“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (KJV, Rom. 6:6).
As one approaches Romans 6:6, he must be made aware of the context. Romans 6 comes after a long discussion concerning the sin of man and righteousness that comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. God’s amazing grace, displayed through justification, causes man to ask, “Shall I sin so that grace will abound?” Faithful Gospel preaching will leave the listener noticing that the grace of God abounds for the Christian. The believer is declared righteous through faith apart from the law.
However, it is wrong to continue in sin, and Romans 6 tells us why. Paul informs the reader that continuing in sin is contradictory to what has occurred in the Christian’s life. The believer is dead to sin; therefore, he cannot live in sin. Where there is death, there cannot be life. Life and death are at odds with each other.
Then Paul tells us how the Christian has died to sin. Paul speaks of the baptizing work of the Spirit. The Spirit baptizes the believer into Christ, immersing and identifying the believer with Christ. The union is mystical in that there is a spiritual meaning behind the union that is beyond human comprehension. The union between Christ and the believer necessitates what has happened to Jesus has also happened to the believer.
Jesus died to sin, and the law, and so did the believer. Jesus was buried, and so was the believer. Jesus rose from the grave to newness of life, and so did the believer. Romans 6:5 ensures the believer that since he has been united with Christ in the death of Christ, he will also be united with Christ in Christ’s resurrection. It is essential to know that while the believer will rise with Christ after he dies, the immediate application is for the current moment. The believer has been united with Christ in His resurrection and now walks in newness of life.
But Paul does not stop there. He has more to say in response to the question, “Shall we sin so that grace will abound?”
“Knowing this, that our old man”
Paul targets the old man. While there is some debate over what Paul is speaking of when he talks of the old man, it must be clear that the old man is directly related to the Adamic nature. Some believe that the Christian has two competing natures. This type of thinking is inaccurate and harmful to one’s spiritual growth.
Understanding one’s position in Christ is both foundational and essential for growth. Elsewhere Paul says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him…” (Col. 2:6-7). One’s position in Christ can be seen as the roots of which Paul spoke of in Colossians 2:6-7.
Therefore, the Christian must know that in Christ, the old nature has been put to death on the cross. Romans 5:12-21 speaks of life in Adam or in Christ. To be in Adam is to be represented by Adam and governed by the Adamic/sinful nature. To be in Christ is to be represented by Christ and governed by the divine nature.
“is crucified with him”
When the believer died with Christ through the baptism of the Spirit, he died to the Adamic nature, old man, and old self. These terms are synonymous and have been crucified on the cross with Jesus Christ. It is foundational in one’s thinking to know that the old nature is gone. Paul says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). When someone believes that there are two competing natures, he does not believe that old things are passed away. Instead, he believes that old things still remain. Nevertheless, the old man, the old sinful nature, has been crucified with Christ.
While it may seem like minor details, it is not. A person will operate out of his identity. Another way of saying the same thing is that a person will operate out of who he believes himself to be. God called Gideon to lead the people of Israel. However, Gideon was fearful and did not believe he could do it. So what did God call him? God told Gideon that his identity was a mighty man of valor. Gideon needed to know who he was before He would ever accomplish God’s will.
Therefore, the Christian must know that he has died to the old sinful nature through His union with Christ.
“that the body of sin”
But how does the Christian make sense of the fact that he still struggles with sin? The believer’s spirit has been renewed and is seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. However, Paul says, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bring me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (Rom. 7:23). The believer still has sin that dwells within. The Christian is still bound by unredeemed flesh since the final act of redemption, known as glorification, has not yet occurred.
Thus, the Christian will fight against sin but is no longer mastered by sin. Paul says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body…” (Rom. 6:12). The Christian must not allow his flesh to dictate his life; instead, he must rule over it. He must learn to reckon himself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus and walk out the freedom granted to him.
“might be destroyed”
One of the primary purposes of being crucified with Christ was to destroy “the body of sin.” The body of sin should not be interpreted as the whole of sin or the overall picture of sin. Instead, it consists of the sin that dwells within and the unredeemed flesh.
God desired to put to death that which held the Christian captive. To say that the “body of sin might be destroyed” means God wanted to render the sinful flesh inoperative and powerless.
“that henceforth we should not serve sin”
The Christian has died with Christ through union with Christ. In the Christian’s death, he died to the old nature. Since the Christian died to the old nature and has been united with Christ, he can put sin to death in his practical experience. God has united the believer with Christ for the express purpose of a newfound service.
The Bible clarifies that someone is either serving sin or God. However, it should be noted that it is impossible to serve two masters. God’s miraculous work has ushered in a newfound experience for the Christian. Scripture says, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Rom. 6:18). Being set free from sin brings about a newfound slavery/service.
Before Christ, the unbeliever is free regarding righteousness because righteousness does not govern and influence his life. Paul tells us, “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness” (Rom. 6:20). However, a change has occurred whereby the believer has been freed from sin and enslaved to righteousness. Paul goes on to say, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Rom. 6:22). The believer has been set free from that which held him captive. He used to bear fruit for death in his former position of slavery to sin. But now he is made a servant of God, whereby he begins to yield fruit for God.
God is after fruit. Fruit bearing is what gives God glory as He is on display through the life of the Christian. The Christian must learn to stand in his position in Christ if he would bear much fruit.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the work that You have accomplished in Christ. Thank You for crucifying the old man and bringing about newness of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.