Romans 6

In Romans 6, Paul addresses grace and how Jesus has freed us from the power of sin. Christianity can be summed up with one word: grace. Without Christ, we were all headed toward death because of our sinful desires. No amount of laws or punishments could truly stop us. At best, they made us pause. Often, we still chose sin, hoping we would not get caught.

Paul even confronts the dangerous idea that grace could be used as a free pass to sin, as if the cross were a “get out of jail free” card. He makes it clear that this mindset completely misunderstands grace. Treating Christ’s sacrifice as permission to sin is not freedom. It is a rejection of what the cross truly means.

When grace is genuinely received, it does not make sin easier. It makes sin harder. Grace changes our desires. It reshapes our allegiance.

Paul explains this shift using the language of slavery. Before Christ, we were slaves to sin. After Christ, we become servants of righteousness. The imagery is strong and intentional. Another way to picture this is being shackled or tethered. Before grace, we were bound to sin, unable to escape its pull. Through Christ, the chains are unlocked. We are no longer forced to obey sin. We are free to choose righteousness.

Freedom in Christ is real, but it is not neutral. Everyone is bound to something. Grace changes what holds us.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Summary (Romans 6:1–23)

Verses 1–4
Paul teaches that believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Because of this union, we have died to sin and are called to live a new life.

Verses 5–11
Through Christ’s resurrection, sin no longer has authority over us. Its dominion has been broken.

Verses 12–18
Believers are instructed not to submit to sinful desires, but to offer themselves as instruments of righteousness.

Verses 19–23
Paul contrasts two kinds of bondage. We were once slaves to sin, which led to death. Now we are servants of righteousness, which leads to holiness and eternal life.

Reflection

Grace is not a license to sin. It is power to resist it.

Paul’s image of slavery highlights how deeply sin once held us and how complete Christ’s work truly is. Thinking of sin as something we were “shackled” to makes the transformation clearer. Grace does not excuse sin. It breaks its chains.

Remembering the cost of the cross strengthens resolve when temptation appears. Christ did not die to leave us unchanged. He died to set us free.

Freedom in Christ brings responsibility, not indulgence.

Application / Takeaway

• Live with gratitude for grace, not presumption. Do not cheapen what Christ paid for.
• When tempted, remember the cross and the cost of your freedom.
• Actively pursue righteousness instead of drifting back toward old habits.
• Regularly ask whether your actions reflect freedom or bondage.

Next Level / Something to Think About

Paul’s language of slavery challenges our allegiance. Everyone serves something. The question is what holds authority in your life.

How does your daily behavior show that you are tethered to righteousness rather than sin?

Grace is not only pardon. It is power. Are you allowing that power to shape how you live, think, and respond to temptation?