STUDY/DISCUSSION GUIDE ROMANS 6:1-11 INTRODUCTION In the first five chapters of Romans, Paul has given us an extensive amount of teaching on both the universal need for Christ s salvation and its unique and limitless benefits offered to all who put faith in Christ. We begin here in 6:1-11 with a shift of emphasis. Having taught on the abounding grace to provide complete salvation as a gift of faith, Paul now turns to the abounding grace that transforms our relationship with sin. Through our union with Christ, we are given a position in Christ that has brought a death blow to our sinful nature and replaced it with the resurrection life of Christ. THEME: Transforming Grace v. 1-2 Does Grace Mean we Can Live in Sin? v. 1 what shall we say - This points back to Paul's conclusion about the abundance of grace referred to in 5:20. Grace is God's solution to overcome the abundance of guilt, shame, and judgment that awaits every sinner. continue in sin - Paul addresses the false conclusion that grace is manifested best by letting sin continue to have free expression in a believer's life so that it glorifies how forgiving God is. He will go on to teach that grace is given not only to forgive sin, but to conquer it. v. 2 how shall we - Paul answers the question in verse 1 by asking another. His question basically asks how it is possible for genuine believers to live in and by the power of sin when one of the aspects of our conversion to Christ includes having died to sin. died to sin - Paul introduces the constitutional change of a believer's relationship to sin based upon our identification with Christ s death on the cross. in it Paul s conclusion about our relationship to sin is based upon the fundamental change of a believer's relationship to sin. Christ s death for our sin overcame sin s guilt and judgment as well as its power over our new life in Christ. To stay trapped in its gravitational pull is unthinkable and irrational. Paul begins by answering a question he is sure will come up about grace. The question is basically, If God has provided complete forgiveness and justification for our sins, isn t it logical that we no longer need to be concerned with how much we sin? Page 1 of 6
The Gentile culture condoned much that is defined as a grave sin in scripture. The interpretation of grace as a license to sin would be very appealing. Conversely, for those who leaned toward spiritual ascetism or were Jewish legalists, would see grace as a horrible evil, a doctrine from the pit of hell. The legalist would immediately demand that laws and rules be set in place to keep in check the behavior of every follower of Christ lest they bring shame upon the gospel and Christ. Paul s response addresses both of these two very different responses to grace. Paul declares that grace has given every believer a path of death to the old nature of sin, which he will go on to show is replaced by the new resurrection life of Christ. 1. Have you experienced times when a misinterpretation of grace has robbed you of spiritual victory or cost you personal loss in your life? 2. What has been lost from the gospel s impact upon our nation because of this misinterpretation of grace? 3. What is so appealing to some about a church that sets very strict or exclusive guidelines for being a real Christian? 4. Why do so few Christians seem to have grasped and acted on the freedom from sin s enslavement that Paul teaches in this passage (6:1-11)? v. 3-4 Our Baptism into Christ v. 3 baptized into His death - Baptize in Greek is baptizo and means "to immerse." Here Paul points to the baptism (immersion) of the believer into Christ. It is not a direct reference to water baptism. To be baptized into Christ is to be placed, immersed, into the shared benefits of Christ s death, burial, and resurrection. Other examples of this use of the word baptism as referring to more than water baptism are the Jews being baptized into Moses (1 Cor. 10:2), and being baptized into the Body of Christ, His church (1 Cor. 12:13). Water baptism was enacted as a picture, as a declaration of the death and burial of our former life of bondage to sin, and our new life that is given to us in Christ. Consider the example in the drastic change that occurred at the moment of the abolition of slavery. Our entire nation was baptized into a completely different orientation to slavery. The Civil War and the laws that followed constitutionally changed everything. However, it did not functionally change anything unless both the slave and the former slave owner changed their views of themselves. This change was not based upon an emotion or feeling. It was a change in thinking which had to be followed by a change in action. Until that occurred, there would be little real change. Our change in relationship to sinful behavior does not begin with a feeling. It begins with a change, first in our knowing. We must know the benefits of our baptism, our shared history now in Christ s death, burial, and resurrection. v. 4 raised from the dead - Not only does the believer in Christ share in the benefits of being united to the death of Christ but also in His resurrection. walk - This refers to one s lifestyle, their manner of living. newness of life - The resurrection life that Jesus experienced at His own resurrection becomes the heritage and experience for every true believer (Eph. 1:19-21, Phil. 3:10). A proper understanding of our baptism into Christ is given by Paul as the basis for his answer to the question of a believer s relationship with sin. The word baptism, baptizo (Gk), means to be immersed, placed into. Refer to the use of the word baptism in the study notes above to see it is used for more than water baptism. Paul also uses Page 2 of 6
