A free online bible study on Romans 6

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The biggest problem in this world isn't poverty or illness or anything of the many things politicians would hammer on. The biggest problem is sin. The sin problem is the cause of all problems. If there was no sin, there wouldn't have been any problems. That's why heaven is going to be problemless, because no sin can be found in the presence of God.

The NIV Study Bible puts Romans 6 under the heading Freedom from Sin’s Tyranny, and isn't this marvellous? Of all bible study topics, deliverance from sin should be at the top of the chart as the key theme. The great news of Romans 6 is that we can already taste deliverance from sin even this side of the grave, although the great freedom awaits life after the grave. Sin and (spiritual) death in the Bible are synonymous word and in Romans 6:9 we read:

We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word (The Message)

After the grave the resurrection of all believers will follow, one day when Jesus comes back and we'll experience what Jesus experienced on East Sunday. But before that we can already enjoy the resurrection power in the end of sin's tyranny this side of the grave.

After Paul extensively dealt with salvation through grace in the previous chapters, he begins this chapter with the hypothetical question if we are now allowed to continue in sin so that grace may abound? (See King James Study Bible) If only grace can wipe away sin, then more sin would mean more grace and who wouldn't want more grace? Isn't grace to get something you don't deserve (like a $1 000 000 you haven't work for)? The futility of this argument Paul exposes in the next verse, since grace already units us spiritually with Christ in His death and resurrection this side of the grave. This happens at, what Paul calls, baptism:

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?... If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (Romans 6:3&5 NIV)

The sin problem thus stops this side of the grave in both the power of sin ruling over us, but also in the hope of the Promised Land (called heaven) where there will be no tears or sorrow or sin anymore. This brings us to the pivotal verse of Romans 6:

So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11 The New Living Translation)

The word consider (logizomei The Complete Word Study New Testament) is a mathematical term. One plus one is two, the sinful nature + death on the cross and resurrection = the end of Sin’s Tyranny. The extend we find in Romans 6:6:

And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin. (The Good News Translation)

The key word is destroyed,which means sin became paralysed (Word Meanings in the New Testament).

When sin is paralysed, what could stop us not serving sin as slaves anymore? Only our own stupidity. Paul says in Romans 12:12:

Therefore do not let sin reign [rule] in your mortal body [anymore] so that you obey its evil desires [like stupid slaves]. (NIV)

Remember sin is a relational word, we sin against God. Also remember the New Testament concept of sin is not, in the first place, what we do, but what we don't do. To love God and you neighbour means action. When I never hit my wife it doesn't mean I love her, but when I bring her flowers and do all the nice things she expects she will know I love her. If we never commit a murder or lie or steel etc. it doesn't mean we love God. We love God by worshipping Him in prayer and whole-life-devotion, while doing to others as we want them to do to us.

Driving it home:

1. Is this your personal experience?
2. Can't it be that you don't understand sin as Paul meant it in this chapter when you can't actually point it out, but believe you always sin in words, deeds and actions?
3. What sins of omission can you come up with in your sphere of influence and society?
4. Are there any sins that have surfaced while working through this Bible Study you know you have to deal with?
5. What can you do to make sure you will always consider yourself dead with Christ, and not forget it with the first temptation that wrestles you down?