The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Romans around AD 57 from Corinth, addressing a mixed church of Jewish and Gentile believers. The central theme is the righteousness of God revealed through the gospel—justification by faith alone.
By the time we reach chapter 6, Paul has just finished expounding the abounding grace of God in chapter 5. He anticipates a possible misunderstanding:
“If grace increases where sin increases (5:20), shouldn’t we sin more so grace will abound even more?”
Paul answers this with a resounding “By no means!” in Romans 6.
Romans 6:1–7 teaches that justification leads to sanctification. If we’ve died with Christ, we can’t go on living in sin. Our union with Christ in His death and resurrection changes everything.
? TEXT BREAKDOWN: ROMANS 6:1–7 (ESV)
? SECTION 1: Misunderstanding Grace (vv. 1–2)
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
? Comments:
- Paul raises an objection he anticipates from his teaching: “Grace covers sin, so why not sin more?”
- His answer is emphatic: True grace never leads to more sin.
- Key identity shift: “We died to sin.” That’s not a command—it’s a fact.
❓ Questions:
- What is Paul responding to here? Why might some twist grace into a license for sin?
- What does it mean to have “died to sin”?
- Do you think people today still abuse the idea of grace in similar ways?
? Cross References:
- Jude 1:4 – “They pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality…”
- Galatians 5:13 – “Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh…”
- Titus 2:11–12 – Grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness.
? SECTION 2: United with Christ in Death & Resurrection (vv. 3–5)
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?…”
? Comments:
- Paul uses the image of baptism to show our spiritual union with Christ.
- When Christ died, we died; when He rose, we are raised to walk in newness of life.
- Baptism is not just a symbol—it points to a profound reality of identification with Christ.
❓ Questions:
- How does Paul use baptism as a picture of our union with Christ?
- What does it mean to “walk in newness of life”?
- Do you view your baptism as pointing to this spiritual reality?
? Cross References:
- Colossians 2:12 – “Buried with Him in baptism… raised through faith.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
- John 3:5–6 – Being born of water and the Spirit.
? SECTION 3: Freed from Sin’s Power (vv. 6–7)
“We know that our old self was crucified with him… so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
? Comments:
- Our “old self” = who we were in Adam—ruled by sin.
- It was crucified—past tense.
- Because of that, we’re no longer slaves to sin.
- Justification (declared righteous) leads to sanctification (freed to live righteously).
❓ Questions:
- What is the “old self” and what happened to it?
- Do you live like sin is your master—or that Christ is?
- What does this freedom from sin actually look like in daily life?
? Cross References:
- Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ…”
- Ephesians 4:22–24 – “Put off your old self… put on the new self.”
- John 8:36 – “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
? REFLECTION & APPLICATION QUESTIONS
- Identity Check: Do you see yourself as someone who is dead to sin and alive in Christ? Why or why not?
- Freedom Question: Are there areas of your life where you still feel like a slave to sin? What might it look like to walk in the freedom Jesus purchased?
- Baptism Meaning: Have you reflected recently on your baptism? How can you be reminded daily of what it points to?
- Grace Misunderstood: Have you ever found yourself abusing grace or excusing sin? What does repentance look like in that area?
- Gospel Reminder: How does this passage point us back to the cross and resurrection—not just as a moment in history, but as the source of new life today?