“How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4)
Since salvation is not based on works, but on faith, why not just continue to sin so that God’s grace will be even further exalted? Paul’s emphatic answer to this dilemma is that grace never gives anyone license to sin. Grace does not cancel out our responsibility to pursue righteousness. Paul teaches this truth by pointing out the results of Baptism. In Baptism we die to sin. If we are dead to it then it should no longer rule over us or enslave us. We must fight against all its attempts to dominate and control us.
The idea of fighting against sin and temptation should not be foreign to us if we are indeed united with Jesus. If we do not feel the need or the desire to put up resistance then perhaps we ought to examine our lives. Perhaps we have been corrupted by the world, like so many of those in our society and culture who have redefined sin in order to excuse or commend personal lifestyle choices regarding sex, pleasure, money, or material goods. Paul warns us that we cannot have it both ways. Those who give in to sin become enslaved by it. Those so enslaved lose their ability to choose freely. They go along their merry way, thinking they are willingly pursuing their personal lifestyle preferences. In fact are being led around by the nose. Those who are in Christ are His children. They no longer live for self but for Him. They desire to act in His righteousness and walk in His will. They are not perfect but are aware of their sin and their need for God’s help in overcoming it.