1Though justified by grace, we may not live in sin; since the very figure of baptism requireth us to die with Christ unto sin, that we may lead a new life of holiness unto God. 14The dispensation of grace freeth us from the dominion of sin; but we are still the servants of sin, if we obey it; therefore being freed from sin, we are bound unto holiness. 21The end and wages of sin is death; but the fruit of holiness through God's grace is eternal life.
1WHAT 1shall we say then? Shall we continue 2in sin, that grace may 3abound?
1 This objection arises from what Paul had said in the last two verses of the previous chapter.
2 That is, under the dominion of corruption, which is yet remaining in us, Rom. 7:14. Or, in all manner of sin which has the upper hand in the world.
3 Namely, as it seems to be testified in the two preceding verses; which is there expounded.
24God forbid. How shall we, 5that are dead to sin, live any longer 6therein?
4 The apostle rejects by these words any such consequence, as unworthy an answer, and proves the contrary that we must not continue in sin.
5 That is, we, who, by the Spirit of Christ, are delivered from the ruling power of indwelling sin, verses 6, 7; for, to die to sin signifies in the Scripture of the New Testament to permit sin to have no life in us; that is, not to live under the power and dominion of sin.
6 That is, to permit sin its life and power, and to let it have the upper hand in us.
3Know ye not, thata so many of us as were baptized 7into Jesus Christ were baptized 8into his death?
a Gal. 3:27.
7 Namely, to testify our communion which we have with Christ by faith.
8 That is, are assured by baptism that we have communion in His death, whereby not only our sins are reconciled before God, but also the Holy Spirit is procured, by Whose working the corruption that is in us has its life or reigning power taken away, which is the first step of our regeneration, Titus 3:5, 6. The apostle seems here to allude to the manner of baptizing, much used in those warm eastern countries, where persons were entirely dipped into water and remained a little while under water, and afterwards rose up out of the water; and to show that this dipping into, and remaining in the water is a representation of Christ’s death and burial; and the rising up out of the water, of His resurrection; which also may well be applied to our manner of baptizing by sprinkling.
4Therefore web are buried 9with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raisedc up from the dead 10by the glory of the Father, 11even so we also should walk ind newness of life.
b Col. 2:12.
9 This is the second step of our regeneration, which is sealed unto us by baptism, namely, the increasing and persevering in the mortification of sin in us; as burial was a perseverance of Christ’s death, verse 6.
c Rom. 8:11; Philip. 3:10, 11.
10 Or, unto. Gr. dia, which word most commonly signifies by, that is, by the glory of the Father, yet is also sometimes taken for to. See 2 Peter 1:3.
11 This is the third step of our regeneration, which we receive by the virtue of Christ’s resurrection, and is signified and sealed unto us by baptism; namely, that we have received power to walk from here on in newness of life, that is, in holiness and purity, Eph. 5:26, 27.
d Eph. 4:23; Col. 3:10; Heb. 12:1; 1 Peter 2:2.
5Fore if we have been 12planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
e Rom. 8:11; Col. 3:1.
12 Or, have become one plant. A similitude taken from a graft, which is engrafted into a young tree, which becomes one plant with the tree, and draws the sap of life and fruitfulness out of it. Even so, he wants say, they that by faith are united to Christ as the stock (whereof baptism is also a sign Gal. 3:27), they obtain by the Spirit of Christ the power not only to kill and to bury sin by degrees, but also to arise more and more in newness of life, and to live holily to the glory of God, John 15:1.
6Knowing this, that 13our old man is crucified 14withfhim, that 15the body of sin might be 16destroyed, that henceforth we should 17not serve sin.
13 So he calls the natural blindness and corruption of man, which we inherit from the first man, which he also elsewhere calls flesh, opposed to the new man, which consists in knowledge, holiness and righteousness, Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9.
14 Seeing Christ took our sins upon Himself on the cross, not only to expiate them, but also to abolish the same, as follows. See also Heb. 9:14, 26, 28.
f Gal. 2:20; 5:24; Philip. 3:10; 1 Peter 4:1, 2.
15 That is, the entire mass or conjunction of this corruption, which is as an impure body which has many impure members, Col. 2:11, and 3:5.
16 This body of sin is indeed entirely destroyed by Christ, as concerning His merits, and by His Spirit the reigning power thereof is also taken away in the regenerate, verses 12, 14, but must by degrees be more and more abolished in us by the same Spirit, by closer appropriation of the death of Christ, as Paul exhorts the regenerate thereunto, Rom. 8:13, and 12:2; Eph. 4:22; Col. 3:9, until the same shall hereafter be totally abolished in us, Heb. 4:10.
17 Namely, as we did before our regeneration. See further exposition of this service of sin, verses 16, 17, 18, 19.
7Forg he 18that is dead is 19freed from sin.
g 1 Peter 4:1.
18 This is a reason taken from the similitude of a dead man, who does no more the works of the living, nor is any more obliged to any services, whereto he was obliged in his life time.
19 That is, freed or delivered from its power. For here it is not properly spoken of forgiveness of sins as in the five foregoing chapters, but of the abolition of the power of sin. A similitude taken from a person who, being justified or absolved by the judge, is also right away released and set free from his bonds.
8Nowh if we be dead 20with Christ, we believe that we shall also live 21with him:
h 2 Tim. 2:11.
20 See the annotations on the verses 3, 4.
21 Namely, a spiritual life in this life, and hereafter everlasting life. See Rom. 8:10, 11; Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13, and 3:1, 2, 3, 4.
9Knowingi that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more 22dominion over him.
i Rev. 1:18.
22 That is, has no more power over Him.
10Forj in that he died, he died 23unto sin 24once: but in that he liveth, he liveth 25unto God.
j 1 Peter 2:24.
