Romans 6

“Are we to continue to sin that grace may abound?”

“No. Be dead to sin, but be alive to God”

“Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?”

“No. Be dead to sin, but be alive to God”

These two questions were posted by Apostle Paul himself to make his point clear to his readers/listeners, and that is to be dead to sin, but be alive to God.

Bible Passage: Romans 6

In the previous chapter, Paul expounded that it was through one man’s (Adam’s) disobedience, many were made sinners, and through the obedience of one Man, Jesus Christ, many were made righteous; this is the grace of God.

Paul might have anticipated that some people might even think that since we want grace to abound more, we should continue to sin. But Paul’s answer and admonition was,

“Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (v2)

Indeed, we can’t afford to continue to sin, for our old-self had died and had been buried with Jesus in baptism. And coming up out of the water, we were reborn; therefore we must lead a new life in Christ.

Baptism is neither merely an act of obedience to God, nor a ritual to publicly proclaim our conversion to become a Christian.

Baptism is to wash away our sins. (ref. Acts 22: 16)

Baptism is an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (ref. 1Peter 3: 21 NASB).

Baptism is for our salvation (ref. John 3: 5; 1Peter 3: 21)

Paul used the significance of baptism to remind us that we had indeed gone through a process whereby we are truly cleansed from all our sins; we were all born anew and it is only right and wise to lead a life that is not stained with sin.

And of course we must not forget what the author of Hebrews had sternly warned us,

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 10: 26 – 27

In today’s chapter, verse 16, Paul very aptly used ‘slavery’ as an analogy to warn us about our inclinations to sinning.

Slaves must work hard and without questions for their masters, so slaves have to have total submission to whatever their masters require them to do.

So if we were to incline towards sinning, then we are like slaves of sins and there will come a time when we would have to submit to our ‘master’ (sin) totally. Then what will be our end?

But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

Romans 6: 21

Yes, our end in being slaves to sin is death!

We have to be sober and diligent to check on our inclinations, we must lean towards righteousness and be slaves of righteousness, for this will lead us to everlasting life. (v.22)

May God have mercy on us, for we are all weak in the flesh; and let us all strive to be slaves of righteousness.

Shalom.