Meaning of Romans 6:5

This verse from Romans 6:5, "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his," speaks to the profound reality of a believer's identification with Christ's death and resurrection. Paul is not merely suggesting a metaphorical connection but a spiritual union that has tangible consequences for the Christian life. This union signifies that the believer's old self, characterized by sin, has been crucified with Christ, and a new life, empowered by the resurrection, is now available. The certainty of the future resurrection is directly linked to this present spiritual union, underscoring the transformative power of faith in Christ.

Context and Background

Romans 6 as a whole addresses the question of whether believers should continue in sin because God's grace abounds. Paul emphatically rejects this notion, arguing that baptism into Christ signifies a death to sin. He uses the imagery of baptism to illustrate this spiritual reality: just as a person is immersed and then emerges from water, so too are believers "baptized into his death" (v. 3) and raised to new life. The preceding verses (Romans 6:1-4) establish the premise that our union with Christ in his death is the basis for our freedom from the dominion of sin.

Key Themes and Messages

• Union with Christ: The central theme is the intimate spiritual union between the believer and Jesus Christ. This is not a passive association but an active identification with his atoning work.
• Death to Sin: The "death like his" refers to Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, through which the power of sin was broken. Believers, by virtue of their union with him, are likewise considered to have died to the reign of sin in their lives.
• Resurrection to New Life: The "resurrection like his" points to Christ's victory over death and the new life he now lives. This resurrection power is imparted to believers, enabling them to live a life free from sin's tyranny.
• Certainty of Future Resurrection: The verse offers a strong assurance of the believer's future resurrection, mirroring Christ's own resurrection. This hope is grounded in their present spiritual union.

Spiritual Significance and Application

The spiritual significance of this verse is immense. It means that the believer is no longer obligated to serve sin. The power that raised Christ from the dead is at work within the believer, empowering them to resist sin and live a life pleasing to God. This union provides the basis for the Christian's ethical conduct, as their identity is now rooted in Christ. It calls believers to reckon themselves "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11), actively embracing this new reality.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Romans 6:5 is a cornerstone in the New Testament's teaching on salvation and the Christian life. It directly connects the redemptive work of Christ (his death and resurrection) to the believer's experience. This concept of identification with Christ is a recurring theme, seen in passages like Galatians 2:20 ("I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me") and Colossians 2:12 ("having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead"). It underscores the theological framework of substitutionary atonement and the resultant transformation of the believer.

Analogies

• A grafting: Imagine a wild olive branch grafted onto a cultivated olive tree. The wild branch now shares the life and fruitfulness of the cultivated tree. Similarly, believers are spiritually grafted into Christ, sharing his life.
• A legal merger: In a business merger, the assets and liabilities of one company are absorbed into another. Spiritually, our "old self" with its sin is absorbed into Christ's death, and we gain his new life.
• A wedding union: In marriage, two individuals become "one flesh." Believers are spiritually united with Christ, becoming one with him in his death and resurrection.

Relation to Other Verses

• Romans 6:4: "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." This verse directly precedes Romans 6:5, setting up the argument for the union in death and resurrection.
• Romans 6:11: "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." This is the practical application of the truth presented in verse 5.
• Colossians 2:12: "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." This verse offers a parallel explanation of the believer's identification with Christ's burial and resurrection.
• 1 Corinthians 15:20-22: "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." This passage highlights Christ's resurrection as the guarantee of believers' future resurrection.