Chapter 6:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Luther
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Acts 1 Corinthians
Romans 6
Concise Complete
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)
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Verses 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?
Verses 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.
Verses 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.
Chapter 6:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Luther
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Acts 1 Corinthians
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
