New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Romans 6
2
Not at all! As far as sin is concerned, we are dead. So how can we keep on sinning?
Reference
Parallel theme
Romans 7:6
1 Peter 1:14
Colossians 2:20
Psalm 119:104
References God
Colossians 3:3
Romans 7:4
Galatians 2:19
Galatians 6:14
Sin
1 John 3:9
1 Peter 2:24
3
All of us were baptized into Christ Jesus. Don't you know that we were baptized into his death?
Reference
Baptism
Galatians 3:27
1 Corinthians 12:13
1 Peter 3:21
Acts 2:38
Acts 19:5
Parallel theme
Matthew 28:19
Romans 6:16
Romans 7:1
1 Corinthians 9:13
References Christ
Romans 6:8
4
By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father's glory. And like Christ we also can live a new life.
Reference
Baptism
Romans 6:3
Parallel theme
Colossians 3:10
Romans 7:6
2 Corinthians 13:4
1 John 2:6
References Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17
Resurrection
1 Peter 3:21
Romans 6:9
1 Corinthians 6:14
Romans 8:11
5
By being baptized, we have been joined with him in his death. We will certainly also be joined with him in his resurrection.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 4:10
Isaiah 5:2
Psalm 92:13
Jeremiah 2:21
Matthew 15:13
Resurrection
Colossians 2:12
Colossians 3:1
6
We know that what we used to be was nailed to the cross with him. That happened so our sinful bodies would lose their power. We are no longer slaves of sin.
Reference
Cross
Galatians 2:20
Galatians 6:14
Galatians 5:24
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:22
Colossians 3:5
Romans 8:13
Isaiah 26:13
Sin
Romans 6:12
Romans 6:22
9
We know that Christ was raised from the dead and will never die again. Death doesn't control him anymore.
Reference
10
When he died, he died once and for all time as far as sin is concerned. Now that he lives, he lives as far as God is concerned.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 5:15
References God
1 Peter 4:6
Luke 20:38
Sin
2 Corinthians 5:21
1 Peter 3:18
Romans 6:11
Romans 8:3
11
In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned. Now that you believe in Christ Jesus, consider yourselves to be alive as far as God is concerned.
Reference
Parallel theme
Romans 8:18
References God
1 Corinthians 6:20
References Jesus
Colossians 3:17
John 20:31
1 Peter 2:5
Ephesians 2:7
Romans 5:1
1 Peter 4:11
Sin
Romans 6:2
Romans 6:13
13
Don't give the parts of your body to serve sin. Don't let them be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. Give the parts of your body to him to do what is right.
Reference
Parallel theme
Colossians 3:5
References God
Romans 12:1
1 Peter 4:2
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Corinthians 6:15
Righteousness
Romans 6:16
1 Peter 2:24
1 John 1:9
Sin
Romans 7:5
Colossians 2:13
14
Sin will not be your master. Law does not rule you. God's grace has set you free.
Reference
Grace
John 1:17
Romans 11:6
Parallel theme
John 8:36
Romans 8:12
Sin
Romans 6:12
Matthew 1:21
Word
Romans 8:2
Galatians 5:18
Hebrews 8:10
Galatians 3:23
15
What should we say then? Should we sin because we are not ruled by law but by God's grace? Not at all!
Reference
16
Don't you know that when you give yourselves to obey someone you become that person's slave? You can be slaves of sin. Then you will die. Or you can be slaves who obey God. Then you will live a godly life.
Reference
17
You used to be slaves of sin. But thank God that with your whole heart you obeyed the teachings you were given!
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Peter 2:9
2 Timothy 1:13
Romans 15:18
3 John 1:3
Hebrews 5:9
References God
Romans 16:26
Romans 1:8
2 Corinthians 2:14
Acts 11:18
Philemon 1:4
18
You have been set free from sin. You have become slaves to right living.
Reference
Creation
Romans 6:22
Galatians 5:1
Romans 8:2
Parallel theme
John 8:32
Isaiah 26:13
Psalm 119:32
Righteousness
Isaiah 54:17
Sin
Romans 6:14
Romans 6:7
1 Peter 2:16
19
Because you are human, you find this hard to understand. So I have said it in a way that will help you understand it. You used to give the parts of your body to be slaves to unclean living. You were becoming more and more evil. Now give your bodies to be slaves to right living. Then you will become holy.
Reference
20
Once you were slaves of sin. At that time right living did not control you.
Reference
Sin
John 8:34
21
What benefit did you gain from doing the things you are now ashamed of? Those things lead to death!
Reference
22
You have been set free from sin. God has made you his slaves. The benefit you gain leads to holy living. And the end result is eternal life.
