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INTRODUCTION
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In our view, Romans 6, 7, and 8 should be read as one continuous passage. Reading any of the said chapters by itself may not allow the reader to fully understand what Paul was trying to explain. Romans 7 has been used by those who think they are Christians, to assuage their guilt conscience so that they can continue to live a lifestyle of sin. But Romans 7 should not be read apart from Rom 6 and 8. All three chapters should be read as one continuous passage. The following is our commentary on Romans 6.
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ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY ON ROMANS 6
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Rom 6:1-2 (NASB95) states:
(1) What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? (2) May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
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Rom 6:1 Commentary: Verse 1 is a rhetorical question. We definitely cannot continue in sin so that grace may increase. Note the words, “continue in sin.” It means a lifestyle of continual sinning. For example, there is a difference between lying inadvertently and lying habitually. While lying inadvertently is still a sin, lying habitually sin is continuing in sin. A person who is truly walking in the Spirit would probably still sin at times, but it will be lesser and lesser over time through the process of sanctification. We will discuss more about sanctification later.
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Rom 6:2 Commentary: The “we” in this verse is referring to Paul and the Roman Christians he was addressing. He asks another rhetorical question, “How can Christians who have died to sin continue to still live in it?” If Christians who say they are Christians are still continuing in their lifestyle of sin, then it is certain that these so-called Christians have not really died to their sins. And if they have not died to their sins, then they have not really repented because their lifestyle of sin is evidence against them that they are not truly saved. True Christians may still trip and fall into a pool of mud occasionally and they will take the effort get out of it immediately, but people who wallow in it happily tells a different story to themselves and to God.
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Rom 6:3-4 (NASB95) states:
(3) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (4) Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
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Rom 6:3 Commentary: Water baptism is a reflection of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. All disciples of Christ must go through water baptism (Matt 28:19-20). Although it is not a requirement for salvation, water baptism allows the believer to publicly declare his faith and discipleship in Christ. Verse 3 explains that those who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into His death. But what has baptism to do with being dead to sin as read in Rom 6:2? Let us look at verse 4.
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Rom 6:4 Commentary: The proper procedure of water baptism is to fully submerge the disciple underwater and then assist him back up. The full submersion represents the disciple’s death and burial of his old self of sin and rebellion against God. And the coming out of the water represents his rising from the grave and walking in a new life. That old life of sin has died and is completely dead, and a new life in Christ has begun. So can that disciple go back to his old life of sin? That was the question Paul was asking the believers in verse 2, “How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”
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Rom 6:5-7 (NASB95) states:
(5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; (7) for he who has died is freed from sin.
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Rom 6:5 Commentary: We would like to emphasize the word, “if” in this verse. That is, if we are truly united with Christ in the likeness of His death, then we will also be in the likeness of His resurrection. “How do we unite with Christ in His death?” people may ask. The answer lies in verse 6, by crucifying our old self on the cross of Christ. We need to die to our old self.
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Rom 6:6 Commentary: The purpose of crucifying our old self is so that our body of sin might be done away with. Of course, Paul is not telling them to physically kill themselves and then get rid of their bodies. He is telling them that they need to deal with their flesh that is constantly inclined to sin. All the lusts and wants disguising themselves as justifiable needs, have to be crucified with Christ. That incessant nagging of the flesh, persistently trying to pull attention towards it, needs to be crucified with Christ so that they are no longer slaves to sin. This is not a one-time effort but a determined practice continued on a daily basis throughout the lives of believers. Luke 9:23 (NASB95) states: (23) And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.
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Rom 6:7 Commentary: A person who has completely died to his flesh will be completely freed from sin. In saying that, till to-date we have not heard from anyone who can say that he has completely died to his flesh. But it must be the aim of all believers as they walk with Christ and walk according to the Spirit, throughout their lives. If the old Joe Bloke was previously a philanderer or a habitual liar, the new Joe Bloke will deny himself, take up his cross daily (the cross represents death and suffering) and follow Christ. As a daily routine, Joe Bloke sets his mind with dogged determination to turn away from the desires of his flesh, to turn away from sin, and follow after Christ. For he who has died, died to his self, died to the desires of his flesh is freed from sin.
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Rom 6:8-11 (NASB95) states:
(8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (9) knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. (10) For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. (11) Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
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Rom 6:8 Commentary: This verse is almost similar to verse 5. The most important word in this verse is also the word, “if.” If we have died with Christ, then we believe we shall also live with Him. Conversely, if we do not die with Christ, if we do not deny ourselves, if we refuse to die to the sinful desires of our flesh and still wanting to hold on to our sinful ways, then reasonably, we will also not live with Him.
