* Believers must die to sin, and live to God. (1,2) This is urged by
their Christian baptism and union with Christ. (3-10) They are made
alive to God. (11-15) And are freed from the dominion of sin. (16-20)
The end of sin is death, and of holiness everlasting life. (21-23)... [ Continue Reading ]
1,2 The apostle is very full in pressing the necessity of holiness. He
does not explain away the free grace of the gospel, but he shows that
connexion between justification and holiness are inseparable. Let the
thought be abhorred, of continuing in sin that grace may abound. True
believers are dead... [ Continue Reading ]
3-10 Baptism teaches the necessity of dying to sin, and being as it
were buried from all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of rising to
walk with God in newness of life. Unholy professors may have had the
outward sign of a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness,
but they never passed from... [ Continue Reading ]
11-15 The strongest motives against sin, and to enforce holiness, are
here stated. Being made free from the reign of sin, alive unto God,
and having the prospect of eternal life, it becomes believers to be
greatly concerned to advance thereto. But, as unholy lusts are not
quite rooted out in this l... [ Continue Reading ]
16-20 Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he
yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his heart, in
actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience
implanted by regeneration. The apostle rejoiced now they obeyed from
the heart the gospel, into whi... [ Continue Reading ]
21-23 The pleasure and profit of sin do not deserve to be called
fruit. Sinners are but ploughing iniquity, sowing vanity, and reaping
the same. Shame came into the world with sin, and is still the certain
effect of it. The end of sin is death. Though the way may seem
pleasant and inviting, yet it w... [ Continue Reading ]