wouldn't have wasted time or effort addressing this if it wasn't important.  He gives a strong answer to the question, saying "certainly not."  This answer might seem tame to us.  In reality Paul was saying it was unthinkable or unheard of, emphatically. 

"Died to sin, what do you mean?"

His main point is a question back to his opposition.  If we are dead to sin, how can we live any longer in it?  The first thought is past tense, we previously died; the second is present future tense of continuing now with inclination to continue.  There was a permanent change that took place that ought to have brought permanent change to everything else in life.  How could we recognize our utter sinfulness and the wretchedness of our heart, come to know we need Jesus and then go back to our old life.  Paul presents it as a ridiculous notion.  When a believer is baptized into Christ, it is identifying with the death of Christ, prior to being raised in new life.  The believer no longer serves sin.  Why would we spend any of our new life walking in that old sin?

In practice, as a believer, are we not so overwhelmed with the saving grace that we have no desire to keep sinning.  Oh, we do sin, but we don't live in the continuous, habitual, premeditated pattern of sin.  We slip up and we hate it when we do.  The new man is living in the fleshly body and that flesh is prone to sin.  In your new life you don't need to live like the old ways.  The desire to sin should be gone.  The temptation of the flesh remains as long as we are in these bodies but the desire to live a life immersed in sin is the old way, it should be gone. 

Romans 6:3-4

Had it escaped it their thought process?  Did they not realize to be raised anew, the old had to first die?  How can you have died to sin yet not have any willingness to change?  As we grow and learn to yield to the Lord, the Holy Spirit continues to clean things up in our hearts and minds.  He will show us the dead things that belonged to the old man.

Paul asks, "Don't you know that when you were baptized into Jesus you were baptized into His death?"  Paul speaks of this baptism like it is a fact that everyone would know about.  The word used for 'baptized' means immersed or submerged or covered over.  When you gave your life over to Jesus Christ, you were baptized into His death.  It displays a connection to him as if you were there and participated in his death, burial and resurrection with HIm.  You were submerged in death, buried in waters and then you rose in newness of life, born again.  Baptism is a public profession and display of what happened inside of you. 

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. ¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  (Colossians 2:11-14)

United together in Death and Resurrection

Romans 6:5-11

To be 'united together' is to joined into a single living entity that lives and grows in vital unity.  
This unity began in the likeness of death.  And if that happened then we'll be united into the likeness of His resurrection.  In this diatribe style, you get presented similar facts repeatedly.  In this case, there is no resurrection life if there was not first death. 

The old you was a son of Adam.  You inherited a sinful nature from him and then lived it out to prove it was true.  Your sins were your own.  The wages of your sin was death, inherited from Adam but you took possession of the penalty.  Yet to be baptized into Christ is to die with Him.  It was the death of the old man; the son of Adam was crucified.  The wages of your sin was paid in full by Jesus and you are baptized into that death making it your own. 

Paul said our old man was crucified that the body of sin might be done away with (NKJV); brought to nothing (ESV); might be destroyed (KJV).  This phrase 'might be done away with' is a single word meaning to be de-activated, made idle, inoperative or useless.  The power of sin over your life died on the cross if you are baptized into Jesus.  You are no longer a slave to sin.  Your life and destiny are not established by Adam.  Your future isn't chained to sin.  You are freed.   Paul used this Greek word 'freed' several times already.  Previously it was translated 'justified'.  The son of Adam died in Christ and was made righteous in that death.  It was paid in full.

If this death with Christ happened, then we shall also experience life in Christ.  This was a one-time transaction.  Jesus died once for sin and was resurrected.  It will never happen again.  Likewise, we are baptized into His death, burial and resurrection.  Death no longer has dominion.  Death died on the cross.  Life began anew.  Your eternal life started from the time you first believed.  The new life we are given when we are born again isn't a life to be lived in the same way as the old man.  The old man died.  The new man lives to the One who gave him new life.  The new man lives to God.  Someday when your body dies, the part that makes you who you are will live forever with your creator. 

I think it's interesting here that Paul adds this 'If' at the beginning of verse 8: "If we really died with Christ…"  This is like saying, "If we are really saved."  If you aren't really saved and you read this, it's going to be awful confusing to you.  There is no way it will make any sense to the unsaved.  Yet, it should be the logical conclusion to those who are justified by faith.

