Romans 6

King James Version

Full text for Romans Chapter 6

1¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4Therefore 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.

5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:

6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

7For he that is dead is freed from sin.

8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13Neither 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.

14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16Know 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?

17But 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.

18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19I 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.

20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things [is] death.

22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Romans 6 emphatically refutes the idea of continuing in sin for grace to abound, stating that believers are dead to sin through their identification with Christ's death and resurrection. Through baptism, they are united with Christ to walk in newness of life, having crucified the old sinful self. Therefore, believers are exhorted to reckon themselves dead to sin but alive to God, yielding their members as instruments of righteousness rather than unrighteousness.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens by addressing the misconception that grace encourages continued sin, asserting that those who have died to sin cannot live in it. Paul explains that baptism symbolizes a spiritual union with Christ in his death and burial, leading to a resurrection to a new life, free from sin's dominion. Believers are to understand that their 'old man' of sin has been crucified with Christ, freeing them from serving sin and enabling them to live unto God. Consequently, they are commanded not to let sin reign in their mortal bodies, nor to yield their members to unrighteousness, but rather to present themselves and their members to God as instruments of righteousness. This transformation is possible because they are under grace, not law, and are now servants of righteousness, yielding fruit unto holiness. The chapter concludes by contrasting the 'wages of sin,' which is death, with the 'gift of God,' which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Long Summary

Romans 6 begins by directly confronting the theological question of whether believers should persist in sin so that grace might increase, to which the apostle unequivocally responds, 'God forbid.' It establishes that those who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death, signifying a spiritual death to their former sinful existence. This burial with Christ through baptism is purposed so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, believers might also walk in 'newness of life.' The chapter explains that the 'old man,' representing the sinful nature, has been crucified with Christ, thereby destroying the body of sin and freeing believers from its servitude. Since Christ died to sin once and now lives eternally unto God, believers are likewise to 'reckon' themselves 'dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.' The apostle then transitions to practical exhortations, urging believers not to allow sin to reign in their mortal bodies or to obey its lusts. Instead, they are to yield their members not as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but as instruments of righteousness unto God, as those who are alive from the dead. A key theological point is made that 'sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace,' yet this grace is not an excuse for sin. Paul clarifies that to whom one yields oneself as a servant, that master they obey, whether sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness. He expresses gratitude that the Roman believers, once servants of sin, have now obeyed the 'form of doctrine' delivered to them, becoming 'made free from sin' and 'servants of righteousness.' The chapter contrasts the shameful and ultimately deadly 'fruit' of serving sin with the 'fruit unto holiness' and 'everlasting life' that comes from serving God. It culminates in the profound declaration that 'the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

Core Concepts

  • Death to SinThrough identification with Christ's death, believers are spiritually dead to the power and dominion of sin, no longer bound to its former control. This concept is foundational to living a new life in Christ.
  • Newness of LifeJust as Christ was raised from the dead, believers are also raised to walk in a new, transformed life, characterized by righteousness and obedience to God. This signifies a radical break from past sinful patterns.
  • Crucifixion of the Old ManThe 'old man,' representing the former sinful nature and its practices, is understood to be crucified with Christ. This signifies the destruction of sin's power over the believer, enabling freedom from its servitude.
  • Under Grace, Not LawBelievers are no longer under the dominion of the Mosaic Law, which exposed sin, but are now under grace, which empowers them to overcome sin. This status provides freedom from condemnation and the ability to live righteously.
  • Servants of RighteousnessHaving been freed from sin, believers are called to yield themselves and their bodily members as instruments to God, serving righteousness unto holiness. This is a conscious choice to obey God rather than sin.
  • Wages of Sin vs. Gift of GodThe chapter starkly contrasts the inevitable consequence of sin, which is spiritual death, with the unmerited favor of God, which grants eternal life through Jesus Christ. This highlights the ultimate outcomes of choosing sin or God.