Romans 6:1-19 – Dead To Sin, Alive To Christ

Harry McSween • April 14, 2025

Day 6 – Romans 6:1-19

[1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? [3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

[5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. [7] For one who has died has been set free from sin. [8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. [13] Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

[15] What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! [16] Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? [17] But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, [18] and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. [19] I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

What’s The Point?

Romans 6 starts with a logical question. If grace increases as sin increases (Romans 5:20-21), should we just keep sinning and getting more grace?

Then Paul answers his own question, “By no means” (v.1, 15)! Paul is saying this as emphatically as possible, “Absolutely not!” If our desire is to keep sinning and just soaking up grace then we do not truly know Christ.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer referred to this idea as cheap grace. He said, “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.” This idea of cheap grace cannot be found anywhere in the Bible. We cannot sin boldly and without remorse and then expect an easy forgiveness just by asking. The grace of Christ is not an excuse to sin; rather, the grace of Christ is freedom from sin.

Now, is the grace of Christ able to cover every sin, no matter how intentionally it was committed? Of course it is! Is the grace of Christ sufficient to pay the debt of even the vilest of sinners? Absolutely! The grace of Christ and the blood of Christ are costly beyond measure, and we must realize the great value God has bestowed on us by seeing us in light of Jesus’ sacrifice.

The grace of Christ is free, but it demands everything. Paul emphasizes this when he says being baptized with Christ means dying with him (v. 3). Jesus’ death was not pretty or easy; he suffered beyond anything we could ever imagine. But the glory he now dwells in and invites us into far outweighs the suffering. This is what a relationship with Christ looks like: dying to ourselves, putting away our sin, fighting our flesh, and pursuing Christ, all for the glory of God and the gift of eternal life.

In Christ we have been freed from slavery to sin. Sin was our master and we had to obey everything it demanded of us. Now, Christ is our master, and we have the joy and privilege of obeying and serving him. Under the law we were promised death, but now under grace we are promised resurrection.

Baptism is such a beautiful picture of this reality. In baptism, someone is publicly confessing Jesus as Lord and committing to follow him. When they are dunked under the water something is said, usually something like, “Buried with Christ, and raised to walk in newness of life.” What a glorious picture of the Gospel work. When Christ died, he took our sins upon himself and brought them into the grave, but when he rose he left our sins in the grave. Our sins are gone, and we have new life! That is the picture baptism gives us and the reality of our life in Christ. You do not have to obey sin anymore!

Walk in the freedom of Christ and in obedience to his call on your life.

Scripture Memorization

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Prayer

Father God, thank you for your grace that is only given to me through Jesus. I know this grace cost me nothing, and I know that I could have never afforded to pay the cost on my own. I am spiritually bankrupt and offer you nothing of my own, but I offer up to you my life as a living sacrifice. Help me to live in the righteousness that you have provided me. I praise you for grace and kindness. Thank you for not leaving me dead. Thank you for breathing life into me and raising me to life with Jesus. You are good.

Reflection

The New Testament frequently speaks about the old man/self and the new man/self. Find some of those passages and think through what it looks like to put off the old and put on the new. Hint: Ephesians 4, Colossians 3.
Spend time thinking about God’s grace in your life. Do you view God’s grace as cheap or costly? How can you guard yourself from cheap grace?
Sin was your master before you were in Christ. Since becoming a Christian, how has your life changed? Give thanks to the Lord that he is at work in your life.

Discussion Questions

Discuss believer’s baptism and the spiritual realities it represents.
How is the grace of Christ free and in what ways is it costly beyond measure?
In what ways to do you view God’s grace as cheap? How have you taken advantage of his kindness? Are there things in your life you need to change?

If you have any questions feel free to reach out: harry@swoutfitters.com. All of the Scripture referenced in this study is from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Harry McSween • April 14, 2025

Romans 6:1-19 – Dead To Sin, Alive To Christ

Day 6 – Romans 6:1-19

What’s The Point?

Scripture Memorization

Prayer

Reflection

Discussion Questions

Next in this Series

Romans 7:1-13 – The Law Of Sin And Death

Previously in this Series

Romans 5 – Adam Failed. Christ Fulfilled.

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