The Accounting

Paul uses the word 'reckon'.  This is an accounting word.  We've seen this word numerous times already in Romans.  It is the Greek word 'logizomai'.  It's used 41 times in scripture.  We saw it translated to 'impute' or 'imputed' five times in Romans four; speaking of not accounting sin but accounting righteousness to men.  Now, in this use, we are to account the old man as dead.  When we submitted to Christ we gave up the old man.  He was crucified with Christ.  Over.  Done.  It's not our job to put the old man to death; we just have to reckon the old man as dead.  We have to make the accounting as if he were dead.  In doing so, we are no longer slaves to sin.  It's hard for us to imagine this possible.  Does God really know who He's getting when He does this for me?  Of course He does.  It's a great adventure led by the Lord.  It's strange, exciting, scary and bound for glory.  You don't look back longingly at the world, you look forward to your new life.  (See also Colossians 3)

Present Yourself to Your King

Romans 6:12-14

There were likely some (or many) Roman believers who were living lives where sin continued to reign.  How can a believer experience the peace offered by God when such a radical conflict exists in their life?  How could one say I'm saved in Christ; I have peace with God and access to the grace by which I am saved and I live in hope.  Positionally, all these are true when we are saved, but what does that look like practically?  This is what Paul is working through in this chapter.  How could one live in sin daily?  How can our life be characterized by sin, driven and moved by sin? 

Whether we acknowledge it or not, there will be an authority over our life.  Someone my stand up and pound their chest and say, "I'm the master of my life, I live it my way!"  Paul would agree with you and you've proven his point.  To serve yourself is to not serve God and to be aligned with Satan.  It doesn't matter whether you believe or not, the facts stand.  You either serve your Creator and God or not. 

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody

Gotta Serve Somebody - Bob Dylan

The 'therefore' again brings conclusion to the baptism in Christ and the death and resurrection in Him.  If these things are true, then you are dead to sin and alive in Christ.  Sin no longer rules and reigns (as king) in your body.  You are no longer driven, moved and motivated by the things that once ruled you.  Make no mistake though, sin will not politely admit defeat and step off the throne of your life.  You have been empowered though to 'not so politely' kick sin off the throne and cast it to the grave with the old man. 

The lusts of the mortal body are desires, cravings or longings for forbidden things that exist within our sinful flesh.  Only someone who is still dead in their sin would allow these lusts to reign.  Why would anyone living resurrection want to act as though they were dead? 

We should note that Paul is emphatic in verses 12 and 13 staring with 'do not let sin reign'.  Then he commanded the Roman believers to not present their members as instruments of unrighteousness.  The word 'members' is a part of the whole; in this case he speaks of parts of the body; hands, feet, mind, heart, etc.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. (Colossians 3:5)

Our hands, our feet, our mouth, our mind are used every day.  We once used this body, mind and heart to serve ourselves, other gods, the world; in whatever way felt right at the moment or brought us fleeting pleasure.  Paul's command was that it is time to cease using your body as a offering to unrighteousness.  We are rather to offer our entire person to God, such as we are.  We are marred and scarred by our wretchedness and service to sin.  What we offer appears damaged, flawed and sometimes downright worthless.  But God sees a regenerated person in Christ.  God will take those scars and make a ministry from them.  He will use the old junk to empower you to speak to those still serving the old man. 

We are alive from the dead.  We are to act it.  Your body is no an instrument of righteousness.  We are to make ourselves an offering to God presenting the hands, feet, heart, mind and soul that once served another.  Now, God, these are presented for service to you. 

Paul doesn't say, "sin shouldn't have dominion" or, "try hard to not let sin rule you".   He said emphatically as a fact of this new life, "sin shall not have dominion over you".   Sin has dominion when the law brings guilt and condemnation.  We aren't under the law, but under grace.  This doesn't mean we dismiss the law as useless or it has no bearing.  Because we are in service to God, we desire to be obedient.  But our failures don't empower sin to rule our life.  How does God ensure that sin shall not reign?  He purchased you by His blood.  He will work in your life to surgically remove (circumcise your heart) the sin from your life.   

Picture a man who has lived his whole life in the flesh.  His life was consumed with sin and evil.  His hands were used to hurt others, maybe even kill.  His feet walked paths that glorify only the flesh.  His eyes saw things that ought not to be burned in the brain.  His mind conjured evil.  His mouth spoke it.  He was a drug addict and drunk; a scoundrel by any accounting.  Then, one day, through circumstances ordained by God, this man is saved by grace.  He didn't have to clean up his life first, buy a 3 piece suit, shave, get married and have a couple kids.  He was just passing through his life full of sin when out of nowhere he was put on his knees.  He had an encounter with God.  He came to the knowledge of his sin first, and then the knowledge of Christ as his savior.  He saw clearly that death reigned in his life and saw the opportunity for real life and yielded to Jesus Christ.  He was born again.  The old man was put to death and he became a new creation in Christ.  He was justified.  God used to see this man as a wicked scoundrel, now he looks at him and sees the resurrected Christ.  He is clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  His sins are forgiven, forgotten and paid for.  He is washed clean, free from the taint of sin.  There is no longer any wrath stored against this man; and not only that, He rejoices in God and the reconciliation he has in him.  Hostilities have ceased.  This man now has access to God and it would only be right to exercise that access.  He is clothed in the righteousness of Christ.  He knows what those hands have done, these eyes have seen, where these feet have walked.  He knows the thoughts that came from his mind and all the evil he has conjured.  But God sees only the righteousness of Christ.

