THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS - Chapter 6 - Verse 10

Verse 10. For in that he died. For in respect to the design of his death.

He died unto sin. His death had respect to sin. The design of his death was to destroy sin; to make an atonement for it, and thus to put it away. As his death was designed to effect this, so it follows that Christians, being baptized into his death, and having it as their object to destroy sin, should not indulge in it. The whole force of the motive, therefore, drawn from the death of Christ, is to induce Christians to forsake sin. Comp. 2 Co 5:15, "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

Once. (efapax). Once only; once for all. This is an adverb denying a repetition, (Schleusner,) and implies that it will not be done again. Comp. Heb 7:27; 9:12; 10:10.

The argument of the apostle rests much on this, that his death was once for all; that it would not be repeated.

In that he liveth. The object, the design of his living. He aims with his living power to promote the glory of God.

Unto God. He seeks to promote his glory. The argument of Paul is this: Christians by their profession are united to him. They are bound to imitate him. As he now lives only to advance the glory of God; as all his mighty power, now that he is raised from the dead, and elevated to his throne in heaven, is exerted to promote his glory; so should their powers, being raised from the death of sin, be exerted to promote the glory of God.

{s} "be dead indeed" Ro 6:2 {t} "alive unto God" Ga 2:16