23 Namely, for the expiation and abolition of the same.
24 For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified, Heb. 10:14.
25 That is, with God, and to the glory of God, being set down at His right hand.
11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed 26unto sin, but alive unto 27God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
26 That is, have died unto sin. See the annotation on verse 2.
27 That is, have received power by the Spirit of Christ to live before God, and to the glory of God, and to mortify sin more and more. From thence therefore flows the exhortation in the following verses. See also Rom. 8:1, etc.
1228Let not 29sin therefore 30reign in your 31mortal body, that ye should 32obey it in the lusts thereof.
28 That is, seeing ye are regenerated and delivered from the power of sin.
29 That is, the remainder of corruption, which still remains in us for our exercise and humiliation.
30 That is, have the upper hand, namely, over the power and motions of the Spirit in you. See Rom. 8:13, 14; Gal. 5:16, 17, 18.
31 This is said, not because sinful lusts are only in the body, or have their origin only from the body and not from the soul; for, that is repugnant to that which Christ states in Mat. 15:18, 19, and Paul in, Gal. 5:19, 20, but because these sinful lusts most manifest themselves in the body and are executed by the body.
32 That is, to follow or to do that whereunto sin entices us by divers lusts, James 1:14.
13Neither yield ye your members as 33instruments of unrighteousness 34unto sin: butk yield yourselves unto 35God, as those that are alive 36from the dead, and 37your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
33 That is, weapons, executioners of unrighteousness, even as a soldier executes with his weapons what his captain commands him.
34 That is, to the service of sin which is still in you.
k Luke 1:74; Rom. 12:1; Gal. 2:20; Heb. 9:14; 1 Peter 4:2.
35 That is, to the service of God.
36 That is, as being delivered from death and the power of sin, and endowed with the life of righteousness by Christ.
37 Namely, as those that are instruments of the soul to execute that which it wills or desires.
14For 38sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not 39under the law, 40but under grace.
38 In the 12th verse this was an exhortation, but here it is a promise that sin shall not reign in us, if we do but duly strive against it; whereof the reason is given in the following words.
39 Namely, which commands indeed what we must do, but gives not the power to do what it commands; it terrifies us indeed by its threats, but does not quicken nor excite us to overcome sin, by reason that we are thereby more and more convinced of sin, Romans 7, and 2 Corinthians 3.
40 Namely, of Jesus Christ, Who has not only redeemed us from the guilt but also from the power of sin, and by His Spirit gives us the power to resist and to overcome sin with the lusts thereof. See Rom. 8:1, 2, 3, 13; 2 Tim. 1:7; 1 John 5:4.
1541What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
41 From this objection arises that someone might have interpreted these words, not under the law, amiss; namely, as if he had understood it of the obedience of the law, or of the rule of righteousness which is contained in the law, and the word grace of a permission or freedom of living as everyone pleases; which the apostle rejects at the end of this verse, and confutes powerfully in the following verses.
16Know ye not, thatl to whom ye yield yourselves servants 42to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of 43sin unto death, or of 44obedience 45unto righteousness?
l John 8:34; 2 Peter 2:19.
42 That is, to obey and to subject yourselves to him.
43 That is, of reigning sin, as before.
44 Namely, which ye owe unto God for your redemption.
45 Namely, to exercise righteousness.
17But God be thanked, that ye 46were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart 47that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
46 Namely, before ye have believed in Christ.
47 Namely, of the Gospel, which is a doctrine of godliness and righteousness; and like a pattern which leaves also such an impression in those that embrace it, so that they by the power of God’s Spirit give up themselves also to the imitation of the same doctrine.
18Beingm then made free 48from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
m John 8:32; Gal. 5:1; 1 Peter 2:16.
48 That is, from the slavery of sin.
19I speak 49after the manner of men because of 50the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to 51uncleanness and 52to iniquity unto 53iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness 54unto holiness.
49 That is, by similitude of things, which are known amongst men.
50 That is, that by reason of the weakness of your understanding in spiritual things, ye may the better comprehend the same, John 3:12.
51 That is, to fleshly lusts.
52 That is, of the lusts which tend to the oppression of your neighbor.
53 That is, unto the accomplishing of such evil lusts and desires.
54 Namely, of your conduct before God and men, as verse 22.
20Forn when ye were the servants of sin, ye were 55free from righteousness.
n John 8:34.
55 Gr. free of the righteousness, that is, destitute of all true righteousness; or, not subject to righteousness, like a free man which is under no man.
21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are 56now 57ashamed? for the end of those things 58is death.
56 Namely, after that ye are come unto knowledge.
57 That is, are sorry and ashamed of those shameful things, wherein ye took pleasure before.
58 Namely, except we had been justified and sanctified from it, by the blood and the Spirit of Christ, 1 Cor. 6:11.
22But now being made free 59from sin, and become servants to 60God, ye have your fruit 61unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
59 That is, from the slavery of sin, as before.
60 That is, suitable and willing to serve God.
61 Namely, in this life, as verse 19. See 1 Thes. 4:3.
23Foro62the wages of sin is 63death; butp64the gift of God is 65eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
o Gen. 2:17; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:21; James 1:15.
62 Gr. stipends. A similitude taken from soldiers, who at the end of their service get their pay or wages.
63 Namely, not only temporal, but also eternal, as appears from the following part of the sentence.
p 1 Peter 1:3.
64 Namely, which we obtain by Christ even in our sanctification, whereof he here speaks.
65 That is, has for its end eternal life, as is spoken in verse 22, not that it merits this (for then it would not be a gracious gift) but because Christ has merited this for us, and shall of grace grant it to us, as the following words through Jesus Christ, our Lord show.