elievers must die to sin, and live to God. (1,2) This is
urged by their Christian baptism and union with Christ. (3-10)
They are made alive to God. (11-15) And are freed from the
dominion of sin. (16-20) The end of sin is death, and of
holiness everlasting life. (21-23)
Verse 1,2: The apostle is very full in pressing the necessity of
holiness. He does not explain away the free grace of the gospel,
but he shows that connexion between justification and holiness
are inseparable. Let the thought be abhorred, of continuing in
sin that grace may abound. True believers are dead to sin,
therefore they ought not to follow it. No man can at the same
time be both dead and alive. He is a fool who, desiring to be
dead unto sin, thinks he may live in it.
Verses 3-10: Baptism teaches the necessity of dying to sin, and being
as it were buried from all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of
rising to walk with God in newness of life. Unholy professors
may have had the outward sign of a death unto sin, and a new
birth unto righteousness, but they never passed from the family
of Satan to that of God. The corrupt nature, called the old man,
because derived from our first father Adam, is crucified with
Christ, in every true believer, by the grace derived from the
cross. It is weakened and in a dying state, though it yet
struggles for life, and even for victory. But the whole body of
sin, whatever is not according to the holy law of God, must be
done away, so that the believer may no more be the slave of sin,
but live to God, and find happiness in his service.
Verses 11-15: The strongest motives against sin, and to enforce
holiness, are here stated. Being made free from the reign of
sin, alive unto God, and having the prospect of eternal life, it
becomes believers to be greatly concerned to advance thereto.
But, as unholy lusts are not quite rooted out in this life, it
must be the care of the Christian to resist their motions,
earnestly striving, that, through Divine grace, they may not
prevail in this mortal state. Let the thought that this state
will soon be at an end, encourage the true Christian, as to the
motions of lusts, which so often perplex and distress him. Let
us present all our powers to God, as weapons or tools ready for
the warfare, and work of righteousness, in his service. There is
strength in the covenant of grace for us. Sin shall not have
dominion. God's promises to us are more powerful and effectual
for mortifying sin, than our promises to God. Sin may struggle
in a real believer, and create him a great deal of trouble, but
it shall not have dominion; it may vex him, but it shall not
rule over him. Shall any take occasion from this encouraging
doctrine to allow themselves in the practice of any sin? Far be
such abominable thoughts, so contrary to the perfections of God,
and the design of his gospel, so opposed to being under grace.
What can be a stronger motive against sin than the love of
Christ? Shall we sin against so much goodness, and such love?
Verses 16-20: Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands
he yields himself; whether it be the sinful dispositions of his
heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual
obedience implanted by regeneration. The apostle rejoiced now
they obeyed from the heart the gospel, into which they were
delivered as into a mould. As the same metal becomes a new
vessel, when melted and recast in another mould, so the believer
has become a new creature. And there is great difference in the
liberty of mind and spirit, so opposite to the state of slavery,
which the true Christian has in the service of his rightful
Lord, whom he is enabled to consider as his Father, and himself
as his son and heir, by the adoption of grace. The dominion of
sin consists in being willingly slaves thereto, not in being
harassed by it as a hated power, struggling for victory. Those
who now are the servants of God, once were the slaves of sin.
Verses 21-23: The pleasure and profit of sin do not deserve to be
called fruit. Sinners are but ploughing iniquity, sowing vanity,
and reaping the same. Shame came into the world with sin, and is
still the certain effect of it. The end of sin is death. Though
the way may seem pleasant and inviting, yet it will be
bitterness in the latter end. From this condemnation the
believer is set at liberty, when made free from sin. If the
fruit is unto holiness, if there is an active principle of true
and growing grace, the end will be everlasting life; a very
happy end! Though the way is up-hill, though it is narrow,
thorny, and beset, yet everlasting life at the end of it is
sure. The gift of God is eternal life. And this gift is through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ purchased it, prepared it,
prepares us for it, preserves us to it; he is the All in all in
our salvation.
elievers must die to sin, and live to God. (1,2) This is
urged by their Christian baptism and union with Christ. (3-10)
They are made alive to God. (11-15) And are freed from the
dominion of sin. (16-20) The end of sin is death, and of
holiness everlasting life. (21-23)