If You've Been United with Christ's Death, You Must Not Continue Living in Sin

Thinking about Romans 6:5.

Photo by Lison Zhao on Unsplash

 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Romans 6:5)

Paul has been reminding the Christians in Rome of a couple of different connections.

• The connection between Jesus’ death and their baptism.

• The connection between Jesus’ resurrection and their baptism.

Now he will “connect” what he had been teaching to what some accused him of teaching. Paul had been accused of proclaiming a message that encouraged sin - he is in the process of refuting that accusation.

What it meant to be united to the Lord’s death and resurrection.

It is logical, teaches Paul, that if we have united ourselves with him in the likeness of his death we by faith emulate his resurrected life. It is the height of folly to believe that sinners would identify themselves with Christ’s death and continue to live in sin. It is sheer nonsense to identify oneself with Christ’s death and not do so in connection with his resurrection. - McGuiggan, Romans, 188

Uniting oneself with the death of Christ means dying to sin.

In the same way, uniting oneself with the resurrection of Christ means living to righteousness and holiness (1 Peter 1:13-16).

Paul is not teaching a gospel that encourages people to take advantage of the grace of God by continuing in sin. He proclaims a gospel that calls sinners to die to sin by being buried with Christ Jesus in baptism and being raised up to live a life of godliness.

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It does not make any sense whatsoever for someone to be baptized into Christ and then live like nothing ever happened.

Being immersed into Christ in obedient, penitent faith means we must understand two things.

• “I am dying to sin.”

• “I am being raised to live to righteousness.”

The gospel of Christ does not promote more sin or ungodliness. It calls people to die to themselves and live for Christ.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)