Verse By Verse Through Romans

Chapter Six

Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

• Previous to these verses we read: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21).
• Think about the question. What would it mean if Christians were “just” in being sinners? Such false doctrine is what false teachers have long taught about grace (Jude 1:4).
• You cannot get clearer than “God forbid?” The instructions to cease from sin, not to sin, to depart from evil, to be perfect, to be blameless, to be holy, etc. are very clear in the Scriptures (Psalms 4:3-4, Psalms 34:11-14, Psalms 37:27, Proverbs 3:7, Proverbs 11:5, Proverbs 16:6, Proverbs 16:17, Matthew 5:48, John 5:1-14, John 8:1-11, Romans 6:15-18, I Corinthians 15:34, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1, II Corinthians 13:11, Galatians 2:17, Ephesians 1:3-4, Ephesians 5:6-11, Colossians 1:27-28, Titus 2:11-14, II Timothy 2:19, James 1:2-4, James 1:13-16, I Peter 1:13-16, I Peter 2:21-23, I John 2:1, I John 2:29-3:10, and II John 1:9).
• Through Christ, we can have our sins washed away (Revelation 1:5). It is up to us to keep ourselves clean (I Timothy 5:22). If one errs, he or she must humble themselves and purify their hearts, etc. (James 4:6-10).
• Many would proclaim this is impossible. There have been those that have been perfect; righteous; just for long periods of time (Genesis 6:5-9, Genesis 6:22, Genesis 7:1, Job 1:8, Job 2:3, Job 2:10, I Kings 15:11-14, Psalms 32:11, Psalms 37:25, Psalms 37:37, Isaiah 3:10, Matthew 1:19, Luke 23:50-56, II Peter 2:7-8, etc.) and those in whom no one can say they ever sinned (Genesis 5:21-24 [cf. Hebrews 11:5] and Luke 1:5-6).
• Dead to sin (Romans 6:6-11 and Colossians 2:12-3:10).
• How could you live any longer therein (I Peter 4:1-5)?

• Baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-29), into His body (I Corinthians 12:12-13) the church (Ephesians 1:22-23).
• So, when we talk about those “in Christ”; we are often referring to those who have been immersed into Him (cf. Romans 16:3, Romans 16:7, Romans 16:10, I Corinthians 1:30, II Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 4:21, etc.).
• Into His death, is explained further in the next four verses (Romans 6:4-7).
• One must do more than be baptized (https://www.biblewot.com/Howillyourespondtosinproblem_2025.mp4).

• Simply put, baptism in water is likened here to death, burial, and resurrection. Dead to sin, buried with Christ, and risen to a new man.
• Baptism is an immersion in water (Acts 8:25-39). The figure of being “buried” with Christ here is defined as: “to inter in company with, that is, (figuratively) to assimilate spiritually (to Christ by a sepulture as to sin): - bury with” (Strong’s # 4916). Cf. Colossians 2:12-13
• Baptism is a burial, as in a death (Colossians 3:1-3). The old is passed away (II Corinthians 5:17).
• Dead to sin (Romans 6:2; 6:11).
• Jesus was raised up from the dead (Matthew 28:1-10) by the glory of the Father (Romans 8:11 and Ephesians 1:19-20). *Another point on that is later in this context (Romans 6:9).
• So, after being immersed, the now disciple of the Christ is to walk in newness of life with the old man being dead, being crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20, Galatians 5:24, Ephesians 4:17-24, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 3:9-10, Titus 3:3-8, and I Peter 4:1-4).
• Being spiritually reborn (John 3:1-5) after being planted in the likeness of His death, knowing that the resurrection similarly is to come. *We will talk more of this in Romans 6:8-10
• The deeds of the flesh are destroyed (Romans 8:13) so that saints no longer serve sin. We will talk more of this in verses to come (Romans 6:11-12; Romans 6:16ff.).
• As we proceed through this context take into account what Paul wrote of himself (Philippians 3:3-21).

• He that is dead (Romans 6:3-6), is justified.
• The word translated “freed” is “δικαιόω” meaning: “to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous” (Strong’s # 1344).
• Man is justified through baptism in this context. Other Scriptures and contexts show justification comes through various things in Christ (Matthew 12:37, Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 2:13, Romans 3:24-30, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:6-9, Romans 8:33, Galatians 2:16-17, and James 2:21-25).

