In Romans chapter 6 Paul begins a new section in this summary of systematic theology we call the book of Romans. First Paul dealt with our need and the doctrine of SIN (chapter 1:1-3:20). Next he dealt with God’s provision and the doctrine of SALVATION (chapter 3:21-5:21). Now he is prepared to deal with our experience and the doctrine of SANCTIFICATION ( chapter 6:1-8:39).
In this section Paul explains how believers can be delivered from their patterns of sinful behavior and actually become more like Christ in their daily lives. In this chapter Paul addresses the objections that naturally arise from what he taught about justification by faith apart from works in chapter 5. If salvation is really free, as Paul declares in 3:28 and 4:5, then an obvious question arises in the minds of his readers: “Does this mean I can get saved and then live any way I please?” It is important to note that if Paul had not taught that salvation is really a free gift of God’s grace for unworthy sinners, this question about the freedom to sin would never have arisen. Paul’s answer would be, “Yes, you can live any way you please, but because you are a new creation, you won’t choose to live in sin.” Paul addresses two questions in this chapter. The first is in 6:1: “Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase?” The second is in 6:15: “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?” Both questions challenge the notion (idea) that salvation is by grace apart from works. This lesson focuses on the first question and explains why a new believer, who is not under law, does not live in sin even though there is no law to condemn him for doing so.
Double Identification:
By faith the believer is identified with the work of Christ in two ways: with His death (6:4, 5, 8) and with His resurrection (6:5, 8). Identification with His death is symbolized when a new believer is baptized. One argument in support of baptism by immersion is that it provides a good picture of what it means to die and rise again. When Jesus died the believer died with Him, and the “old self” connected to the sin of Adam is dead and gone—done away with. God no longer sees the believer as condemned by the law. The believer is now identified with the resurrected Christ. Just as he died with Christ on the cross (his sins are gone), he also rose with Christ from the dead (he is a new creation)—he has new life! As believers we have died with Christ, and we are alive in Christ.
Personal Responsibility:
The believer must choose to act on what he knows to be true about his identification with Christ. Paul says. “Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” The believer is a new creation; he is free from the obligation to sin (no longer has to sin). Because of his new life in Christ, he can choose not to sin. He is no longer the person he was before conversion, and he has a new motivation (prompting) in life. He must “consider” (reckon) this new identification to be true, and he must act on what he believes about the work of Christ. Jesus died to take away our sin, and He rose from the dead to give us new life. The “old self” is dead, and a new self has been created. The new believer will not choose to live in sin because he is a new creation; his heart has been changed. It is the Holy Spirit within, not a set of rules, that transforms a believer’s life. We become like Christ by focusing on the work of Christ, not the law of Moses. Salvation comes through the death of Christ. Sanctification comes through the life of Christ in the Holy Spirit.
—to be continued
