Romans 6:15 kjv
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 6:15 nkjv
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
Romans 6:15 niv
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!
Romans 6:15 esv
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
Romans 6:15 nlt
Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!
Romans 6 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 6:1-2 | What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?... | Contextual rebuttal to the idea of abusing grace. |
| Rom 6:14 | For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but... | Direct preceding verse establishing freedom from sin's rule. |
| Rom 3:31 | Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary... | Paul's emphatic defense of the law's validity in light of faith. |
| Gal 5:13 | For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom... | Warning against using Christian liberty as an excuse for sin. |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain people have crept in unnoticed... who pervert the grace of... | Historical warning against those who twist grace into immorality. |
| 1 Jn 3:6 | No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning... | The reality that true believers do not habitually practice sin. |
| Tit 2:11-12 | For the grace of God has appeared... training us to renounce ungodliness... | Grace's true purpose: teaching and empowering believers to live righteously. |
| 2 Pet 2:19 | They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption... | False teachers promising freedom but leading to spiritual bondage. |
| Mat 5:17-18 | Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets... | Jesus upholding the divine intent of the Law, not destroying it. |
| Rom 8:4 | ...in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled... | The Spirit enables believers to fulfill the law's righteous demands. |
| Rom 7:6 | But now we are released from the law, having died to what held us captive... | Freed from law to serve in the new way of the Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 6:9-11 | Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? | List of sins that exclude from kingdom; contrast with cleansing by Christ. |
| Eph 2:8-10 | For by grace you have been saved through faith... created in Christ Jesus... | Grace saves us for good works, not from them. |
| Jas 2:17 | So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | Faith that doesn't produce action is incomplete. |
| Phil 2:12-13 | ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who... | God works in believers, empowering them to live righteously. |
| Psa 119:1-3 | Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! | The blessedness of walking in God's commands. |
| Heb 10:26-27 | For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the... | Serious consequences for willful, continuous sin. |
| 1 Jn 1:9 | If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins... | Grace provides forgiveness, not permission to sin. |
| Rom 5:20-21 | Now the law came in to increase the trespass... grace might reign through... | Grace superabounds sin, reigning through righteousness. |
| Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ... | Our identification with Christ changes our old life of sin. |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one... | The necessity of pursuing holiness in Christian life. |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | ...as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct... | God's call for believers to mirror His holiness. |
Romans 6 verses
Romans 6 15 Meaning
Romans 6:15 presents a critical rhetorical question and its immediate, emphatic rejection, serving as a powerful counter-argument to a common misconception about the nature of God's grace. Paul anticipates that some might infer from being "not under law but under grace" that it grants license to sin. The verse adamantly denies this, asserting that freedom from the law does not lead to lawlessness but to an empowered life of righteousness, fundamentally anchored in new spiritual reality.
Romans 6 15 Context
Romans 6:15 is an integral part of Paul's extended theological argument in the Book of Romans, specifically within the sixth chapter, which addresses the profound implications of a believer's identification with Christ. Following his exposition on justification by faith in Chapters 3-5, Paul tackles the logical—and often historical—misconception that God's abounding grace (introduced in 5:20-21) could encourage further sin. In Romans 6:1-14, Paul first answers the question, "Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?" with an emphatic "By no means!" He elaborates that believers have died to sin's dominion through baptism, are raised to new life in Christ, and are no longer enslaved to sin. Instead, they are to present themselves to God as instruments of righteousness. Verse 15 picks up on this theme by re-framing the potential objection, focusing specifically on the believer's status as "not under law but under grace," directly leading into the discussion of slavery to righteousness in verses 16-23. The historical context reflects a struggle within early Christianity to properly understand the balance between grace, faith, and moral living, avoiding both legalism and antinomianism. Paul is combating a mindset that might see grace as permission for license.
Romans 6 15 Word analysis
- What then? (Gk. Ti oun? τί οὖν;)
- This is a common Pauline rhetorical device. It signals a new turn in the argument, anticipating an objection or clarifying a potential misunderstanding stemming from previous statements (such as in Rom 6:14). It directly connects the next question to the prior truth, seeking to address logical conclusions that some might wrongly draw.
- Are we to sin...? (Gk. hamartanōmen? ἁμαρτάνωμεν;)
- The Greek verb is in the present active subjunctive, indicating an ongoing or habitual action. The question is not about an isolated act of sin but about the practice of sin, implying "Are we to continue to sin?" or "Should we keep on sinning regularly?" It reflects the idea of adopting a lifestyle of sin, suggesting a deliberate and prolonged engagement with sin.
- ...because we are not under law (Gk. hoti ouk esmen hypo nomon ὅτι οὐκ ἐσμὲν ὑπὸ νόμον)
- "Not under law" refers to the Mosaic Law as a system for salvation or justification. Believers are no longer obligated to fulfill the law perfectly to earn salvation. Paul differentiates this from the moral demands of God, which still apply. It means liberation from the penalty and the curse of the law (Gal 3:10, 13), not freedom from its moral instruction.
- but under grace? (Gk. alla hypo charin? ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ χάριν;)
- "Under grace" means being under the reign of God's undeserved favor, which empowers righteousness and provides forgiveness through Christ. It describes a new covenant relationship characterized by God's provision, mercy, and transformative power working within the believer. It is the opposite of being under a legalistic system, where one is constantly judged by adherence to rules.
- By no means! (Gk. Mē genoito! Μὴ γένοιτο!)
- This is one of Paul's strongest negative repudiations in the Greek New Testament. It is an emphatic exclamation of abhorrence, used multiple times in Romans (e.g., 3:4, 3:6, 3:31, 6:2, 6:15, 7:7, 9:14, 11:1, 11:11). It conveys an absolute and utterly firm rejection of the proposed idea, translating to "Certainly not!" "God forbid!", or "May it never happen!" It signals that the suggestion is so preposterous that it doesn't even deserve rational debate; it is unthinkable.
Romans 6 15 Bonus section
The rhetorical device Ti oun (What then?) used by Paul is not merely a question; it's a sophisticated tool to lead his audience, whether Jewish or Gentile, through a series of logical deductions, anticipating their potential objections and offering counter-arguments. It often signals a move from a general theological statement to its practical implications or an application to a specific group or situation. In this instance, it shows Paul's keen awareness of the misinterpretations that could arise from profound theological truths, underscoring his role as a careful and deliberate teacher of the gospel. The phrase Mē genoito! demonstrates the theological incompatibility of habitual sin with genuine grace. It represents the utter shock and disbelief that a true follower of Christ could entertain such a notion.
Romans 6 15 Commentary
Romans 6:15 stands as a foundational rebuttal against antinomianism, the false belief that salvation by grace frees believers from the need to obey moral law. Paul asserts that freedom from the law's condemning power and an existence "under grace" do not provide a license for sinful living. Instead, being "under grace" fundamentally reorients a believer's life; grace is not merely forgiveness for sin but also an empowering force that transforms and enables a walk of righteousness. The Holy Spirit, activated by grace, moves believers away from sin and toward sanctification. To willingly continue in sin after experiencing God's grace would be a grave misunderstanding of grace's true purpose and nature, which is to bring one into conformity with Christ. True grace, far from permitting sin, cultivates holiness and an eager desire to please God, revealing its active power in spiritual change rather than a passive excuse for disobedience.