Romans Part 21
Being under grace never gives permission to continue sinning. Instead, Paul explains that every person is a servant of whatever he obeys. We either become slaves of sin, leading to death, or slaves of obedience, leading to righteousness.
Paul explains in Romans 6:7 that the one who has died has been freed from sin. Interestingly, the word translated "freed" comes from the same root as the word "justified." Through Christ, we are declared righteous and released from sin's claim over our lives. Just as the death of a spouse releases a person from the legal bond of marriage, sharing in Christ's death through baptism brings an end to sin's legal claim over us. The penalty has been paid through the justifying power of Christ's righteous life. Sin no longer owns us or has dominion over us because, through faith and baptism, its claim has been canceled.
Paul reminds us that Christ died once for the sins of mankind and now lives forever in righteousness. His sacrifice never needs to be repeated. Hebrews 9:11–12 explains that Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all, obtaining eternal redemption through His own blood. Because His sacrifice is complete, those who belong to Him can live in the confidence of what He has accomplished.
Paul then says believers should "consider" or "count" themselves dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus Christ. This is the same accounting language Paul used in Romans 4 when Abraham's faith was "counted" to him for righteousness. Christians are to reckon this as true. We no longer belong to sin. We belong to God. Since that is our new reality, our lives should reflect it.
Paul therefore tells believers not to let sin reign in their mortal bodies or present themselves as instruments of unrighteousness. Instead, they are to present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness. This passage teaches that it is possible to live a life that is pleasing to God. Contrary to what many have been taught, God's law is not impossible to obey when His Spirit dwells within us. That is one of the great blessings of the New Covenant. God not only forgives sin through Christ's sacrifice but also transforms His people by giving them His Spirit so they can overcome sin in the flesh. Rather than lowering His standard to accommodate human weakness, God raises His people to His standard through His power, working within them as they submit to Him.
Romans 6:14 is one of the most frequently misunderstood verses in Scripture:
"For you are not under law but under grace."
Some conclude that this means Christians no longer need to obey God's law. Yet such an interpretation simply does not fit Paul's argument. Throughout Romans, he has consistently taught that both Jews and Gentiles have broken God's law, that all have sinned, that justification comes through God's grace in Jesus Christ, and that faith establishes the law rather than abolishes it. He has already insisted that believers must not continue in sin and has just instructed them to become instruments of righteousness.
In this context, being "under the law" refers to being under the penalty that the law demands because of sin. The law requires death for sin, but when we die with Christ through baptism, that debt has been paid. We are no longer under the law's condemnation because Christ has borne the penalty in our place. We have been brought under grace.
If there were still any doubt about Paul's meaning, he immediately removes it. He asks,
"Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?"
Once again, his answer is emphatic:
"Certainly not!"
Being under grace never gives permission to continue sinning. Instead, Paul explains that every person is a servant of whatever he obeys. We either become slaves of sin, leading to death, or slaves of obedience, leading to righteousness. Romans 2:13 states that the doers of the law will be justified. Our obedience does not earn justification, because only Christ's sacrifice can remove the penalty of sin. Rather, obedience becomes the evidence of living faith and the fruit of an ongoing relationship with God. Keeping God's law demonstrates that faith day after day.
The law still serves its God-given purpose by defining sin and revealing God's standard of righteousness. Paul makes a similar point in Galatians 5. Those who are led by the Spirit are not under the law's condemnation, and the fruit of the Spirit produces a life against which there is no law. Living by God's Spirit results in continued righteousness, not lawlessness.
Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
