Title: Our Status Dead to Sin
Commentary on Romans 37
Our Status Dead to Sin
Romans 6: 1 - 2
Introduction: Paul's doctrine of salvation is that "we have been saved through faith." This theory is based on the fact that just as in Adam all men became sinners and died because of Adam's sin, so in Christ all men were made righteous through the righteousness of Christ and came to life. Nothing else can intervene here. He said that the purpose of the law was not to gain righteousness through the law, but to expose sin as sin so that God's grace might overflow.
However, in Paul's argument like this, two objections can arise to those who do not have spiritual understanding. One is that Paul's argument like this is not intended to promote sin as a human being. Because salvation sounds like it has nothing to do with our sins. And the other thing is, isn't the law useless then? Because if it is something that cannot be given to humans and cannot be condemned, what is the difference between having such a law and not having it? Paul had to provide a definitive answer to this objection in chapters 6 and 7. This is because we can enter Chapter 8 and unfold the more profound doctrine of salvation.
1. Will you abid in sin to abid in grace?
In verse 1, Paul begins by saying, “Then what shall we say?” Paul was very well aware of the fact that the message of justification by faith that he asserts is a great truth and a surprising discovery, but there is a dangerous element of misunderstanding in it.
As for the first element of misunderstanding that will appear, Paul presented the expected problem in verse 1, “Shall we dwell in sin so that grace may increase?” Paul's soteriology is that sin is heard as a means of grace, and where sin abounds, grace abounds. In order to receive grace, shouldn't we always have to live in sin?
(I) Those who claim this theorize that the righteousness of Christ has nothing to do with our sins. “To him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” He gave righteousness to the ungodly (sinner), even if we continue to live in sin. It has nothing to do with salvation. For such people, they do not know how convenient the existence of faith or righteousness is. This is because, if they receive salvation through faith, the sins they continue to commit in the future have nothing to do with their salvation. They will have nothing to worry about if they sin. This is because salvation has been taken as a guarantee, regardless of sin. The claims of the heretical denominations called the “Salvation Sect” around us today are the same as these. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans of the early church is also known to be the same assertion (Rev 2:15).
(2) Their claim is that we can have the righteousness of Christ without compensating for our sins because our righteousness is not obtained by any righteous works, but merely imputed to Christ.
(3) Another thing, is it not okay to sin because those who are in Christ are not condemned by the law? is the claim. This claim raises a problem in two respects. One is that even if those who believe in Christ commit sin, salvation has nothing to do with it, so shouldn't it be better to know and be thankful for sinning as a means of receiving more grace? is that The other is that if they are in Christ, they are beyond the law. If Christians and the law have nothing to do with it, then the law is useless. However, since faith is the fulfillment of the law and the fulfillment of the law, apart from the law, God's grace cannot exist.
Where there is no law, there is no sin, so God's grace cannot be manifested in such a place. Therefore, those who are in Christ must learn the grace of God in the law and live a life of gratitude for that grace. And Christians must learn the norms that please God from the law and fulfill the will that pleases them. This kind of work is not a life that is bound by the law or a life that seeks to obtain righteousness from the law, but it is the fruit of thanksgiving to please God.
2. How can we, who have died to sin, live longer in it?
In response to these objections, Paul strongly rejected, saying, “It cannot be.” When we preach the salvation doctrine of Lee Shin-ui's salvation that Paul is claiming, the objection that Paul expected will be raised. To such a crowd, we must nail it, saying, “It cannot be done.” Paul's objection to this is that "a dwelling in sin cannot increase grace."
(1) Sin reigns only in death, but in grace it has no place to rest. Grace works in sin, but it does not join hands with sin or join hands with sin. When a sinner enters into grace, his sins are already dead in grace, and through the righteousness of Christ, who reigns in grace, he is not a slave to sin, but to righteousness. Your identity will be completely different. That is why it is said that “we have passed from death to life” (John 5:24).
(2) Paul says that we are dead to sin. “How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer in them?” Paul's words do not mean Christian sanctification or the process of sanctification. It reveals your identity as a Christian. The Christian status is that we died in sin and that we live because of righteousness. If you do not have the status of being dead in sin, you cannot have the status of living in righteousness.
This Christian identity is speaking of a spiritual identity. Christian identity and all covenants are based on the Word of God. Therefore, when we say that we died in our sins, this fact refers to our spiritual status. In the kingdom of God, the flesh is useless. It is the Spirit that gives life. That is our spiritual identity. This status is a legal declaration in the kingdom of God because it is a proclamation of the Word of God. This legal declaration of God is irrevocable and cannot be nullified by anything. This Christian identity is so certain that every Christian should believe it. If our faith in God's Word is alive, our faith is bound to be shipwrecked.
This status signifies union with Christ. When we believe in Jesus, this faith brings us into union with Christ. Union with Christ speaks of a common destiny for sin and righteousness, and because Christ atoned for my sins, union with him is dead to sin, and Christ rose again to justify me. As a result, union with him is manifested as a new life in righteousness.
We must believe this. And you have to live your life based on this fact. “In the same way, consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to righteousness in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Then, our life can enter into a life in which righteousness reigns in grace and bears the fruit of righteousness.
Conclusion: The objection Paul presented in Romans 6 is nothing more than the malicious slander of those who do not understand God's saving grace. We should realize the grace of God that has been revealed to us and know the clear spiritual identity we currently enjoy so that we can live a life worthy of that identity.