Reference
Creation
Romans 6:18
Romans 8:2
Parallel theme
John 8:32
1 Corinthians 7:22
1 Peter 1:9
Isaiah 54:17
Galatians 5:13
References God
Galatians 1:10
Sin
1 Peter 2:16
Romans 6:14
Summary of Romans 6
Romans 6 explains that God's grace is not permission to continue living in sin, because people who have placed their faith in Christ have been united with His death and resurrection and are therefore called to live as people who have begun a completely new life.
Paul uses baptism as a picture of this change, explaining that believers are symbolically buried with Christ and raised with Him so that the old life controlled by sin is replaced by a new life devoted to God.
He teaches that Christ's resurrection means death no longer has authority over Him, and believers should therefore see themselves as dead to sin but alive to God, refusing to let sinful desires control their bodies, decisions, and actions.
Paul then uses the familiar picture of slavery to explain that everyone ultimately serves something, because people can either obey sin, which leads toward death, or obey God, which leads toward righteousness and a life of holiness.
The Christian's freedom is therefore not simply freedom to do whatever they want; it is freedom from sin's control so that they can willingly serve God and live in a way that reflects His character.
Paul reminds the Romans that their former sinful lives produced shame and death, while their new life under God's grace produces holiness and ultimately eternal life.
The chapter ends with a simple but powerful contrast: sin gives what it earns—death—but God gives what people could never earn for themselves—eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Historical Context
Romans 6 was written around AD 56–58, when Paul was explaining the meaning of God's grace to Christians in Rome.
One important reason Paul addresses this subject is that his teaching about salvation by grace could be misunderstood.
Someone might ask, "If God forgives sin because of grace, why not keep sinning so that God can show even more grace?"
Paul's answer is an emphatic rejection of that idea, because God's grace does not simply change a person's legal standing before God; it also begins changing the person's relationship with sin.
Paul's references to slavery and freedom would have been especially powerful in Roman society because slavery was widespread throughout the Roman Empire, and people understood the idea of being controlled by a master.
Paul uses this familiar picture to explain that sin can act like a master, but Christians have been released from that control so that they can belong to God.
Baptism was also already an established Christian practice in the first century, and Paul uses its picture of burial and rising to explain the believer's identification with Christ's death and resurrection.
The central message of Romans 6 is that grace changes how believers live.
Being forgiven does not mean that sin no longer matters; instead, God's grace gives believers a new identity and a new direction, allowing them to stop treating sin as their master and begin offering their lives to God.
Paul presents Christian life as a movement from slavery to freedom, death to life, sin to righteousness, and shame to holiness.
The final message is especially clear: sin leads to death, but God's gift through Jesus Christ leads to eternal life.
Paul uses baptism as a picture of this change, explaining that believers are symbolically buried with Christ and raised with Him so that the old life controlled by sin is replaced by a new life devoted to God.
He teaches that Christ's resurrection means death no longer has authority over Him, and believers should therefore see themselves as dead to sin but alive to God, refusing to let sinful desires control their bodies, decisions, and actions.
Paul then uses the familiar picture of slavery to explain that everyone ultimately serves something, because people can either obey sin, which leads toward death, or obey God, which leads toward righteousness and a life of holiness.
The Christian's freedom is therefore not simply freedom to do whatever they want; it is freedom from sin's control so that they can willingly serve God and live in a way that reflects His character.
Paul reminds the Romans that their former sinful lives produced shame and death, while their new life under God's grace produces holiness and ultimately eternal life.
The chapter ends with a simple but powerful contrast: sin gives what it earns—death—but God gives what people could never earn for themselves—eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Historical Context
Romans 6 was written around AD 56–58, when Paul was explaining the meaning of God's grace to Christians in Rome.
One important reason Paul addresses this subject is that his teaching about salvation by grace could be misunderstood.
Someone might ask, "If God forgives sin because of grace, why not keep sinning so that God can show even more grace?"
Paul's answer is an emphatic rejection of that idea, because God's grace does not simply change a person's legal standing before God; it also begins changing the person's relationship with sin.
Paul's references to slavery and freedom would have been especially powerful in Roman society because slavery was widespread throughout the Roman Empire, and people understood the idea of being controlled by a master.
Paul uses this familiar picture to explain that sin can act like a master, but Christians have been released from that control so that they can belong to God.
Baptism was also already an established Christian practice in the first century, and Paul uses its picture of burial and rising to explain the believer's identification with Christ's death and resurrection.
The central message of Romans 6 is that grace changes how believers live.
Being forgiven does not mean that sin no longer matters; instead, God's grace gives believers a new identity and a new direction, allowing them to stop treating sin as their master and begin offering their lives to God.
Paul presents Christian life as a movement from slavery to freedom, death to life, sin to righteousness, and shame to holiness.
The final message is especially clear: sin leads to death, but God's gift through Jesus Christ leads to eternal life.