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Rom 6:9 Commentary: If Christ has not been raised, then our faith is worthless, and we are still in our sins. And those who have physically died in Christ have perished (1 Cor 15:17-19). But Rom 6:9 informs what most of us already know in our hearts and minds, that Christ is indeed risen. So now all who are in Christ will also be made alive at His coming.
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Rom 6:10-11 Commentary: In verse 10 the phrase, “He died to sin once for all” may seem a bit unusual grammatically, but it just means that Christ’s death stopped sin or stopped the strength of sin once for all and became completely disconnected to sin. It is like saying, Joe Bloke died to hiking ever since he bought a car. It just means that Joe stopped hiking. So when Christ “died to sin,” it means that His death stopped sin or the power of sin. But we need to emphasize that Christ paying the penalty of sin is NOT for all of mankind, but only for those who truly believe, that is, His death on the cross was only for His sheep alone. For those who wish to refute the last statement by quoting 1 John 2:2, it is obvious that “the whole world” in that verse does not refer to every single human being. It refers to all Jews and Gentiles, every male and female, every kindred, tribe and tongue of those who are saved. If Christ died even for those who do not believe, then there will not be any need for hell where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Christ died and is risen, the life that He lives, He lives to God. When readers read this they might say “Of course, He lives to God.” But we are to follow in His footsteps. We too, should consider ourselves dead to sin and the lives we now live, we must live to God and never going back to the old life of sin.
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Rom 6:12-14 (NASB95) states:
(12) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, (13) and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. (14) For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
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Rom 6:12 Commentary: Every verse in the Bible is important. But we consider verse 12 to be the key verse in Romans chapter six. Verse 10 of this chapter tells us that Christ has settled the problem of sin for all who are His sheep conclusively, once and for all. No further sacrifice is required. Christ death on the cross is fully sufficient for the sins of God’s people. All the sins of God’s sheep are fully paid for. All sins, be it in the past, or in the present, or even in the future. That is, even the future sins that have not been committed but will be committed have already been fully paid for by Christ death on the cross. But readers need to be very clear about their status in Christ. Generally, there are three categories of people on earth. They are the non-believers, believers, and those those who think they are believers but are not. Believers and non-believers are easy to differentiate. But the difficulty lies in differentiating between believers and those who think they are believers. Christ death on the cross is only for those who are truly His sheep. Non believers and those who think they are believers are not included. So, the payment for sins is only for those who are truly God’s people, truly the sheep of Christ, who hears His voice. We cannot emphasize this enough. Hence His sheep are always saved, no matter what happens. Their salvation is forever assured. In fact, even before they were born, they were already chosen and saved (Eph 1:4-5). Some might think that this is a ticket to freely sin since all of their sins are fully paid for past, present and future. This is not true, of course. Heb 10:26-27 (NASB95) states, “(26) For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, (27) but a terrifying expectation of judgement and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.” We believe the test of willfulness in Heb 10:26-27 is a person’s lifestyle. In our view, a person who is determined to sin against the Lord habitually is willfully sinning. This does not include sins in moments of weakness or sins of ignorance. For if anyone considers himself (or herself) a Christian but willfully sins against the Lord, he is an apostate and apostates are not Christians. They may declare that they believe in Christ, but their actions are evidence against them that they are still in darkness. John 12:46 (NASB95) states, “(46) I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.” Therefore people who think they are believers but persistently and habitually continue in their sin and remain in darkness, cannot say that they believe in Him. Their actions are evidence against themselves that deep in their hearts, they do not truly believe in Christ at all. With the above in mind, readers can now reflect on the importance of Rom 6:12. True believers in Christ must never allow sin to reign in their mortal bodies so that they obey its lusts. The flesh (the human body) is a biological machine. This machine is always in need of something. In need of rest, food, water, and is affected by all kinds of hormonal fluctuations and environmental changes, and more. But it is controlled by the mind of the human spirit that is residing in this machine. Therefore verse 12 is telling believers in Christ to be determined and have a strong godly character, to have the “backbone” so to speak, and not obey the lusts of their biological machine. Are we in control, or are our bodies influencing and controlling us?
