1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Should we take advantage of God's grace by continuing to sin??
By no means, says Paul
God's forgiveness of our sin should not become an excuse for careless, worldly living.
v.3 In the church of Paul's day, immersion was the usual form of baptism - that is, new Christians were completely "buried" in water. They understood this form of baptism to symbolize the death and burial of the old way of life. Coming up out of the water symbolized resurrection to new life with Christ. If we think of our old, sinful life as dead and buried, we have a powerful motive to resist sin.
I love the thought of being united with Him in his death and resurrection. My love of sin died with him. Now I am united by faith with him in his resurrected life and I have unbroken fellowship with God and freedom from sin's hold. I am no longer a slave to sin, but have chosen to live for Christ.
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