Death to Sin, Alive in Christ
Death to Sin, Alive in Christ Romans 6:1 6:1 Paul had just written (in Rom 5:20 ) that where there is an increase in sin there is an even greater increase in grace. 1 So the question was bound to arise, Why not continue in sin so the greatness of God’s grace may be seen more fully? The question may have arisen from antinomian sources that purposively misconstrued the doctrine of justification by faith as providing an excuse for a sinful lifestyle. Against such a perverted inference W. Barclay writes, “How despicable it would be for a son to consider himself free to sin, because he knew that his father would forgive.” 2 Equally possible is that the question stemmed from conscientious Jews who felt that the doctrine of salvation by faith alone would encourage moral irresponsibility. 3 Although the latter group questioned the teaching for fear of what it might do, the former embraced the doctrine for what they felt it would allow them to do. 6:2–3 The answer to the rhet...