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Rom 6:13 Commentary: Paul in verse 13 continued to admonish the believers to present themselves to God as those alive and not as those that are still dead in their sins. Do believers use their bodies to sin, or do they use their bodies to do works of righteousness before God? Eph 2:10 (NASB95) states that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Christians are to live their lives before God in holiness, carrying out works of righteousness and being dead to sin.
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Rom 6:14 Commentary: Verse 14 is re-emphasizing what Paul had already said in verses 5 and 6. The reason sin is not master over believers is because they have died with Christ. Death with Christ releases them from the Law. In modern language, they are transferred from one domain to another domain. From previously being under the Law, they are transferred over to come under God’s grace. And the reason why sin has no power over them is because Christ has fully paid for their sins on the cross. This is the reason why their salvation is 100% assured. Christ death on the cross is fully sufficient to pay for all their sins (past, present and future). But we wish to reiterate that all of this, applies only to His sheep and only His sheep hears His voice. So then what did the Shepherd say in John 12:46? Like we said, only His sheep hears His voice.
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Rom 6:15-19 (NASB95) states:
(15) What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! (16) Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (17) But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, (18) and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (19) I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
2.20
Rom 6:15 Commentary: Paul is asking this question because he anticipated what would likely have gone through the minds of all believers, especially those he was addressing. Since believer’s salvation is 100% assured because they are no longer under the law but under grace, why not sin like nobody’s business? Purely for the sake of discussion, if we think of this matter as a form of calculation for accounting purposes, if Christ has fully paid for all our sins, then He has fully paid for it. No matter how much we sin, it will still be fully paid for. But the problem is not in the accounting. The problem is that nobody really knows for sure who is truly saved and who is not. Any one of us could be self-deceived. And as explained earlier in our commentary on verse 12 above, any one of us could very well be an apostate in the future. Who would know? But God knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19). So, it remains to be seen if any one is willing to take the risk and sin like nobody’s business. Beware brothers and sisters, for Heb 10:26-27 could very well apply to you or to any of us if we willfully and persistently sin against the Lord.
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Rom 6:16 Commentary: Basically with most things, there is only good or evil. There is no such thing as being neutral that is, neither good nor evil. Either a person commits adultery or he does not. Or either a person covets something or he does not. A person cannot covet and not covet simultaneously. Similarly, either a person is a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness. That person cannot be a slave of sin and a slave of righteousness simultaneously. Neither can he say that he does not wish to be righteous and does not wish to be a sinner. The fact that a person is unrighteous, he is already a sinner. This argument is of course, purely for analysis for we all know that there is none righteous not even one (Rom 3:10). So, in verse 16, Paul asks a rhetorical question, “Do you not know that you are slaves of the one whom you obey?” If a person continues to sin, he is a slave of sin and a slave of sin will result in death. But if a person is obedient to the word of God, it will result in righteousness. A true born-again believer will automatically strive to be obedient to the word of God. The sheep of Christ may fall a few times but the Shepherd picks him or her back up so that they finish their race of faith. But those who say they are Christians, those who say they are sheep but actually goats, will continue in their habitual sinning because deep down in their hearts, they do not really believe in Him.
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Rom 6:17 Commentary: As with the rest of us, the Christians in Rome were previously slaves of sin. But they became true believers and were obedient from the heart to the word of God which was taught to them by the apostle Paul and his team. Sadly, in these last days, we noticed that God’s sheep have not been fed adequately. Many so-called shepherds are far more concerned about a lot of other things than feeding God’s sheep with His word. Moreover, the word of God used in sermons is often twisted to meet organizational objectives and not given its proper interpretation. The word, “organizational” was used because it pretends to be a local church – they are not really churches. We believe the Lord will repay them for mistreating His flock. But that is another article to be researched, for another time.
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Rom 6:18 Commentary: Paul affirms that the Christians in Rome have been freed from sin and have become slaves of righteousness. The Christians in Rome were obedient to the word of God as brought to them by apostle Paul and his team.
