Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Romans 6:10

"For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God." — Romans 6:10 (ASV)

Union with Christ continues to be the theme here, but attention shifts from its effect on the problem of sin to a consideration of its bearing on the problem of death. Consequently, resurrection comes into focus. Though there is considerable similarity with the close of v.4, the note of futurity (“we will also live with him”) makes it apparent that future bodily resurrection is now in view. For a brief time, death as the executor of sin held the Savior, but not for long. Since he was not guilty of personal sin, death had no right to hold him indefinitely (Acts 2:24). Likewise, it had no right to call him again to the experience of death. Once having been raised from the dead, our Lord is alive for ever and ever (Revelation 1:18).

It was important for Paul to emphasize this truth, for believers must have full confidence that the captain of their salvation will never again come under the power of sin and death. If they lack that assurance, the teaching about union with Christ will be of little help to them. “He died to sin once for all.” In his risen life our Lord is set free to resume his face-to-face fellowship with God and his preoccupation with the consummation of God’s eternal purpose. In this respect he presents a pattern for believers in their expectation of the future and also in their motivation for life in the present time (2 Corinthians 5:15).