What does Romans 6 teach about the power of sin over believers?

Romans 6 is a profound and transformative chapter that delves into the relationship between sin and the believer, offering a message of hope, empowerment, and new identity in Christ. As a non-denominational Christian pastor, I find this chapter to be foundational for understanding the Christian life and the power dynamics between sin and the believer.

In Romans 6, the Apostle Paul addresses the power of sin over believers, emphasizing that through Christ, believers are no longer slaves to sin but are instead empowered to live a new life of righteousness. This chapter can be broken down into several key themes: the believer’s union with Christ, the call to live a new life, and the freedom from sin’s dominion.

Union with Christ in His Death and Resurrection

Paul begins Romans 6 by addressing a potential misunderstanding of grace. He asks rhetorically, "What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" (Romans 6:1, NIV). This question sets the stage for his argument. Paul strongly refutes the idea that grace gives license to sin. Instead, he explains that believers have died to sin and should no longer live in it.

The concept of union with Christ is central to Paul’s argument. He writes, "Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:3-4, NIV). Baptism symbolizes this union with Christ in His death and resurrection. When a believer is baptized, they are identifying with Christ’s death to sin and His resurrection to new life.

Paul elaborates further by stating, "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his" (Romans 6:5, NIV). This union means that just as Christ was raised from the dead, believers too are raised to a new life, free from the bondage of sin. The old self, which was enslaved to sin, has been crucified with Christ so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with (Romans 6:6, NIV).

The Call to Live a New Life

Having established the theological foundation of union with Christ, Paul then exhorts believers to live out this new reality. He writes, "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11, NIV). This verse is a call to recognize and internalize the truth of what has been accomplished through Christ. Believers are to consider themselves dead to sin’s power and alive to God’s righteousness.

Paul continues, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness" (Romans 6:12-13, NIV). Here, Paul emphasizes the practical outworking of the believer’s new identity. Believers are called to resist the temptation to let sin rule over them and instead present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness.

This call to a new life is not about adhering to a set of rules or striving in one’s own strength. It is about living out the reality of what Christ has already accomplished. Paul assures believers that sin shall no longer be their master because they are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14, NIV). Grace does not lead to a permissive attitude towards sin; rather, it empowers believers to live righteously.

Freedom from Sin’s Dominion

One of the most liberating truths in Romans 6 is the believer’s freedom from sin’s dominion. Paul contrasts the old life of slavery to sin with the new life of obedience to God. He writes, "But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Romans 6:17-18, NIV).

The imagery of slavery is powerful. Before coming to Christ, individuals are enslaved to sin, unable to break free from its power. However, through Christ, believers are set free from this bondage and are now able to live in obedience to God. This new form of slavery is not oppressive but liberating. It is a slavery to righteousness, leading to holiness and eternal life.

Paul further explains, "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life" (Romans 6:20-22, NIV). The contrast is stark: the old life of sin leads to shame and death, while the new life in Christ leads to holiness and eternal life.

The Transformative Power of Grace

Throughout Romans 6, Paul underscores the transformative power of grace. Grace is not merely a passive gift that covers sin; it is an active force that changes the believer’s life. He concludes the chapter with a well-known verse: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, NIV). This verse encapsulates the essence of Paul’s message. Sin leads to death, but God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ leads to eternal life.

The transformative power of grace is evident in the believer’s new identity and ability to live righteously. This transformation is not achieved through human effort but through the work of the Holy Spirit. As Paul writes in another letter, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV). This new creation is a result of God’s grace, enabling believers to live in a way that reflects their new identity in Christ.

Practical Implications for Believers

The teachings of Romans 6 have profound practical implications for believers. Understanding that they are dead to sin and alive to God empowers them to resist temptation and live righteously. This understanding also brings a sense of freedom and joy, knowing that they are no longer under the oppressive rule of sin.

Believers are encouraged to regularly remind themselves of their new identity in Christ. This can be done through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and participation in the sacraments, such as baptism and communion, which serve as tangible reminders of their union with Christ.

Moreover, believers are called to live out their new identity in community. The church serves as a support system, providing encouragement, accountability, and opportunities for growth. As members of the body of Christ, believers are to help one another live in accordance with their new identity, spurring one another on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24, NIV).

Conclusion

Romans 6 teaches that the power of sin over believers has been broken through their union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Believers are called to live out this new reality by considering themselves dead to sin and alive to God, presenting themselves as instruments of righteousness. Through the transformative power of grace, they are set free from sin’s dominion and empowered to live holy lives. This chapter offers a message of hope and empowerment, reminding believers of their new identity in Christ and the freedom they have to live righteously.