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Rom 6:19 Commentary: If we could summarize verse 19 in a few words, it would be, “Previously, you lived a life of sin, now stop that and pursue after righteousness and holiness.” Verse 19 mentioned the word, “sanctification.” What is sanctification? Sanctification in our view is an important clue to revealing if a person is truly saved or if a person is self-deceived. Sanctification is the spiritual growth process of being made holy and Christ-like. This work of sanctification can only be carried out by the Lord. This is because if the work of sanctification is done by ourselves then we can safely assume that its standards will get lower and lower over time. Besides who is qualified to say that any of us is becoming more holy and Christ-like apart from Christ Himself? He alone is the author and perfecter of faith (Heb 12:2). We often hear Christians say that they do not know what the will of God is for them. Well, apart from other things, as long as they are still physically alive, sanctification is definitely the will of God for them. 1 Thess 4:3-8 (NASB95) states: “(3) For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; (4) that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, (5) not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; (6) and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. (7) For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. (8) So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.” Believers who find themselves sinning lesser and lesser over time are very likely going through the process of sanctification. Believers who think they are believers (but are not) would very likely continue to sin on a regular basis because they are still slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, and this results in further lawlessness. One continues to be deluded about his salvation while moving closer to darkness, and the other being assured of his salvation while moving closer to the Light and becoming more Christ-like each day. All true believers will go through sanctification so that they conform to the image of His Son and He is holy. 1 Pet 1:14-16 (NASB95) states: “(14) As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, (15) but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; (16) because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
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Rom 6:20-23 (NASB95) states:
(20) For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (21) Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. (22) But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. (23) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Rom 6:20 Commentary: Paul reiterates to the Roman believers that previously they were slaves of sin and were free in regard to righteousness. Some might say that being labeled a slave of sin is quite extreme. How can we be slaves of sin just because we commit a few sins? But John 8:34 (NASB95) states: “(34) Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” But why slave? Why such a harsh word? Well, it is not harsh, it is simply calling a spade, a spade. A slave is a person or a device that is controlled and forced to work by a master controller, be it a human or a controlling device. We are slaves of sin if we are obedient to sin. We often hear people saying, “Oh, I could not help myself but did this or that.” In some parts of the world, such people are nicknamed as spineless jellyfish. No self control and a complete lack of self discipline. They allow sin to reign in their mortal bodies, obeying its lusts (Rom 6:12). Therefore people who habitually sin are indeed slaves of sin. They are slaves because they obey and allow sin to rule over them. Sin is their lord and master, not God.
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Rom 6:21 Commentary: It is unlikely that unbelievers or those who say they are Christians but are not, will ever feel ashamed for their sins. They will fear the laws of the land but not God because they do not know Him. Sin is like a strange new concept to them. Of course, those who have some idea who God is but reject the gospel message, the penalty for them will be far worse. Nonetheless, the moment a person is born again, the Holy Spirit reveals to him the need for his repentance and living a life of holiness. The born-again Christian will be ashamed of his past sinful life. He will know that what he did previously will lead him to eternal condemnation.
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Rom 6:22 Commentary: Verse 16 and 17 of this chapter tells us that the Roman Christians were slaves of the one whom they obeyed. But now Christ has set them free from sin. The heavy chain has been broken. Now they have been transferred to another domain. The previous domain leading to eternal condemnation and the current domain leading to eternal life. The evidence of them being enslaved to God is their continuous sanctification. And the outcome of their sanctification is eternal life. Continuous sanctification is the clearest evidence that a person is truly saved. Without which, that person is self deceived. So, if you are willfully sinning habitually and you tell yourself that your sins are fully paid for by Christ’s death on the cross, you are self deceived. You were never saved at all. Therefore, those who think they are self deceived, must repent now and pursue after holiness. We must be holy because He is holy.
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Rom 6:23 Commentary: Scripture tells us in Rev 21:8 that unbelievers will receive the second death. Rev 21:8 (NASB95) states: “(8) But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Since the physical death occurs to both believers and unbelievers, the second death would be the final conclusion of all unbelievers. True believers to eternal life with Christ, and unbelievers to eternal condemnation which is the second death. Therefore, when Rom 6:23 talks about the wages of sin leading to death, it is referring to both the physical death and the second death for those who are not saved, that is, the normal physical death and the lake of fire (hell) which is the second death.
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CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY
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One of the clearest pieces of evidence that a person is truly saved is his or her own continuous sanctification. Sanctification is the spiritual growth process of becoming more holy and more Christ-like with the frequency of sinning becoming lesser and lesser over time. And in addition, the understanding of the mind of Christ increasing together with the understanding of the Word of God, that is, the Bible, through the Holy Spirit. Every time that true believer falls, God picks that person back up. The Father’s discipline is certain but so is His encouragement to press on. The true believer will complete his or her race. Most importantly, God will never abandon the one who is truly saved. This is because God had chosen him or her to be saved, long before they came into existence in this world.