Some of Paul’s readers may have thought that this free grace of God to all who believe would result in an abuse of that grace; however, Paul silences his potential critics by beginning to instruct them regarding the process of sanctification. Sanctification is an act of God within the life of a believing sinner to produce obedience to God’s ways. Paul begins his teaching by presenting a series of thought-provoking questions, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (6:1-2) The very first thing Paul “set straight” was that grace is not a license to sin, but instead meant that a believer does not have to continue living in sin. Paul presents another question to his readers, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (6:3-4). When Paul mentions that we are baptized into Christ and His death, he is not referring to water baptism but rather a uniting or identifying with the reason He died on the cross, which is to pay for sin. However, we also identify with Christ’s resurrection, as the power and penalty of sin over us is put to death and we are raised to “walk in newness of life” (6:4). Paul further explains this concept of new life to the church at Corinth when he writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul was clearly teaching that when a man has been declared righteous by God, he will also experience life change. Sin is a part of the old man but holiness should define the new man.
The next statement by Paul is worthy of our thoughts and attention: “…our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin” (6:6-7). Our old, sinful nature was put to death when Jesus Christ died on the cross, so we are no longer under sin’s control. It is so important that we are aware of this freedom we have! Does this mean that a person with genuine faith will never sin? No. Our old nature will exist until the time when our bodies are forever changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-58), but the reality is that we do not have to give into sin.
Paul challenges his readers to consider themselves “to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:11). Understanding this truth would give them confidence to live a holy life through the power of Christ. He did warn them that sin would do its best to gain control over them, but they did not need to obey it (6:12). Victory over sin could be accomplished if they would not present themselves with opportunities to sin, but instead present themselves “to God as being alive from the dead, and your members [body] as instruments of righteousness to God” (6:13). Pursuing the ways of God would leave a person with no time to give themselves over to sin. What a reality!
Dear God, it is amazing to think that I have been freed from the power of sin. Help me to present myself to You each day so that I can be an instrument of use in Your work.
