What Does ‘Died to Sin’ Mean?

Yesterday, we finished with Paul’s words from Romans 6:2: “Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Just what are we to understand by the phrase “died to sin”? To form a picture of this, let us imagine a man who has been an outstanding sinner. Let us suppose he has been brutal to his wife and children; he has forbidden all mention of God or religion in his home; he has used foul language; and he has been a slave of alcohol and tobacco.

Now let us suppose that this man dies suddenly of a heart attack, sitting in his chair at home. On the table by him is a lighted cigarette and a glass of whiskey. Neither cigarette nor whisky any longer produces any reaction from the man; there is no inward stirring of desire, no outward motion of his arm toward them. Why not? The man is dead – dead to alcohol and tobacco alike.

A little later his wife and children come back from Sunday evening service at the local Gospel Tabernacle, singing the new gospel choruses they have just learned. There is no reaction from the man – no anger, no blasphemous words. Why not? The man is dead – dead to anger and blasphemy alike. In one short phrase, that man is “dead to sin.” Sin no longer has any attraction for him; sin no longer produces any reaction from him; sin no longer has any power over him.

This is the picture that the New Testament paints of the man who has availed himself, by faith, of God’s grace. Through the operation of that grace, the man has become dead to sin. Sin no longer has any attraction for him; sin no longer produces any reaction from him; sin no longer has any power over him. Instead, he is alive to God and to righteousness.