Romans 6:1

My Notes

What Does Romans 6:1 Mean?

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" Paul poses the question his teaching inevitably raises: if grace increases where sin increases (Romans 5:20), should we sin more to get more grace? This is the same accusation from Romans 3:8, now addressed directly and at length. Paul's answer in verse 2 is his strongest possible rejection: "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

The question itself reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of grace. Grace isn't a resource that accumulates with sin like a rewards program. Grace is a transformative relationship. To ask "should we sin more for more grace?" is like asking "should I break my spouse's heart more so they can forgive me more?" The question only makes sense if you've completely misunderstood the relationship.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Have you ever caught yourself treating grace as permission rather than transformation?
• 2.Why does the question 'should we sin more for more grace?' reveal a misunderstanding of grace?
• 3.What does it mean to be 'dead to sin' — and does your life reflect that death?
• 4.How does understanding grace as a relationship (not a transaction) change how you approach your own sin?

Devotional

Should we keep sinning so grace gets bigger? Paul's response is the New Testament equivalent of slamming his hand on the table: God forbid. Absolutely not. How can someone who died to sin keep living in it?

This question keeps getting asked because grace keeps being real. If God's grace really is unconditional — if it really covers every sin without exception — then why not sin freely? It's logically consistent. And it's spiritually insane.

Paul's answer isn't a legal argument. It's a relational one. You died. The old you — the one who was enslaved to sin, who had no choice but to keep sinning — that person died with Christ in baptism. You were buried with him. And you were raised as something new. Asking "should I keep sinning?" is like asking a person who was freed from prison "should you move back into your cell?" The cell door is open. Why would you go back?

The problem with the question isn't the logic. It's the heart behind it. If your first response to grace is "great, now I can sin without consequences," you haven't experienced grace. You've experienced a transaction. Real grace doesn't make you want to sin more. It makes you realize that the sin was a prison, and you've been let out.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture