A New Life in Christ (Romans 6–7)
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross ensures that each and every person who puts their faith in him is forgiven, justified, and guaranteed a place in God';s eternal kingdom. But a change in eternal destination isn';t the only way our lives are altered. In addition, Paul tells us that we are given the freedom over the effects and bondage of sin.
Romans 5:12–19 outlines what is known as the doctrine of original sin, which states that sin entered the human race through one man, Adam, and that all of his descendants (which are all of us) are born with that sin. This doctrine further states that through one man, Jesus, that sin is removed.
In Romans 1–5, Paul outlines how we can be saved, but in Romans 6–8 he tells us what that means to our lives in the here and now. This passage is, in other words, instructions on how to live the Christian life.
In these three chapters, Paul tells us that we have the potential to live holy lives because we know Christ (Romans 6) but that we find living those kinds of lives impossible through our own efforts because we still live in sinful bodies (Romans 7). The answer to this problem is spelled out in chapter 8, which tells us that we are empowered to live godly lives because God gives each of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ His Holy Spirit to aide and guide them.
Chapter 6 begins, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?” (Romans 6:1–3).
Paul then goes on to explain that those who have received Christ have, through baptism, symbolically and spiritually died with him, been buried with him, and been raised from the dead with him (Romans 6:4–11). When we died with him, our sinful natures died and were buried. What was raised was a new person, one who has had the power of sin broken in his or her life.
Because of that, we are no longer slaves to sin, as we once were. Instead, we are slaves to God, and that means we are free to live lives that lead to holiness and eternal life (Romans 6:20–23).
Study Questions
How does God';s grace affect how you view sin in your personal life?
How has your faith in Christ changed how you view sin?