This man came to God and said, "Here I am Lord, just as I am, my body is still stained with sin; but Lord, here is my body, here is all I have.  Lord I don't know how you can pull this off.  I don't understand how or why, but I make myself an offering of righteousness instead of unrighteousness.  Use me Lord as you will."   You should know that you not only can do this, Paul said you shall!  You know, when you do that, He will use you.  Paul wanted to bring each believer to this place where they offer themselves to God for righteousness.

As a believer, this is a real test of the presence and understanding of grace.  The law says do this and don't do that and we fail at that.  Grace says, "It doesn't matter what you've done."  Look forward, not back; look on the One who provided the new life and present yourself to Him.

Danny had a well-worn guitar and a well-worn body to go with it.  He played that guitar well, downright impressive.  He once used that instrument to play in bars and small venues.  He served up music of the world, a message of good times, drown your sorrows; life stinks and then you die.  The message of his music and life was to grab all you can now, while you can.  It was an eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die ministry of worldliness.  Then things changed.  Danny met the Lord.  There was a yield and the Lord possessed Danny's heart.  He began to play worship music.  He presented himself and his life to the Lord.  The instrument that once served another god, was now presented, well-worn, damaged by sin, worn down by time.  The main instrument was never the guitar, it was the heart, mind; the hands and feet and spirit of the man.  These instruments now served the Lord our God!

You are a slave

Romans 6:15-19

You don't present yourself to God out of legalism to satisfy some spiritual law either.  You can't present yourself reluctantly, trying to buy your way to right standing.  You present yourself because of Grace; because of a sincere love and desire to be obedient.

Before you were a slave to sin and you had no choice.  When you were a slave, you were bound to a master.  And the only way to break the bond to that master was through death.  You were a slave unto death.  You served the will of your master.  There was no regard to your desire or will.

As a Slave of Righteousness though you are bound to a new master with bonds that nothing can break because he overcame death.  By the death of Christ the bonds to the old master were broken.  Your will is now in the will of God.  Our words and desire are, "Thy will be done.  In becoming that slave of righteousness we are made free.

Paul says thank God that you decided to be obedient to the doctrine that was taught to you and became a slave to righteousness.  This form of doctrine is speaking about a mold.  It's a word used for a form for molten metal.  This form or mold is in the shape of holiness or the excellence of God.  We are melted and poured into the mold.  We will be reshaped and reformed into the image of God; Imago Dei. 

To decide against this and remain in servitude to sin can only be a choice made in ignorance.  Yet, this is one of the doctrines many like to ignore or throw out.  How can God not find it offensive that you don't want to be formed and molded into His image?

The 'human terms' Paul refers to is his using slavery as an analogy.  Remember he is talking to a group that likely included many that were slaves.  Analogies are flawed and quickly break down, but he knew they would understand that analogy. 

Paul gives us an important principle we all know is true.  Lawlessness leads to more lawlessness and righteousness leads to holiness, or more righteousness.   We are creatures of habit and repetition.  If you allow lawlessness into your life, more will follow until you are rooted in lawlessness.  When your life has taken root in sin, it is hard to change.  Not impossible, because it is possible in Christ.  The same holds true with righteousness.  We should lead righteous lives.  Present ourselves as an offering to righteousness.  As we live lives willing to be formed in the mold to look like the image of God, we will be rooted strong in righteousness.  Nothing can uproot you.  You will be anchored in the source of life.

Shame is not a Fruit

Romans 6:20-23

Paul uses a little sarcasm here.  While you were a slave of sin, you didn't have worry about all this righteousness stuff. As a slave to sin, you were free of any regard or obligation toward righteousness.  This is the kind of freedom we felt when we first broke free from what we supposed was the tyranny of our parents.  We were free to do anything we wanted.  We were free to wreck our car, free to have run ins with the law, free to form addictions.  We chase evil and it let us catch it.  We did all kinds of damage to our bodies and spirits, not to mention other people and relationships.  We discovered in time, that without boundaries we were dangerous, incapable of handling freedom, unable to rule our life.  But pride kept us bound to continue on.  What fruit did we bare in the life of the old man?  There was no fruit but shame, and shame is not a fruit.  The end of all that freedom of righteousness was death. 

Our sin pays a wage.  Wages are normally used to sustain life.  While sin promises life, it's wages only deliver death.  In a similar thought, wages are paid regularly.  The wage of our sin provides a regular reminder that the darkness an unbeliever lives in is just an indication of the greater death awaiting them.  Someone suggested that we quit that job before payday comes.  Every sin, no matter how innocent it seems to you leads to death.  But God gave us a gift of grace that leads to eternal life by Jesus Christ.  He paid our wages of sin in full, by grace He reckons us as righteous. In Christ, our fruit is holiness that ends up in everlasting life.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20-21)

©2008, 2014, 2021 Doug Ford, Calvary Chapel Sweetwater