Romans Chapter Six

Romans Chapter Six


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

These verses are from whence the false notion of a Christian "living in sin" comes. We saw in Romans 5:17, however, that a believer receiving "abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness" is "dead to sin".
Therefore, if a Christian is "dead to sin", he can't be "living in sin". He may COMMIT sin, but he can not "live in sin" because he is "dead to sin".


Romans 6:3 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:

Your position in Christ is that:

1. you are dead in Christ (i.e. your sinful, Adamic nature is dead).
2. your old sin nature is dead and BURIED.
3. you are RAISED UP from the dead to walk in newness of life.

It is the "new creature" of 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 6:15 that walks in newness of life.

Let's look at three additional verses and then sum up the process for gaining victory over sin:


Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.

[FONT=Geneva,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]Believers must:

1. [FONT=Geneva,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]know that your old sin nature is dead and that a new man lives within, [/FONT]
2. [FONT=Geneva,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]reckon yourself dead to sin and alive unto God, [/FONT]
3. [FONT=Geneva,Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,Sans-Serif]yield yourself unto God and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.[/FONT]

A Christian has TWO natures within him. The charismatics don't like that doctrine through. They believe that there is only ONE nature.

But, what happens when the saved "you" sins? They have a problem with the following verse:


1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

The apostle John makes it very clear that if you THINK you have reached a state of sinless perfection, then you can KNOW that you haven't.


Just because you are saved doesn't mean your FLESH is any good. That is why the Holy Spirit circumcised your new nature from your flesh (Colossians 2:11-12).

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Romans Chapter Six (Continued)

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Verse 14 shows that grace not only gives you righteousness at salvation, but it also gives you the power to live righteously after salvation.

In verse 15, no Christian has an excuse for living an ungodly life, but if he does, that doesn't mean he will lose his salvation.


Verse 16 states an obvious truth. If you yield to sin, you are a servant to sin. If you yield to Christ Jesus, you will obey what He says and do right.

In verse 17, Paul thanks God that you, who were slaves to sin, responded from the heart to "the form of doctrine which was delivered you".

Salvation is a matter of the heart. So, how do you know whether you are believing from the head or the heart? The answer lies in what you are TRUSTING to keep you from going to Hell.

Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Verse 18 is the DOCTRINAL truth of the new nature while verse 19 is the PRACTICAL acting upon that doctrine. If you want your STATE in Christ to match your STANDING in Christ, you will have to take an active part in your daily sanctification.


When we were unsaved, we were "free from righteousness" but slaves to sin. Once saved, however, we have been "bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20) "with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:19) and "now being made free from sin" we have "become servants to God" (Romans 6:22).


Notice that both service to sin and service to God bear fruit. As verse 21 states, the fruit born by serving sin is "DEATH". The fruit born by serving God is "holiness" now and, when everything is complete, "everlasting life" (Romans 6:22).


Verse 23 is part of the "Romans Road to Salvation". This verse can be applied to both saved and unsaved folks.

If applied to a Christian, the wages of sin can be physical death. It is possible for a Christian to sin to the point that God will destroy that person physically (1 Corinthians 5:5, 11:30; 1 John 5:16).

If applied to an unbeliever, the wages of sin is spiritual death which is eternal.

--- End of Romans Chapter Six ---