Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 6:2

"God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?" — Romans 6:2 (ASV)

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

The grace of God makes us dead to sin. This is the grace of God, which delivers us from the power of evil, and if this is so, how can we live any longer in it?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Now, he goes on by an argument to prove that those in whom the grace of God has worked the wondrous change cannot possibly choose sin, nor live in it.

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

The whole spirit of the gospel is opposed to the idea of sinning because God is gracious. It is a horrible Satanic suggestion—"As pardon can be so easily obtained from God, let us sin the more against him." The mere suggestion is utterly degrading and diabolical. It is to be rejected at once.

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

The two terms are exactly opposite to one another. If, through grace, we are dead to sin, how can we live in it? If, sinners as we are, we come to Christ to be saved from sin, then it would be a complete misuse of language to talk of being saved from sin, yet still to continue in it. Besides, the apostle goes on to show that the ordinance, by which believers in Jesus are admitted into the visible Christian Church, will not permit them to continue in sin.