Romans | Reading Plan + Study QuestionsSample

ROMANS 6

BELIEVERS ARE INVITED TO PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS OVER SIN

Following his explanation of Jesus’s payment for sin, Paul states that this forgiveness is not permission to continue living sinful lives. Although grace abounds, taking advantage of grace is not the righteous response to God’s free, perfect gift of Jesus.

As those who were baptized were lowered and then raised from the water, they too were given new life, similar to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul says that our old selves, who we were before Jesus, have been crucified with Him and brought back into new life. Paul encourages believers to consider themselves dead to sin and alive in Christ! Since believers are no longer under the law, they live under God’s grace and Paul urges followers of Christ to live in a way that exemplifies their new life.

Paul teaches that believers have a choice between being slaves to sin or slaves to obedience. Although humanity will always fall short and be influenced by sin, followers of Jesus are called to serve obedience over indulgence. Paul says that being a slave to righteousness will lead to sanctification, the process of being made more like Christ. Because of God’s grace, believers have been set free from slavery to sin and death and invited into the free gift of eternal life!

STUDY QUESTIONS

What does it mean to die to sin? According to Romans 6:1-4, what does baptism represent?