• Again, dead with Christ is repeated (Romans 6:3-7; cf. Colossians 2:20).
• To live with Christ (John 12:25-26, John 14:1-3, and I Thessalonians 4:13-18).
• What is the point of being immersed into Christ if you are not going to be literally risen to be with Him (I Corinthians 15:29)?

• One of the reasons Jesus came in the flesh was to die to destroy him that had power over death (Hebrews 2:14-18).
• Thus, the resurrection of Christ serves as evidence that death has no rule over Him (I Corinthians 15:20-28).
• When Christ returns, death will be swallowed up in victory through the resurrection (I Corinthians 15:50-58).
• Thus, the resurrection is our lively hope (I Peter 1:3-9).

• Understand what it means that Jesus died unto sin once [once for all] (Romans 8:1-3, Hebrews 9:26-28, and I Peter 3:18).
• Then, to the Father He went (Acts 2:33).

• What Jesus did physically (Romans 6:9-10), we do spiritually. We become dead unto sin (Romans 6:2), but alive to the Father through Jesus (Galatians 2:19-20 and I John 2:29-3:10).
• How could one think that being dead to sin means anything less than ceasing to sin? The Scriptures show God’s expectation for His people not to sin (Psalms 4:4, Ezekiel 3:21, John 5:1-17, John 8:1-11, I Corinthians 15:34, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Galatians 5:17-24, Ephesians 4:21-5:2, Colossians 3:1-17, Titus 2:11-14, II Timothy 2:19, James 1:13-16, I John 2:1-2, and I John 3:1-10).

• This verse clearly establishes that one chooses as to whether or not sin dwells in he or she. You are choosing who you serve here (Romans 6:16).
• Think back to those filled with all unrighteousness (Romans 1:29-32).
• Think of the process that brings about sin (James 1:13-16) and how that if you are allowing sin to reign in your flesh you have already lost that battle.
• In the next chapter (Romans 7), we will talk about sin dwelling in a person under the carnal law of Moses (Romans 7:17; 7:20; 7:23).
• Do you want to serve sin or righteousness (Romans 6:18-20)?

• “Members” is in reference to body parts, limbs (Strong’s # 3196).
• Consider: Matthew 5:29-30 and James 3:5-6
• As such will relate to the Law of Moses, see: Romans 7:1-6
• Think of instruments as a weapon (Strong’s # 3696). Will you lend members of your body as weaponry of unrighteousness unto sin or of righteousness unto God (cf. Romans 12:1-2 and I Corinthians 6:20)?
• Being alive from the dead (Romans 6:3-11).

• This is a huge statement, especially as we get into chapters seven and eight (Romans 7:1-6; 8:1-3).
• Under the Law of Moses, sin had dominion over those under that law (John 8:30-34, Romans 5:20-21, Galatians 3:19-23, and Hebrews 10:1-18).
• This DOES NOT mean there is no law now (Galatians 6:2, James 1:25, and James 2:10-12).
• Being under grace simplified is just that one is under Christ rather the Law of Moses (John 1:1-17).

• Almost the same point is made here that was made earlier in this context (Romans 6:1-2). See the notes there.
• Grace does not permit sin (Titus 2:11-14).

• Earlier in this chapter the Holy Spirit had Paul write “Know ye not…” (Romans 6:3). That phrase appears in the New Testament multiple times in the KJV (Mark 4:13, Romans 7:1, I Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 5:6, I Corinthians 6:3, I Corinthians 6:9, I Corinthians 6:15-16, I Corinthians 6:19, I Corinthians 9:24, II Corinthians 13:5, and James 4:4).
• When you know, you are expected to act properly in that knowledge (John 13:17 and John 15:18-24).
• You are the servant of who you yield to (Joshua 24:15, John 8:34, Titus 3:3, and I John 3:8-10).
• Serving sin leads to death (Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:1-3).
• Obedience leads to righteousness (James 2:21-24 and I Peter 2:24).