the word united to amplify the point he is making in reference to the events of Christ s life. United is sumphutos in Greek and refers to being joined to, grafted into something (v. 5). It is vital to our understanding of our changed relationship to sin to know that being immersed or united to the benefits of Christ s death, burial, and resurrection is grounds for such a change. This immersion, or union, into Christ has constitutionally changed every believer in relationship to sin. It should change how we look at ourselves in the past, present, and future. Several times in this passage Paul emphasizes the need for us to know the radical change that occurs when, by faith, we accept Christ and become baptized (immersed) in, or united to, Christ. Our orientation begins with a basis of knowing the facts on this issue of our baptism into Christ. o do you not know (v. 3) o knowing this (v. 6) o knowing that Christ (v. 9) Consider the example of the drastic change that occurred at the moment of the abolition of slavery. Our entire nation became baptized into a completely different orientation to slavery. That change as a result of the Civil War and the laws that followed constitutionally changed everything. However, it did not functionally change anything unless both the slave and the former slave owner both changed their views of themselves. This change was not based upon an emotion or feeing. It was a change in thinking, which had to be followed by a change in action. Until that occurred, there would be little real change. Also consider this illustration. When a foreigner becomes a U.S. citizen, from that moment of time on he shares in the benefits of the events of this nation s history: its independence, military victories, economic strength, etc. In like fashion, the believer in Christ at the moment of conversion is united, immersed in the benefits of the events of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It is for that reason that the tense of the verbs concerning our identification with Christ s death, burial, and resurrection are in the aorist tense. The aorist tense refers to a past finished action. It s like a new U.S. citizen saying, "We won World War II over the Germans," even if prior to his new citizenship he was a German citizen. That historic event now becomes a part of his own history and he is able to share in the benefits America achieved by that victory. Our change in relationship to sinful behavior does not begin with a feeling. It begins with a change in what we know to now be true about ourselves: that we have a shared history now in Christ s death, burial, and resurrection. 1. The history of our nation is one that has progressively changed our understanding of ourselves as Americans. Can you identify examples where events in our history, once accepted, have changed our behavior as individuals and as a nation? 2. What are the primary factors in the struggle between a historic change in the position of a person in society and experiencing the benefit of that change? Examples to consider include labor laws; voting rights; children, women s, and minority rights, etc. 3. Based on the examples above, why is it vital that a believer first know what their shared history is with Christ s historic death and resurrection to affect change in our present struggle with sin? v. 5-10 Baptized into the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ v. 5 been united sumphutoi (Gk.) This word was often used of grafting plants. The idea here is that believers are placed into oneness with Christ's experience so that at the moment of one's faith in Christ, the benefits to be experienced from Christ's death, burial, and resurrection are ours. Just as when a branch from one tree is grafted into the trunk of a different tree, it instantly begins to share in the life and history of that tree. v. 6 knowing this - gignosko (Gk.) This refers to knowing by personal experience. Not knowing, (eido Page 3 of 6
Gk.), as a fact only. old man - This is a term for our fallen nature that we inherited from Adam. crucified with Him - Crucifixion was the form of death Jesus experienced and is referred to as the shared history of believers once they put faith in Christ. The hope conveyed here is that since we share in the history of Christ s crucifixion, our personal identity to our old life under sin has been radically altered. Just as He died to sin, so we also have died to sin by our shared history. We have died to all its shame, guilt, and condemnation. It is no longer our master (John 8:32-36). body of sin - This is another way Paul refers to the power of our fallen nature. The concept is not that the physical body is innately wicked, but the sin which is born within our natural bodies is intrinsically sinful. done away - katargeo (Gk.) Used in reference to someone being put out of business. v. 7 freed from sin - The concept here is that if someone is dead they are desensitized to what formerly stimulated them. The believer who lives within the benefits of identification with the death of Christ will find himself becoming desensitized to sin's stimulation to the degree they now walk in newness of life. v. 8 live with Him - Paul does not want our understanding of identification with the shared history of Jesus to end with death but rather to go on to Christ's resurrection life. Therefore, the believer needs to know that not only does he become dead to the curse and guilt of sin, but also becomes alive and responsive to the new life that is our shared life in Jesus. v. 9 dies no more - This statement about Christ's authority over death further establishes the truth that the believer is to move past the one-time event of death to the old man and to now turn their attention to the ongoing benefits of the