In Romans 6, the apostle Paul is not teaching that Christians will no longer sin in this life or even that Christians won’t struggle with sin. But rather, true Christians, those who have repented of their sin and trusted in Christ, are no longer enslaved to sin and willingly continue to practice it or to live in such an unrepentant pattern of it.

If you are a true Christian, the pursuit of holiness ought to mark and characterize your life. According to Romans 6, part of the pursuit of holiness is to understand that sin no longer has reign and dominion over you. In fact, the apostle Paul makes clear that if you have believed in Jesus Christ, sin is no longer the master of your life; it no longer rules your life.

In Romans 6, Paul teaches that this union happens through baptism—but He isn’t describing water baptism. Instead, he teaches that believers are united to Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

According to the apostle Paul, the historical reality of Christ’s death and resurrection is directly connected to the believer’s new life in Christ. Just as Christ died and was buried, so too the Christian also experienced death—death to sin.

God’s word in Romans chapter 6 makes a clear case that all unbelievers are slaves to their own sin—and on their own, they are unable to break free from its chains and shackles. In fact, no one or no thing can break them free, apart from Jesus Christ and His gospel.

The Scripture teaches that we as Christians can have assurance of salvation based on our new relationship and view of sin. Do you hate your sin and seek to flee from its influence at all costs? Or, do you love it and find ways to delight in it?

In Romans 6, the apostle Paul makes clear that genuine believers are those who not only claim the name of Christ but also despise and hate their sin. As Paul writes in the opening to Romans 6, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”