• From talking about how you are servants to what you obey (Romans 6:16), the Spirit of God has Paul make this point.
• First, thanking God that one can go from serving sin to serving God because of His mercy (I Chronicles 16:34).
• There is a whole Psalm giving thanks to God for His enduring mercy (Psalms 118).
• We all have to be thankful that God grants us the opportunity to repent and be converted (Titus 3:3-7).
• Secondly, for them [and we who are forgiven of sins should too] to think back to being servants of sin (cf. I Corinthians 6:9-11 and Ephesians 2:1-10).
• Then, the fact that they had obeyed the form [pattern; cf. Hebrews 8:5] of teaching delivered to them (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 6:7, and Romans 15:18-19).
• Think about the questions posed to the Galatians (Galatians 3:1; 5:7).
• Remember, we talked about obeying sin earlier in this context (Romans 6:12).
• To whom is Jesus the source of salvation (Hebrews 5:8-9)?
• Think about obedience and the heart (Deuteronomy 30:1-3; 30:14, Psalms 119:11, Mark 7:1-9, Luke 8:4-15, Romans 10:8-17, Ephesians 4:17-19, Hebrews 3:12, Hebrews 10:22, etc.).

• We talked about being freed from sin (Romans 6:14).
• Now, being free from sin, having the understanding of being servants of righteousness (Deuteronomy 6:24-25). That is, being servants of the Lord (Romans 1:1 and Colossians 4:12).
• To follow after righteousness (I Timothy 6:11 and II Timothy 2:22).

• Paul has already used the phrase “I speak as a man” (Romans 3:5). He does similarly in other letters (Galatians 3:15). This should make understanding more easy.
• The reason being him speaking after the manner of men is the infirmity [weakness (ἀσθένεια); cf. I Corinthians 2:3; Strong’s # 769] of their flesh. That is not a necessarily compliment (I Corinthians 3:1-3). It can also be taken as a reality of being in the flesh (Mark 14:38).
• The instruction is simple. With the same fervor you yielded to being unclean to sin, put forth to serve righteousness to holiness (I Peter 1:13-16). If people would just love righteousness as much as they loved being sinners… So, slay those sins and be that converted person you ought to be (Colossians 3:5-10).

• Who is the servant of sin? Jesus made that clear (John 8:34; cf. Titus 3:3).
• Think about what Peter, being moved by the Holy Ghost, said to Simon concerning being in the “bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:13-24; cf. Proverbs 5:22).
• When one is the servant of sin, that person is free [exempt, unrestrained, not bound by an obligation] from righteousness. You are either the Lord’s or you are not based upon what YOU do (I John 2:29-3:10; cf. Matthew 13:24-30; 13:36-43 and Luke 11:23). *If you want to do whatever YOU want to do, don’t become a Christian.
• Those that doeth not righteousness are not of God (Romans 2:8, Romans 6:13, I Corinthians 6:9-11, II Thessalonians 2:12, I John 5:17, and III John 1:11).

• What good comes from sin spiritually (Proverbs 1:20-31, Ezekiel 18:4, Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 7:5, Galatians 6:7-8, and Revelation 21:8)? *More on this in verse 23.
• What good comes from sin carnally (Deuteronomy 21:15-17, Exodus 22:2, Proverbs 6:23-35, Proverbs 23:29-35, Romans 13:1-7, etc.)?
• Being ashamed about one’s past sins is good (Job 42:1-6, Ezekiel 36:16-32, Luke 15:11-19, and II Corinthians 7:9-13).
• As a side note, forgiven saints need to be careful not to dwell on past sins so much that you become swallowed up by sorrow (II Corinthians 2:7 and Hebrews 12:5-12).

• Being made free from sin (cf. Romans 6:3-6; 6:12-14; 6:18 and Romans 8:1-2).
• Being servants to God gives saints the means whereby one can have fruit unto holiness (John 15:1-11 and Philippians 1:11).
• We will talk in chapter seven of the difference of being under the New Law in regard to bringing forth fruit (Romans 7:4-5).
• Rather than what sin brings, the end of being made free from sin and producing fruit unto holiness rather than no fruit at all, is everlasting life (John 6:26-27 and Galatians 6:7-9).

• What do you get for sin? Sin earns death (James 1:13-16).
• Sin originally brought physical death into this world (Romans 5:12).
• In this life sin now brings about spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1; 2:5 and Luke 15:11-32).
• End the end, the second the death; the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).
• What does God gift to those who have fruit unto holiness… eternal life (Luke 18:28-30, John 12:25, Romans 2:7, I Timothy 6:12-19, I John 2:25, and Jude 1:21).
• It will all come down to what you do for how the Lord will reward you (Matthew 16:27 and John 5:28-29).