ever-increasing benefits of our shared relationship to Christ s resurrection life. v. 10 died to sin once for all - Jesus' death on the cross broke the power of death over all who are united to Him. The curse and authority of sin and death over the human race is the result of our shared history in Adam. Therefore, when Jesus became the sacrifice for sins for the entire human race, He not only provided forgiveness of sin but also the canceling of the penalty of death that is in place because of sin. Having been baptized in and united to Christ, we share in the benefits of His history that conquered sin and death by the power of His life. It is vital to our personal transformation to know the accomplishments of Christ s history as our own shared history. In this passage, Paul makes it clear that this transformation will be twofold. It will change our relationship to the bondage of sin as well as our relationship to living a life that is righteous. Basically, we are able to look to Christ s death on the cross as our own death to the sin we were slaves to and the endless guilt it creates. We are able also to look to Christ s resurrection as the basis for our new life. That new life is sourced in a new nature we received when we received Christ. A new nature that is not poisoned by sin, but infused with the righteousness, goodness, and love of God. Review the following scriptures that give a basis for the change we can make in our own lives if we act on the benefits that are ours in Christ s death and resurrection. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. -Colossians 3:3 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. -2 Corinthians 5:17 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. -Galatians 2:20 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of Page 4 of 6
His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. -Ephesians 1:18-20 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. -Philippians 3:10 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin [habitually sin, Gk.]. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. -1 John 3:1-7 It s vital we understand the historic shift in our relationship to sin and Christ s new life that is our own when we are baptized in and united to Christ. 1. What changes in your thinking about who you were before faith in Christ are essential for there to be solid change in becoming the new person the scriptures teach you can become? 2. What is the realistic potential of the new risen life that you have access to because of Christ s resurrection? 3. How would you describe the new self-image of those who have accepted Christ (John 1:12-13)? v. 11 Faith that Recognizes Death and New Life v. 11 reckon - logizomai (Gk.) This word is based on the concept of accounting something as true. A believer is to recognize his or her shared experience in Christ with His death to sin and new life through His resurrection as their own personal reality. We are told here to now live by actually accounting ourselves to be dead to sin and therefore by faith act on the new life of Christ that is our heritage. Change must begin with the knowledge of those things that become our new history, our basis of identity that is found when we are baptized, brought into union with Christ. Once we come to know the facts about our personal benefits in Christ s death, burial, and resurrection, we must begin the process of experiencing these benefits. For this process to begin we are told we must reckon or account the fact of our death and resurrection in Christ as our own. Basically, this involves recognizing those things in our lives that we need to remove as dead, things that no longer belong to who we are. Examples of this would include slavery, as earlier discussed. A former slave would have several subconscious views of himself as well as those who formerly enslaved them. They would have to begin putting off thinking that results in behavior that is not in harmony with being a completely free person. They would have to also change the way they allow others to treat them. This would then require the need to put on the resulting behavior of a free man, which would feel very foreign to them at first. Consider the following passages in this light. That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:22-24 Page 5 of 6
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. -Colossians 3:9-10 And those who are Christ s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. -Galatians 5:24-25 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. -Romans 8:13 1. Why is it important to accept that this transformation that is the result of Christ s death and resurrection is a process, not a single event? 2. Describe a few examples of things every person in Christ will put off along with the corresponding new life they will put on. 3. What are some examples of patterns of behavior and thinking that may be relevant for only certain people to personally reckon dead with a corresponding reckoning of new life? (ex: certain fears, hurts, attitudes, addictions, etc.) 4. What part does faith that acts play in this process of reckoning things dead or alive? How would this verse relate: If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established (Isaiah 7:9). CONCLUSION Discovering the truth about our new shared history in the benefits of Christ s own death and resurrection is vital. Without this foundation it is impossible to see the personal change we hope to achieve as disciples of Christ. Once this foundation of knowledge is ours, it becomes equally important that we accept the daily process and maintenance of our new identity in Christ. May God therefore cover us with abundant grace for both forgiveness and transformation. Page 6 of 6