‏ Romans 6

* 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)

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 to sin,

therefore they ought not to follow it. No man can at the same

time be both dead and alive. He is a fool who, desiring to be

dead unto sin, thinks he may live in it. 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 the family

of Satan to that of God. The corrupt nature, called the old man,

because derived from our first father Adam, is crucified with

Christ, in every true believer, by the grace derived from the

cross. It is weakened and in a dying state, though it yet

struggles for life, and even for victory. But the whole body of

sin, whatever is not according to the holy law of God, must be

done away, so that the believer may no more be the slave of sin,

but live to God, and find happiness in his service. 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 life, it

must be the care of the Christian to resist their motions,

earnestly striving, that, through Divine grace, they may not

prevail in this mortal state. Let the thought that this state

will soon be at an end, encourage the true Christian, as to the

motions of lusts, which so often perplex and distress him. Let

us present all our powers to God, as weapons or tools ready for

the warfare, and work of righteousness, in his service. There is

strength in the covenant of grace for us. Sin shall not have

dominion. God's promises to us are more powerful and effectual

for mortifying sin, than our promises to God. Sin may struggle

in a real believer, and create him a great deal of trouble, but

it shall not have dominion; it may vex him, but it shall not

rule over him. Shall any take occasion from this encouraging

doctrine to allow themselves in the practice of any sin? Far be

such abominable thoughts, so contrary to the perfections of God,

and the design of his gospel, so opposed to being under grace.

What can be a stronger motive against sin than the love of

Christ? Shall we sin against so much goodness, and such love? 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 which they were

delivered as into a mould. As the same metal becomes a new

vessel, when melted and recast in another mould, so the believer

has become a new creature. And there is great difference in the

liberty of mind and spirit, so opposite to the state of slavery,

which the true Christian has in the service of his rightful

Lord, whom he is enabled to consider as his Father, and himself

as his son and heir, by the adoption of grace. The dominion of

sin consists in being willingly slaves thereto, not in being

harassed by it as a hated power, struggling for victory. Those

who now are the servants of God, once were the slaves of sin. 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 will be

bitterness in the latter end. From this condemnation the

believer is set at liberty, when made free from sin. If the

fruit is unto holiness, if there is an active principle of true

and growing grace, the end will be everlasting life; a very

happy end! Though the way is up-hill, though it is narrow,

thorny, and beset, yet everlasting life at the end of it is

sure. The gift of God is eternal life. And this gift is through

Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ purchased it, prepared it,

prepares us for it, preserves us to it; he is the All in all in

our salvation.