A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 37 Chapter 6:1 – 5

 

  1. Verse 1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”
    1. This is a continuation of Romans 5:20 - 21 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (21.) That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
    2. Paul had just said that where sin abounded (excelled) then Grace abounded more or no matter what sin was in our life we could never have more sin than God has grace. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
    3.  The question in verse 1 is “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” or since there is more grace than sin then is it proper that we just continue to sin?
    4. This question relates to the old charismatic question or those who believe in works for salvation “well if once saved, always saved, then what prevents one from just sinning all the time?” However this is a ignorant question because salvation takes the desire to sin away, however we are still going to sin and therefore we do thank God His grace is “abounding” and sufficient.  
    5. Sin is never, that is never ok with God. Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” 1 Peter 2:16 “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke (covering) of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” We do not use our freedom in Christ to hurt and mistreat other people.
  2. Verse 2 “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
    1. So should we continue in sin and use the gift of God’s grace as a cover for our unrighteousness? “God forbid” – don’t even think such a thing!
    2. Now Paul asks a very brilliant question “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” In other words, if you are saved then sin and the desire to sin should be behind you “that are dead to sin” that is the desire to serve sin should be dead to you, then “live any longer therein?” then why would you want to live anymore in sin.
    3. If you are saved then sin should bother you and the desire of it should be much gone. Not that we will never sin again but that it has became a burden rather than an enjoyment.
    4. Colossians 3:1-3 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2.) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (3.) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
  3. Verses 3 – 5 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4.) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5.) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"
    1. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Baptism is an image of the gospel, the death – burial – and resurrection of Christ. I think this is saying if we died with Christ and was buried with Christ and rose from the dead with Christ then we should be walking in newness of life like Christ.
    2. I do not think this is speaking of baptism itself but rather an image of it to make us understand the newness of life better. We were literally baptized to show our salvation and to unite us with the local Christian church, but the image shows the death – burial – and resurrection of Christ. Here the central thought is not the baptism but rather the results of salvation.
    3. 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” We are baptized into one church (body) or we are unified with one body, we are together of one faith, one doctrine, one direction, and one spirit. This is the thought here we are baptized with Christ or of oneness in Christ, acting, thinking, and walking with Christ which excludes sin or as much as we can. 
    4.  1 Peter 3:21 “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” while baptism does nothing for or to sin is does “but the answer of a good conscience toward God” unifies us with Christ in our mind set.
    5. “…even so we also should walk in newness of life.” This is what erases the desire to sin, if we are baptized with Christ and then untied with Christ and in oneness with Christ then shouldn’t sin be gone?  This should be our showing our faith by our works as James told us, James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
    6. Our walk in the newness of life is showing our faith by our works, just as Paul stated in verse 5 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" does one fruit tree planted grow different fruit? No it grows the very same fruit. One buried in Christ should walk as Christ.
    7. Therefore we all who were buried in Christ should all walk one was “in newness of life. “ Maybe not all one doctrine, but certainly all in one way; the way Christ walked.  Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." - 2 Corinthians 10:3 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:"