Romans 6:1 Meaning and Explanation
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Grace is not a license to keep sinning; it frees us from sin's grip rather than into its service.
The Context of Romans 6:1
Paul has just declared that where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). Now he raises the obvious objection that follows, voicing the very question a reader might ask, before he answers it.
What Does Romans 6:1 Mean?
Paul has just said something almost dangerous: that where sin increased, grace increased all the more. He knows exactly how that could be twisted, so he asks the question out loud himself. Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? It is the voice of a heart that wonders whether more sin might mean more grace, and so make sin almost useful. Paul raises it on purpose, the way a teacher names the misunderstanding before it can take root, and in the next verse he answers with a flat God forbid.
His reason is that grace does something deeper than forgive. Through Christ we have died to sin and been raised to a new life, so returning to sin would be like a freed person walking back into the cell. Grace is not permission to keep sinning; it is the very power that breaks sin's hold. The gospel does not leave us where it found us, and that is the goodness of it.
Romans 6:1 in the Original Language
epimeno (ἐπιμένω), 'continue' -- to remain in, to stay on and persist in a thing as a settled way of life.
How to Apply Romans 6:1 Today
This verse keeps us from a quiet lie, that since God forgives, our sin hardly matters. Grace is not a reason to stay where we are; it is the power that frees us to leave it. In Christ we have died to sin and risen to new life, and that life is meant to be lived.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 6:1
What does Romans 6:1 mean?
Grace is not a license to keep sinning; it frees us from sin's grip rather than into its service.
What is the context of Romans 6:1?
Paul has just declared that where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). Now he raises the obvious objection that follows, voicing the very question a reader might ask, before he answers it.
How can I apply Romans 6:1 today?
This verse keeps us from a quiet lie, that since God forgives, our sin hardly matters. Grace is not a reason to stay where we are; it is the power that frees us to leave it. In Christ we have died to sin and risen to new life, and that life is meant to be lived.