Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 6:8

Albert Barnes Commentary

Romans 6:8

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Romans 6:8

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;" — Romans 6:8 (ASV)

Verses 8-11 are a confirmation and illustration of what the apostle had said before, Romans 6:5–7. The argument is that as Christ was once dead but now lives to God, and will no more die, so we, being dead to sin but living to God, should not obey sin but should live only to God.

Now if we are dead with Christ. If we are dead in a manner similar to his death; if we are made dead to sin by his work, as he was dead in the grave. See Barnes on Romans 6:4.

We believe. All Christians. It is an article of our faith. This does not refer to the future world so much as to the present. It becomes an article of our belief that we are to live with Christ.

That we shall also live with him. This does not refer primarily to the resurrection and to the future state, but to the present. We hold it as an article of our faith, that we shall be alive with Christ. As he was raised up from death, so we shall be raised from the death of sin. As he lives, so we shall live in holiness. We are in fact raised up here and, as it were, made alive to him. This is not confined, however, to the present life; but as Christ lives forever, so the apostle goes on to show that we shall.