Matthew Henry Commentary Romans 6

The apostle is very thorough in stressing the necessity of holiness. He does not explain away the free grace of the gospel, but he shows that the connection between justification and holiness is inseparable. Let the thought of continuing in sin so that grace may abound be abhorred.

True believers are dead to sin; therefore, they ought not to follow it. No one can be both dead and alive at the same time. He is a fool who, desiring to be dead to sin, thinks he can live in it.

Baptism teaches the necessity of dying to sin, and being, so to speak, buried from all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of rising to walk with God in newness of life. Unholy professors may have had the outward sign of a death to sin and a new birth to righteousness, but they never passed from the family of Satan to that of God.

The corrupt nature (called the 'old man' because it is derived from our first father Adam) is crucified with Christ in every true believer by the grace derived from the cross. It is weakened and in a dying state, though it still struggles for life and even for victory. But the whole body of sin—whatever is not according to the holy law of God—must be done away with, so that the believer may no longer be the slave of sin, but live to God and find happiness in His service.

The strongest motives against sin, and for promoting holiness, are stated here. Having been made free from the reign of sin, alive to God, and possessing the prospect of eternal life, it is fitting for believers to be greatly concerned with advancing toward it. However, since unholy lusts are not entirely rooted out in this life, Christians must be careful to resist their impulses, earnestly striving, so that through Divine grace these impulses do not prevail in this mortal life.

Let the thought that this mortal life will soon end encourage the true Christian regarding the impulses of lusts, which so often perplex and distress him. Let us present all our faculties to God as weapons or tools ready for the warfare and work of righteousness, in his service. There is strength in the covenant of grace for us.

Sin shall not have dominion. God's promises to us are more powerful and effective for mortifying sin than our promises to God. Sin may struggle in a real believer and cause him a great deal of trouble, but it shall not have dominion; it may vex him, but it shall not rule over him. Should anyone use this encouraging doctrine as an excuse to allow themselves in the practice of any sin?

Let such abominable thoughts be far from us—so contrary to the perfections of God and the purpose of his gospel, and so opposed to being under grace. What can be a stronger motive against sin than the love of Christ? Shall we sin against so much goodness and such love?

Every man is the servant of the master to whose commands he yields himself; whether it is the sinful dispositions of his heart, in actions which lead to death, or the new and spiritual obedience implanted by regeneration.

The apostle rejoiced that they now obeyed from the heart the gospel, into which they were delivered as into a mold. As the same metal becomes a new vessel when melted and recast in another mold, so the believer has become a new creature.

And there is a great difference in the liberty of mind and spirit—so opposite to the state of slavery—that the true Christian has in the service of his rightful Lord, whom he is enabled to consider as his Father, and himself as his son and heir, by the adoption of grace. The dominion of sin consists in being willingly slaves to it, not in being harassed by it as a hated power, struggling for victory. Those who are now the servants of God once were the slaves of sin.

The pleasure and profit of sin do not deserve to be called fruit. Sinners are merely ploughing iniquity, sowing vanity, and reaping the same. Shame came into the world with sin, and is still the certain effect of it.

The end of sin is death. Though the way may seem pleasant and inviting, yet it will be bitterness in the end. From this condemnation the believer is set at liberty, when made free from sin.

If the fruit leads to holiness, if there is an active principle of true and growing grace, the end will be everlasting life; a very happy end! Though the way is up-hill, though it is narrow, thorny, and beset, yet everlasting life at the end of it is sure.

The gift of God is eternal life. And this gift is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Christ purchased it, prepared it, prepares us for it, preserves us for it; he is the All in all in our salvation.