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Romans 6 – question 3

Understanding Ro 6: Grace Offered / Effort of Obedience

Romans 6 addresses the complex dynamic between God’s sovereign Grace and the human responsibility to obey Him. Here is a balanced reflection on this issue, based on the text, in light of both grace and Christian obedience.

Grace Offered: A New Identity in Christ

Paul emphasizes a foundational truth: in Christ, we are dead to Sin and alive to God (Romans 6:2, 11). This transformation is the work of divine grace, achieved through our spiritual union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Key points about this grace:

  • A Radical Transformation: Being « dead to Sin » means that sin’s power over us has been broken. We are no longer slaves to sin (vv. 6-7). This is not a gradual change but a spiritual reality accomplished by God at conversion.
  • A New Position: We are now « under grace » and no longer « under law » (v. 14). Grace not only provides forgiveness but also empowers us to live according to God’s will.
  • God’s Gift: Paul reminds us that eternal life is a free gift (v. 23). It is not earned through works but is the fruit of God’s love in Christ Jesus.

In summary, grace is not merely provision for covering our sins; it is the power that radically transforms our relationship with sin and with God.

The Effort of Obedience: Living in Line with Our New Identity

Although grace is freely given and we are dead to sin, Paul exhorts believers to live in accordance with this spiritual reality. This requires active effort in obedience and Sanctification. Here’s how Paul develops this idea:

  • Consider What God Has Done (v. 11): « Consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. » The word « consider » (logizomai in Greek) involves a deliberate act of Faith. We are called to constantly remind ourselves of who we are in Christ and let this truth guide our decisions.
  • Refuse to Yield to Sin (vv. 12-13): Paul exhorts believers not to « offer the parts of their body to sin as instruments of wickedness » but to offer themselves to God. This shows that while sin no longer has absolute power over us, we must actively resist temptation.
  • Obey a New Authority (vv. 16-18): Paul uses the image of spiritual slavery: we are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. Voluntary obedience to God is a daily choice that reflects our new nature.

In summary, Christian obedience is not a condition for receiving grace but a natural and necessary response to the grace we have received.

The Tension Between Grace and Obedience

Paul maintains an important balance:

  • Grace does not cancel obedience but makes it possible. By giving us a new identity, God enables us to live for Him. Obedience flows from love and gratitude, not from an effort to earn divine favor.
  • Obedience is not legalistic but relational. Being « slaves to righteousness » (v. 18) does not mean being subjected to rigid rules but being fully devoted to God, our loving new Master.
  • Grace does not justify sin. Paul strongly rejects the idea that we could continue sinning so that grace may abound (vv. 1-2). Grace does not free us to sin but to live in holiness.

Living in the Tension Between What Is Accomplished and What Is Yet to Be Lived Out

Romans 6 shows that the Christian life rests on a dynamic tension:

  1. What has already been accomplished: In Christ, we are dead to sin and alive to God. This is an unchanging spiritual truth.
  2. What remains to be lived out: Each day, we must choose to live in accordance with this spiritual reality. This is a process of Sanctification that requires vigilance, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and discipline.

Practical Application

  • Rely on God’s Grace: Remember that your obedience flows from your union with Christ. You do not struggle alone; God has already equipped you to live in righteousness.
  • Make Choices Aligned with Your New Identity: Examine your thoughts, attitudes, and actions to see if they reflect your new nature in Christ.
  • Fight Sin with God’s Power: Acknowledge that, while you are dead to sin, temptation still exists. Pray, meditate on God’s Word, and depend on the Holy Spirit to overcome daily struggles.
  • Glorify God in Obedience: See obedience not as a burden but as a privilege to live for the One who saved you.

Conclusion

In Romans 6, Paul shows that grace and obedience are not opposed but complementary. Grace gives us a new identity and new life in Christ, while obedience is the natural expression of this transformation. We are dead to sin and alive to God: this is a spiritual truth to embrace and a mission to live out daily.

Back to Romans 6