Have you ever been misunderstood—your words twisted into something you didn’t mean? That’s exactly what happens at the start of Romans 6. After celebrating the abundance of God’s grace in chapter 5, Paul anticipates an objection: “If grace covers all sin, shouldn’t we just keep sinning so God’s grace can shine even more?”
Paul answers with a bold and emphatic “By no means!” Grace is not permission to sin—it’s power to live a new life.
I. The Dangerous Question (Romans 6:1)
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”
Paul knows the human heart: if grace increases where sin increases, why not keep sinning? But that’s not grace—it’s distortion.
- Grace abused becomes a lie. It’s like racking up credit card debt just because your parents will bail you out.
- We still ask modern versions of this:
- “God will forgive me, so it’s not a big deal.”
- “Nobody’s perfect—this little sin won’t hurt.”
- “It’s just entertainment.”
The question might not leave our lips, but it often shows up in our choices.
II. The Clear Response: “By No Means!” (Romans 6:2a)
Paul’s reply is the strongest possible denial: “By no means!” (Greek: me genoito).
Grace doesn’t excuse sin—it transforms us.
- A prisoner set free doesn’t run back to his cell.
- A drowning victim rescued doesn’t dive back into the water.
If grace has truly saved us, it makes sin unthinkable.
III. The Identity Shift: We Died to Sin (Romans 6:2b)
“How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
To die to sin means:
- Not that we’ll never struggle, but sin no longer defines or rules us.
- We don’t dwell in it, excuse it, or normalize it.
Paul connects this identity to baptism: “We were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that… we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4).
You no longer belong to the mud you were pulled from.
Application: What sins have you been making room for instead of putting them to death?
IV. Living Like You’ve Died to Sin
So what does it look like to live free?
- Daily Repentance — Not one-time, but daily surrender. (Luke 9:23)
- New Desires, New Direction — We begin to hate what once enslaved us and run toward God.
- Accountability and Growth — Surround yourself with people who help you live like you’re alive in Christ.
Grace doesn’t make sin safe. It makes freedom possible.
Conclusion: You Can’t Be Dead and Alive to Sin at the Same Time
Grace isn’t a license to sin—it’s a call to new life. If you belong to Jesus, you’re not who you were. Stop asking how close to the line you can get. Start asking how fully you can walk in freedom.
