Romans 6:1-5

Romans 6:1

Free Grace and Sin.

In this passage, under cover of a reply to a plausible objection to the doctrine of justification, we really enter upon the discussion of the bearing of gospel faith on moral character.

I. To the objection, the plausible but hateful objection, "What then? Are we to persist in our sin just in order that (as you say) the grace of God may abound in its forgiveness?" St. Paul's reply is a very blunt and staggering one. It amounts to this: such an abuse of free grace is in the nature of things impossible. It is practically unthinkable and out of the question. "For," says he, "persons who like us died to sin how shall we any longer live in it?" Christians, then, are people who in the mere fact of becoming Christians died to sin; severed their old connection with it, that is, or passed through an experience which put a virtual end to their sinful life. This is what faith in Christ has done for everybody who has ever really believed in Him. After an experience like that it is, by the laws of human nature, impossible if it were possible, it would be morally shameful for the man any longer to live wilfully in his old sins.

II. One thing is sufficiently manifest. Christian faith is very far from a superficial or inoperative or merely intellectual act, such as a man can do without his moral character being affected by it. It is very much the opposite of that. It is connected with the deep roots of our moral and religious nature. It launches us on a totally fresh stream of vital influences. It is like a death and a birth in one; like a burial and a resurrection. Those who have been baptized into Christ and say they trust in His death as the ground of their peace with God are bound to satisfy themselves that their faith is of a sort to kill sin.

J. Oswald Dykes, The Gospel according to St. Paul,p. 143.

References: Romans 6:2. J. Natt, Posthumous Sermons,p. 90. Romans 6:2. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 253.Romans 6:3. Homilist,3rd series, vol. ii., p. 55.Romans 6:3; Romans 6:4. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxvii., No. 1627; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. i., p. 15.Romans 6:3. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 247. Romans 6:3. Bishop Westcott, The Historic Faith,p. 129.