“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” By Babatunde Olugboji
In Romans 6:1, Paul poses a rhetorical question: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” This inquiry highlights a prevalent criticism of Paul’s teachings, both during his era and in contemporary times. Detractors contend that preaching about limitless grace might unintentionally grant a license to sin.
However, Paul contends that those who have died to sin cannot persist in it: “By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:2). This assertion does not imply that believers are devoid of sin. Instead, it signifies that sin is no longer our master: “Thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness” (verses 17–18, ESV).
In verses 3–4 of Romans 6, Paul reminds believers of their baptism into Christ: “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we have been united with Christ. Consequently, we are now able to walk in the newness of life.
The reason we are able to walk in a newness of life is that “our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, allowing us to no longer be enslaved to sin. For the one who has died has been liberated from sin” (Romans 6:6–7). The death of the old self is not merely a metaphor or figure of speech; rather, it represents a spiritual reality that transforms our way of living.
Freedom from the influence of sin is not an endpoint but a pathway to righteous living. Consequently, Paul states, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, causing you to obey its desires. Do not offer your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will not have dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:12–14). The appropriate response to God’s grace is to dedicate ourselves to righteousness instead of sin.
Romans 6 strongly opposes the notion that grace serves as a license to sin. Rather than persisting in sin, we should submit to the influence of the Holy Spirit: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us stay in harmony with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
The practical consequences of Romans 6 are extensive. First, we must recognize our identity in Christ: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has passed away, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new identity ought to be evident in our thoughts, words, and actions.
Second, living under grace does not imply antinomianism (the rejection of laws or moral principles). On the contrary, grace empowers believers to meet the righteous demands of the law (Romans 8:4). In other words, the grace that saves is also the grace that sanctifies.
Finally, the Christian life is marked by a continuous struggle against sin. In Romans 7, Paul acknowledges this struggle but points to the victory available in Christ. The “victory” is not to sin that grace may abound, but to overcome sin by the power
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