Deep Dive into Dead to Sin, Alive to God: Union with Christ and the Shape of Sanctification (Romans 6)

Paul's argument in Romans 6 establishes that salvation is a decisive realm-transfer accomplished through the believer's union with the crucified and risen Christ. This theological shift grounds the call to sanctification, refuting the antinomian inference that grace licenses continued sin. Paul adopts the diatribe form to anticipate and disarm this "false logic," answering rhetorical questions with reasoned exposition that moves from indicative (fact) to imperative (duty).

The transfer moves the believer from the realm "under law"—the condemning administration where sin reigns and the ultimate wage is death—to the realm "under grace," which is the new-covenant dominion of royal power that liberates and empowers the saints. This dominion guarantees that "sin shall not lord it over you" ($\text{ou kyrieusei}$).

Union with Christ, publicly signified by baptism, effectuates definitive sanctification: the "old man" (Adamic identity) was crucified, breaking sin's dominion (rendering the "body of sin... powerless"), and legally justifying the believer from sin's claim ($\text{dedikaiōtai apo tēs hamartias}$). Because the risen Christ "no longer dies," His victory is shared, supplying the resurrection power needed for holy living.

To live in light of this new reality, Paul issues three coordinated imperatives, known as the sanctification cadence: Know, Reckon, and Present. First, the believer must Know (comprehend) the facts of co-crucifixion and co-resurrection. Second, they must actively Reckon ($\text{logizesthē}$) this verdict true—the "arithmetic of faith"—as an ongoing act against temptation. Third, they must Present ($\text{parastēsate}$) their members to God in a decisive, priestly consecration, deploying them as "weapons of righteousness".

This life of holiness, or "fruit unto sanctification" ($\text{eis hagiasmon}$), is the fitting response to the transfer. The ultimate $\text{telos}$ (end) of this new allegiance is eternal life ($\text{zōē aiōnios}$), which stands as the "free gift of God" ($\text{charisma tou Theou}$) in sharp contrast to the earned "wages of sin" (death). Holiness is therefore the inevitable fruit of the gift, not the means of earning it.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

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