Romans 6:1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Romans 6:1
Paul anticipates a possible objection: if grace increases freedom to sin, should we keep sinning so grace can abound? He asks a rhetorical question to challenge a misunderstanding of grace. The correct answer: no. The idea of God’s grace being limitless does not license continuing in sin; rather, it calls believers to a new posture toward sin because they are united with Christ in death and resurrection. The rest of Romans 6 will develop the logic: believers are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. The cultural context includes debates about law, freedom, and moral behavior in the early Christian communities, where some argued that grace nullified moral obligation. Paul redirects: belonging to Christ transforms the entire life.
This verse marks the hinge toward sanctification in Romans. It reframes the believer’s identity and moral responsibilities in light of union with Christ. Grace does not erase ethical obligation; it empowers genuine r ighteousness and a transformed life. It also rejects antinomianism, insisting that freedom from sin is not freedom to sin, but freedom to live for God.
How should we live? Not as permitted sinners, but as those who have died to sin. Practical steps: when tempted, remember you’ve died to that pattern; pursue holiness in small choices—speaking kindly, resisting greed, choosing purity. Participate in community accountability, baptismal memory, and regular confession to reinforce your new identity. Let grace fuel disciplined living rather than license.
Cross-References: Galatians 5:13; Romans 8:12-14; Colossians 3:5-10; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:14-16