Romans 6:6

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 6:6 (KJV)

Context

Paul writes to believers in Rome, answering the question: shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? He insists that those who have died to sin cannot live in it, grounding this in the believer’s union with Christ through baptism into His death. Verse 6 draws the conclusion from that union: our old man was crucified with Him.

Meaning

The “old man” refers to our former self, the sinful nature inherited from Adam, enslaved to sin. It is not merely a collection of bad habits but a ruling principle that governs the whole person. The verse tells us this old man is “crucified with him,” meaning that through Christ’s death on the cross, our old self has been put to death. This is not a physical death but a moral and spiritual destruction of sin’s power. When Jesus died, He took the punishment for our sins and broke sin’s dominion over us.

The purpose of this crucifixion is “that the body of sin might be destroyed.” The body of sin is another expression for the old man, emphasizing sin’s embodiment in our members and faculties. It is not the physical body itself that is evil, but the body as controlled by sin. Through faith in Christ, sin’s power over the body is abolished, so we are no longer slaves to it. This does not mean we will never sin again, but it means sin no longer has dominion over us.

The verse concludes with the goal: “that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Before coming to faith, we were enslaved to sin and had no choice but to obey its desires. Now, through Christ’s work, we are freed from that slavery—not to live lawlessly, but to live in newness of life, guided by the Holy Spirit and empowered to live righteously.

Biblical connections

This truth is echoed in Paul’s letters, where believers are called to put off the old self (Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:9) and to reckon themselves crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). These passages clarify that the crucifixion of the old man is both a positional truth and a practical call to live accordingly.

Application

Romans 6:6 emphasizes the transformative power of Christ’s death and resurrection in our lives. As believers, we are called to recognize that our old sinful nature has been crucified with Christ. We no longer have to be dominated by sin but can live in the freedom and victory that Christ has provided. This truth should lead us to live holy lives, continually submitting ourselves to God and resisting the pull of sin.

Reflection

Knowing that our old man is crucified with Christ changes how we see ourselves. Sin’s power is broken, and we are no longer obligated to obey it. Let us live each day in the reality of that freedom, walking in newness of life.