“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.” Rom 6:6-7 

Footsteps #311. From Paul’s perspective in Rom.6:6, people who have been crucified with Christ will not have the slightest desire to live a life of sin. Not only are they dead to sin, but, as Paul repeatedly asserts, they are alive to the ways of Christ. They will want to do everything possible to live the ways of God.  

We are no longer slaves to sin. Slavery is an important word in Romans. (C.f.Rom.1:1.) In the second half of chapter 6, Paul contrasts those who are slaves to sin with those who are slaves to righteousness. But here the apostle claims that Christians are those who have voluntarily allowed God to crucify their “old self” so that they will no longer be dominated by the enslaving, despotic power of sin. 

What does it mean to be a slave to sin? I think of the substance abuser who has to have a daily fix no matter how it damages mental or physical health or how much it costs and who has to be robbed to supply the money. I think of the over-achiever, the workaholic, who can’t sit still, who must continue to push with everything available in the hope that someone will feed his or her ego with praise. I think of the person enslaved to materialism. Busy, busy, busy. Busy for what? You can only drive so many cars, wear so many dresses, eat only so much food, enjoy only so many houses. 

Addictions stand at the heart of much human activity. Ask some people why they are doing something, and they will look at you blankly without an answer. They just know that they are “driven” to do this or that. Paul would use the word “enslaved’. Rom.6:6-7 speaks to such situations and individuals. Those who have been crucified with Christ are those who are in union with Him, they have broken their ties with Adam, they have been justified and reconciled to God, and are “no longer slaves to sin.” Paul has personified sin as a despotic ruler that assumes full control over those who have not died with Christ to its power. 

That is a pretty accurate description of anyone addicted to various forms of self-destructive activities. But the good news is that the power (Grk dunamis – dynamite) of God’s grace can release from bondage those who are crucified with Christ. They no longer need to be ruled by sin.