Romans 6:1-2: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” [(Modern Bible translation): “So, should we continue sinning to receive more of God’s grace? Absolutely not! Since we have already died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?”] The phrase “to make grace abound” should be understood in connection with what is said in Romans 5:20, “… where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” This verse means that the grace which leads to eternal life (v. 21) overflowed through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul told the Roman Christians that they should not continue sinning in order to receive more grace (6:1, Modern Bible translation). In other words, Paul was saying that we should not continue sinning with the purpose of receiving more grace that leads to eternal life. Paul said, “Certainly not,” meaning that it is absolutely impossible (v. 2). The reason is that we have already died to sin (v. 2).

Romans 6:3-4: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” [(Modern Bible translation): “Do you not know that those of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”] How did we die to sin? We died to sin because we were united with Christ Jesus (v. 3). In Romans 6:1-11, the word “united” appears 10 times: “joined” (3 times), “united with” (2 times), “together” (4 times), and “in” (1 time). The doctrine of “union” is one of the most important teachings in the Bible.

For example, in Romans 7:4, it says: “Therefore, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” Here, the “another” refers to Jesus Christ. And this Jesus Christ is the One who was raised from the dead (v. 4). The phrase “go to” Jesus Christ means that, as the bride of the church, we are united with Him, the bridegroom.

John 15:1, 5: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser... I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me, you can do nothing." Jesus Christ is the "true vine," God the Father is the "vinedresser," and we are the "branches." As branches, we cannot do anything unless we are "united" with the true vine, which is Jesus Christ (v. 5). Just as the vine and the branches are united, so are Christ and we united.

Ephesians 1:22-23: "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Jesus Christ is the "head of the church," and the church is the "body of Christ." In other words, Jesus Christ and the church are united and have become one.

Romans 6:3: "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" We have not only died with Christ, but we have also been "buried" with Him (v. 4). Here, "buried" means completely dead. In other words, when Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, we were also buried with Him. What is the purpose of this?

Romans 6:4 (second part): "... that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." [(Modern version) "... this is so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too may live in newness of life."] The Father God raised Christ from the dead by His glory (v. 4). Here, "the glory of the Father" refers to the power of God. And the power of God the Father is the highest power. God the Father did not raise Jesus Christ from the dead by the same power with which He created the heavens and the earth, but with a far greater, supreme power. This supreme power raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Because God raised Him, we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Here, "from the dead" means that as Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, we, who were "dead" in our sins, that is, those who are in Christ, also have been resurrected. In other words, because God, by His supreme power, raised Jesus Christ from the dead, we, who were dead in Christ, have also been made alive. Since Jesus, the firstfruits, rose from the dead, we too will rise again.

The purpose for which God raised Christ from the dead by His supreme power is so that we also may walk in newness of life (v. 4). Just as Jesus died, we died; just as Jesus was buried, we were buried; but just as God raised Jesus by His supreme power, we too have been raised. And the purpose is so that we may walk in newness of life.

When we think of "life," we must consider that in Genesis, the first human, Adam, became a "living soul" (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:45). This "living soul" could have chosen not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or he could have eaten from it. In other words, a "living soul" could have chosen not to sin, but he also could have chosen to sin. However, Adam disobeyed God's command and ate from the tree, and he sinned. The result was death. Like the first Adam, we became sinners and died in our trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). But God made us alive. He gave us new life. We have become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have been born again.

This new life is different from the "eternal life" spoken of in Romans 5:21. The new life is one in which we can still sin, but we must not sin. Those who have new life can still sin, but they will not be condemned. If we repent, we will be forgiven. However, we must not keep sinning. Yet, we still end up sinning.

We must walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). We are to live for God's glory, doing what is right. Let's look at Philippians 2:12-13: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." [(Modern Translation) "Dear friends, therefore, continue working out your salvation with fear and trembling, not only when I am with you but even more now that I am absent. God is at work in you, enabling you to act according to His good will."]

We, who have been justified by faith in Jesus Christ, must continue to work out our salvation. God, who works within us, puts the desire and enables us to act according to His will. Therefore, we must be progressively sanctified and become more like Jesus. We have received this grace, so we must deeply meditate on it and be filled with grace.

Our problem is sin. However, there is no sin in heaven. Look at Revelation 21:4: "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." [(Modern Translation) "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. For the former things have passed away."]

In heaven, there will only be the best, the highest good. There will be living water, a river of life, God will be there, and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, will be there. The Lord will give us the crown of righteousness and the crown of life.

The hymn 610 from the new hymnal, "After All the Trials and Toils" goes as follows:

(Verse 1)
After all the trials and toils are done,
When I rest in the bright heaven's light,
With the Lord by my side, I will live,
And forever shine in glory.

(Verse 2)
By the Lord’s boundless grace, I reach that house,
Where I will see Him face to face,
And forever shine in glory.

(Verse 3)
When I meet those who went before me,
My heart will be filled with joy,
And the Lord will greet me,
And forever shine in glory.

(Chorus)
Glory, glory,
The glory that I will inherit,
I will see His face by grace,
The highest glory, my glory! Amen.