Romans 6
Buried and raised in baptism
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Read
What does it say?
This is a plain-language guide, not a translation. Check it against the Bible text any time.
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The whole chapter, in shortThe main points of the whole chapter, in a few sentences.
Paul asks, "Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?" and answers, "Certainly not!" Everyone baptized into Christ was baptized into his death, buried with him, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too may walk in newness of life. Sin is no longer our master, because we are under grace. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Where it is in the Bible: Romans 6
All the sections at a glanceA map of the chapter, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Letter
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shall We Keep Sinning? | 6:1-2 | Certainly not! |
| 2. Buried and Raised | 6:3-11 | In baptism we died and rose with Christ |
| 3. Don't Let Sin Rule | 6:12-14 | We are under grace, not law |
| 4. Slaves Set Free | 6:15-23 | Sin pays death, God gives life |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. Paul, writing to the Christians in Rome around AD 57.
What came before. In chapter 5, Paul said, "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (5:20). God's grace is bigger than all our sin.
What this chapter is. Paul answers a question someone was bound to ask: if grace covers all sin, why not keep sinning? His answer goes straight to baptism.
How to read it. Notice the pairs: death and life, slaves and free, wages and gift.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 4Shall We Keep Sinning?
"What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?" (6:1).
Some people thought: if God loves to forgive, let's give him more to forgive.
"Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?" (6:2).
Section 2 of 4Buried and Raised
"Or aren't you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (6:3).
In baptism, God joined us to Jesus. His death became our death.
"We 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 walk in newness of life" (6:4).
Our old self was crucified with him. Sin is no longer our master.
Jesus rose and can never die again. "Death no longer has dominion over Him" (6:9).
Dominion means power to rule.
"So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (6:11).
Section 3 of 4Don't Let Sin Rule
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires" (6:12).
Give yourself to God instead, as people brought from death to life.
"For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace" (6:14).
Section 4 of 4Slaves Set Free
Paul uses a picture everyone in Rome knew: slavery. Everyone serves someone.
Once they served sin. Now they have been set free from sin to serve God and what is right.
Serving sin brought shame and death. Serving God leads to a holy life and, in the end, eternal life.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (6:23).
Wages are earned. A gift is not.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Certainly not!" (6:2) | Grace is never permission to sin. |
| "Baptized into His death" (6:3) | Baptism joins us to Jesus's death and rising. |
| "Newness of life" (6:4) | Baptized people get a brand-new life. |
| "Dead to sin, but alive to God" (6:11) | Sin no longer owns us. God does. |
| "Not under law, but under grace" (6:14) | We live by God's gift, not by trying to earn his love. |
| "The wages of sin is death" (6:23) | Sin pays what it owes: death. |
| "The gift of God is eternal life" (6:23) | God gives what we could never earn. |
Back Then
Slavery was everywhere in Rome. Many of the first Christians were slaves or former slaves. Paul's picture would have hit home.
Early baptisms often happened in rivers or pools, with people going under the water and coming up again, like being buried and raised.
Wages were often paid to soldiers in money and food.
Literal Reader Alert
Does Paul approve of slavery? No. He uses a picture his readers knew. His point is that we all serve something, and God sets us free from sin.
Will Christians stop sinning completely? Not in this life (see 7:15-25). But sin is no longer our master, and we fight it as people who belong to God.
Is baptism just a sign? Lutherans believe baptism is God's work. In it, God joins us to Jesus's death and resurrection, as Paul says here.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Believers | Free | They have been set free from sin (6:18) |
| Believers | Ashamed | Of the old things they used to do (6:21) |
| Believers | Thankful | Thanks be to God (6:17) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What part of this chapter speaks to you? Tap one.
I keep messing up
Sin is not your master. You are under grace.
I was baptized
You were buried and raised with Jesus. You have new life.
I'm tired of trying to earn it
Eternal life is a gift, not wages.
I'm afraid of dying
Death no longer rules over Jesus, and you belong to him.
You Might Have Heard
"If God forgives everything, it doesn't matter how I live."
What's true: God's forgiveness is complete and free.
What the passage is mainly about: Paul says "Certainly not!" (6:2). In baptism we died to sin and rose to new life. People who are free don't run back to their chains.
Where Jesus is: He died and rose, and in baptism we are joined to him.
Good News
Sin pays a terrible wage. But God gives a gift.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (6:23).
In baptism, you were buried with Jesus and raised to new life. You belong to God now.
In baptism we died and rose with Christ. Sin is not our master. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Big Idea
In baptism we were buried with Christ and raised to new life. Sin is no longer our master. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
If this chapter brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
In the Small Catechism, Luther quotes Romans 6:4 to explain what baptism means for daily life. He says the old Adam in us should be drowned every day by sorrow and repentance, and a new person should come up every day to live before God.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year A, it reads Romans 6 on two Sundays in late June (Lectionary 12 and 13). Many churches also read Romans 6:3-11 at the Easter Vigil.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 12 Year ASecond reading, Romans 6:1b-11
- Lectionary 13 Year ASecond reading, Romans 6:12-23
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Romans 6, explained in plain words. If grace covers all sin, why not keep sinning? Paul's answer goes straight to baptism. About 9 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/romans-6/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church