Romans 6:1-14: For the Believer, Sin’s Control and Rule Have Ended; Jesus’ Reign Has Begun

Who is Your Lord? 

Paul ends Roman’s chapter five with contrasting the super-abounding grace (unearned love and blessings) system of salvation that has existed since the fall into sin by Adam with an ineffective merit system created by man, namely, merit by legalism. He stated that where sin abounded, grace super-abounded even more and overcame sin. Paul anticipates even stronger objections at this point. Paul your gospel is too good and too easy. Paul, you are encouraging sinful living. Since there is no law in your system of salvation, then there can be no holy living. How can there be salvation and sanctification without a merit system based on law-keeping (legalism)? [Answer: Abraham modeled and Moses, David, and all the prophets taught the opposite of this view in the Hebrew Bible; salvation is by grace through faith. Ceremonial law is not the most important thing in scripture.] Thus, Paul’s view cannot be true. God is holy, and His salvation would promote holiness, and without a system of merit, men will never seek to earn their salvation and thus, behave properly. In Romans chapter 6, Paul answers this objection thoroughly.

I. The doctrinal basis of Paul’s answer to the objection against his gospel message vs. 1-5

A.     A strong warning. God forbid, don’t even think like this vs. 1-2a

B.     A logical reply to the objection vs. 2b-5

1.      We have died to sin [We must ask, in what sense are we dead?]

2.      How then can we live in what we have died to? We cannot!

3.      We had a once - and - for-all break with sin—its authority, rule, control, and enslavement — at our conversion. Righteousness was applied to our account

4.      We died to sin positionally through our identification with the Messiah. Our public baptism pictured our union with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection if it followed our regeneration, repentance, faith, surrender, and conversion. When the Messiah died, the believer died. When He was buried, the believer was buried. When He arose, the believer arose.

5.      Thus, the believer has died to the rule, control, and reign of sin in their lives and has been spiritually raised to a new kind of life under the authority of Jesus the Messiah, God the Son.

6.      At our conversion there was an instant change of rulership, authorities, masters—we are now under Jesus the Messiah’s authority and power and no longer under king sin’s authority. Now we can say no to sin. Jesus is our Lord. Yet, sin did not disappear, nor is perfection possible while we are still in these fallen bodies. We remain a slave, what changed was masters.

II. The doctrinal basis of Paul’s answer to the objections practically applied vs. 6-14

A.     Learn and understand the reality of your identity with Christ vs. 6-7

B.     Learn and understand the Messiah’s victory over sin and death vs.8-10

C.     Choose to believe that you are positionally dead to sin’s authority and spiritually alive in the Messiah to obey God’s Word vs. 11

D.     Choose not to surrender to sin’s lordship with your body or mind vs. 12

E.      Choose not to be continually yielding to sin’s enticements and lies, but rather surrender yourself to God’s authority and truth vs. 13

F.      Sin is not the believer’s master; thus, you must not obey its orders

1.      God does not approve of you based on a legalistic merit system, but through a grace system

2.      The believer is not under the condemnation and death penalty of the law. The moral law says to us only, “Do this.” It does not say to us, “do this or die” as it warned us before our conversion

3.      The believer does not function spiritually under the dynamic of a legal code or merit system, but under the dynamic of a grace system. But this grace system is not without the moral law as a guide, but the Governor is Grace.

III. The kingdoms have been changed for every genuine Christian vs. 5-11

A.     The dictator of death has been replaced by the president and congress of life vs. 5

1.      We are joined with the Messiah in his death positionally (at justification)

2.      We are united with the Messiah in his resurrection positionally

B.     Sin’s dominion has been broken vs. 6 [Not its presence or its enticements]

1.      Sin’s authority over us ended when we were crucified with Christ

2.      Sin’s rule was removed by the death of the Messiah

3.      Sin is no longer our slave master; now, the Messiah is our slave master

C.     Christ died once for all ages and removed sin’s dominion over His people vs. 7-8

D.     Death’s mastery was taken away by the Messiah vs. 9

E.      The Messiah victoriously and historically died for sinners vs. 10 (past event)

F.      The Messiah lives and glorifies the Father in his office as Lord vs. 10 (present)

G.     Everyone who is joined to the Messiah is free from sin’s dominion and rule vs. 11

IV. The responsibilities have changed for every genuine Christian vs. 12-14

A.     Sin must not be allowed to reign over us or be obeyed by us vs. 12

1.      Continue to reject sin’s claim of authority

2.      Continue to refuse to obey sin’s orders

B.     Stop surrendering your body parts as weapons of sin’s army as you did before

C.     Start surrendering your body parts as weapons of the Messiah’s army vs. 13

V. The authority and dominion of sin have ended for every genuine Christian vs. 14

A.     The law can no longer condemn us. The moral law only helps guide us

B.     The system of grace governs and empowers us to live pleasing to God. We do not lie in sin unafraid; grace gives us the power to get up and flee from sin

C.     The motivation and obligation are different under a legalistic dynamic (fear & performance) than under a grace dynamic (love & gratitude)