The Bible — World English Bible

Romans 6

In brief

Romans 6 answers an objection: since grace abounds where sin abounds, should we continue to sin? Paul answers firmly no. The believer is united with Christ in his death and resurrection, as baptism symbolizes. He is therefore freed from sin's rule and called to give himself to God. The chapter ends with a famous contrast: the wages of sin is death, but God's free gift is eternal life.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-11Dead to sin, alive for God with Christ
  2. v. 12-14Do not let sin reign
  3. v. 15-23Freed from sin, slaves to righteousness, and God's free gift

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

2May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?

3Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

4We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

5For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;

6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

7For he who has died has been freed from sin.

8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;

9knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him!

10For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.

11Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

15What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be!

16Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?

17But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.

18Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.

19I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.

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

21What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

22But now, being made free from sin and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification and the result of eternal life.

23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Key verses

Verse 4
We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

Baptism symbolizes union with Christ in his death and resurrection. The goal is to walk in newness of life, not just to receive a rite.

Verse 11
Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul invites you to regard yourself as dead to sin and alive for God in Jesus Christ. This is a call to reason from what Christ has accomplished, before wanting to change your conduct.

Verse 14
For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

Sin will have no power over the one who is under grace. Grace does not give permission to sin; it gives the strength to no longer be dominated.

Verse 18
Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.

Freed from sin, believers become slaves to righteousness. Paul uses an image that shocks to say you never remain without a master, but this master sets you free.

Verse 23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The verse contrasts the wages of sin, death, with God's free gift, eternal life. A wage is earned; a gift is received.

What the sermons say

Frequently asked questions about Romans 6

What does Romans 6:23 mean?

The wages of sin is death: sin brings separation from God. But God offers a free gift, eternal life in Jesus Christ. A wage is earned; a gift is received. The verse sums up the Gospel: salvation is not earned, it is given.

What does it mean to be dead to sin in Romans 6?

Paul explains that the believer is united with Christ in his death: sin no longer has power as a master over him. This does not mean never to sin again, but to no longer be enslaved to sin and to be able to give yourself to God.

Why does Paul say grace does not permit continuing to sin?

In verses 1 and 2, he answers those who thought more sin would make grace greater. For him, whoever is dead with Christ cannot continue to live as before: grace transforms life.

Articles quoting Romans 6

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World English Bible translation — public domain.