Romans 6

Let's go back to the end of chapter 5 for a minute. "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (5:20-21). Paul says that in the lives of those who are saved, grace will reign through righteousness leading to eternal life. Well whose righteousness is it? Is it our own righteousness?

The answer is found in the opening to chapter 6: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (vv 1-2). Paul expects some of his readers to respond by desiring to sin all the more so that grace can abound all the more. This would only make sense if the righteousness they received was not their own, but the righteousness of Christ. Why would they desire to sin if their salvation was dependent on their own righteousness?

But even though it is Christ's righteousness given to them as a gift, Paul says we are not to go on sinning. We are dead to sin and alive to God; once we were slaves of sin, now we are slaves of righteousness.

So what? "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." "For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace"  (vv 12, 14).

Is there an area of your life where you feel like you are a slave to your sin? Like it still owns you? Do this if you can: tell a close friend about the area in which you are struggling. Have them pray with you once a week to ask for God's grace and forgiveness in your life, and for the strength to put that sin to death. God did not design us to walk the Christian life alone; he desires for Christ followers to walk together in their faith.