Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Paul now asks several rhetorical questions with obvious answers based on what he wrote in the earlier chapter. The first question leads to the second question which gives the heart of the issue. The key idea in verse 1 is the word “sin.” This is a dative locative of sphere in the Greek, with only the article and noun, which literally would be “in the sin.” This means, should we continue in the sphere of sin’s control? “The sin” here is referring back to the sin that came into the world through Adam’s disobedience. It is the disease leading to death that has infiltrated every human. This fallen condition leads to rebellion when confronted with God’s laws. Should a believer continue to be controlled by sin so that he or she can experience more of God’s grace? Paul answers with a strong statement in the Greek: May it not be! Sin should not even be part of the life of a believer. It should not be in control but be rejected totally. If we have come to believe in Jesus, then we have a new master and reference point for our lives. The challenge we face is every day life is comes from the distorted deep drives of the human psyche and physical body. These require constant submission to the sovereignty of Jesus, allowed to be transformed through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, and then used in ways that glorify God. This is not something we can do on our own power, or we will struggle. God has given us other believers in fellowship, starting with one’s spouse and then working out to family and church. Theologians also speak about “the means of grace.” These can also be of help to us to overcome the challenges of our fallen world and the temptations it poses for us.
For older posts, click here.