Shall We Continue in Sin?
Romans 5 ended with grace on the throne: where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). Paul knew what someone would say next. If more sin brings more grace, why not sin more? Some were already accusing him of teaching exactly that: Let us do evil, that good may come (Romans 3:8).
Romans 6 opens the third movement of the letter, Free (6:1-8:39). Justification is God's verdict about the believer. But God does not only declare a sinner righteous and leave him as he was. He joins him to Christ, and that union changes how he lives. Paul raises the objection twice: Shall we continue in sin? (6:1) and shall we sin, because we are not under the law? (6:15). Both times he answers God forbid. Both times he gives a fact about who believers are, and then a command about how they live.
The believer's real and permanent oneness with Christ, so that Christ's death to sin and His risen life are counted as his own. It begins the moment a sinner believes, and it can never be undone. See Union With Christ.
Chapter 6 shows that believers are free from sin's reign. Chapter 7 shows that the law cannot make anyone holy. Chapter 8 shows the Spirit who can. See Sanctification.
Loading the rest of this article
For Deeper Study
- Men Made New: An Exposition of Romans 5-8Amazon John StottEvangelical Anglican. A short, clear exposition of these chapters, strong on union with Christ and reckoning.
- Romans: An Exposition of Chapter 6: The New ManAmazon Martyn Lloyd-JonesReformed. Sermons by the longtime minister of Westminster Chapel in London, preached through this one chapter.
- Romans Verse by VerseAmazon William R. NewellDispensational. A Moody Bible Institute teacher's careful exposition, warm on grace and on the believer's position in Christ.
- RomansAmazon F. F. BruceBrethren. A compact commentary in the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries by a respected evangelical scholar.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
As an Amazon Associate, Theologica earns from qualifying purchases.
Romans 5: Peace with God, and the Two Adams
Justified by faith, believers have peace with God, access into grace, and a hope that suffering cannot shame; and as one man brought sin and death to the whole race, one Man brings righteousness and life to all who receive the gift, for where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
Open Doctrine