Freedom From Sin

by Micky Galloway

Romans 6:3-4, “Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”

Paul had written in Romans 5:21, “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Now chapter 6 begins, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1). The sixth chapter shows that Christians do NOT have a license to sin.

The likeness between Christ’s physical death, burial, and resurrection and the burial and resurrection of one who is has died to sin is the point of the passage. When a person is old enough to be accountable to God and commits sin, he then becomes the slave of sin, or “dead in sin.” He is separated from God’s favor because of his sins. Just as Christ was dead when He was buried, so a person is spiritually dead when he is buried in baptism. In these early verses of the sixth chapter the apostle shows how we have fellowship in the death AND in the new life of Christ (Romans 6:1-11). Death TO sin is inconsistent with a life IN sin.

“We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?” (verse 2). One who is dead TO sin is one who is separated from it through forgiveness. The apostle Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that (life) which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, (the faith) which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20; cf. Colossians 3:1-3). Paul then argues that if they knew they were baptized into the death of Christ, then they should know they could not continue in sin.

“Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (verse 3). To be baptized “into His death” is to come into contact with the cleansing blood that was shed (cf. John 19:33-34). To be baptized “into Christ” is to enjoy “all spiritual blessings” (Ephesians 1:3). Baptism is more than a dipping in water. It is an act of surrender to Christ; the consummation of faith and repentance, resulting in forgiveness. Water baptism is how sinners reach the saving blood of Jesus. In Christ, “we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ephesians 1:7). Is it any wonder that Ananias asked Saul of Tarsus, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).

“We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death” (verse 4). The “how” of baptism is clearly immersion. There is no “burial” in sprinkling and pouring. The Greek word baptisma is defined by Thayer as “immersion, submersion.” Evidence supports this conclusion. John baptized in the river Jordan because there was “much water there” (Mark 1:5; John 3:23). In baptism, there is enough water to go down into (Acts 8:36-39) and to come up out of (Matthew 3:16).

“That like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life” (verse 4). The same inspired writer said, “Wherefore if any man is in Christ, (he is) a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). Moses E. Lard observes “… Here … occurs an ellipsis which it is necessary to fill, in order to complete the sense. This done, and the clause reads: ‘Thus we also, being raised up as Christ was, should walk in newness of life’ … since we are to walk in newness of life, we cannot continue in sin” (Commentary On Paul’s Letter to the Romans, page 201). In baptism therefore, one shows the likeness of Christ’s death and resurrection (verses 5-6; cf. John 10:17).

“For he that hath died is justified from sin” (verse 7). The word “for” introduces the explanation of the end of this bondage to sin. Just as when a servant dies, he ceases to be subject to the control of his master, so now one being dead to sin, on the same principle, is released from the control of his former master, sin. He is now “justified” (set free, acquitted) from past sins. He is not to be a slave of sin any more.

“But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God” (verses 8-10). Christ had no sin of His own, but “bare our sins in his body upon the tree” (I Peter 2:24). It is clearly not enough to die with the Christ; one must immediately begin to live with Him. It is a life or way of life that is spiritual in communion with Christ, following His example (cf. I Peter 2:21). Therefore, we “press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13).

“Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). This concluding exhortation shows the main point of the whole passage! A Christian must consider himself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ, for in his baptism he shares the experience of Christ. He too has been raised from the waters of baptism to live a new life. Christ “died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again” (II Corinthians 5:15).