Romans chapter 6 unpacks Paul's teaching on sanctification. Now that I am saved, now I am a Christian, how should I live? Can I live as a please? Can I as a Christian do whatever I want? Does God have a purpose for my life? Can I continue in sin that grace may much more abound? Romans teaches that a life which receives salvation is a life changed by Christ. Salvation comes by relationship and that with a living Saviour! Our water baptism demonstrates this truth. In baptism by immersion we are dead, buried and raised again in Jesus! The Christian life is lived out in the sanctuary of Romans chapter 8, like that of David, at the altar of Romans chapter 12 like that of Abraham and in the congregation of Romans chapters 14 to 16 like that of Moses. Like the lepers of old, God takes our broken and dead lives and transforms them and changes them not for our glory but for His! He brings Miriam's flesh alive from the dead, Naaman the leper through the waters of baptism and the leper of Luke chapter 17 to the pinnacle of glorifying Jesus.

Romans chapter 6, sanctification and salvation in the life of the Christian, illustrated from Leviticus chapter 14 and the cleansing of the leper. Three men, David, Abraham and Moses, 3 deaths, Christ, self and the Old Man, the doctrine of propitiation and expiation and justification by faith and living life in the light of the sanctuary, Romans 8, the altar Romans 12 and the congregation in Romans chapters 13 to 16. 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie

Romans chapter 6 lies as a valley of decision between the two mountains of the death of Jesus in Romans chapter 3 for our sin and the new life of Jesus to be lived by the Christian in Romans chapters 6 to 8 and chapter 12 till the end. Up until Romans 6 we have been impacted by the death of 3 men: Death of Jesus for sin in Romans chapter 3 Death of Self to sin in Romans 6 Death of the old man in Romans 6 The challenge now is to be what we are and not to fall between the gaps of what God has made us in Christ and how we live for Christ. Do not fall between the gaps of deliverance and destiny, like the nation of Israel in the wilderness. Romans chapter 8 takes us to the sanctuary experience of the new life in Christ Romans chapter 12 takes us to the altar experience of the new life in Christ. Romans chapters 14 to 16 takes me to the assembly or church experience of the new life in Christ. Here is your new life in Christ, live your best Christian life now.