1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.(NIV)
Main Points and Discussion Questions
1. To believe in Christ is to make a permanent break with sin. (vv.1-2)
Discussion Question 1A: What particular verse in Chapter 5 (near its end) would have led Paul to ask the question that he does in Chapter 6, verse 1?
Discussion Question 1B: While we keep our attention on 6:1-2, let’s also read 1 Co. 6: 9-11; Titus 2:11-14; Eph. 5:25-27; and Heb 12:14. Why must we not presume upon God (by thinking that we can do whatever we want because we’re Christians?)
2. Baptism represents the fact that those who believe in Christ are united with Him in His death and resurrection. (vv. 3-5)
Verses 3 to 5 deserve special attention, because Christians differ over just what the meaning of “baptism” is here. Typically, there are 3 interpretations:
1)It is a physical baptism in water by immersion, which signifies (portrays, expresses outwardly, or symbolizes) being buried with Christ in death and rising to newness of life.
2)It is a physical baptism in water by immersion, which does not merely signify our death with Christ, but it effects, causes or brings about our death with Christ. Baptism is when and how we died with Christ, and before baptism, we were not united with Christ and therefore not justified or saved. Therefore, baptism is a necessary step for us to have peace with God.
3) It is a “spiritual baptism” which is the work of the Holy Spirit in regenerating Christians and, in so doing, making Christ’s death and resurrection real to them. No reference to physical baptism (especially not immersion) is intended at all.
Note: I subscribe to #1. But I would also state that view #2 is a far more problematic than #3 is. This is because, contrary to the idea that baptism brings about our union with Christ, many New Testament passages (including several in Romans – 1:16-17; 3:21-26; and 4:1-5:2) speak of faith alone as the instrument of justification, with no reference made of baptism.
3. Christ conquered the power of death by paying its penalty and then rising from it. So we can be sure that we will live with him. (vv. 8-10)
Discussion Question 2: To fully appreciate the meaning of 6:8-10, let’s also read 1 Co 15:51-52; 1 Jn 2:17; 1 Th 4:16-18; 2 Pe 3:13; and Rev 21:4 In light of what all of these passages say, why should we, as Peter puts it, “set our hope fully on the grace to be given us” when He is revealed (1 Peter 1:13)?
4.Christians are no longer dominated by the power of sin, so the practice of it should never characterize them. (vv. 5-7, 11-14; also 1 Jn 3:6)
Discussion Question 3: Many theologians, teachers and preachers have said that Christians cannot remain the same as they were before believing, because their gratitude for what Christ has done for them, together with their hope of future grace, motivates them to obedience. How evident are gratitude and hope in your life? How could we build up these qualities in our lives?
