What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul isn't just asking a rhetorical question; he's addressing a dangerous thought that could arise from the incredible news of God's abundant grace. The question "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" reveals a potential misunderstanding: that the more we sin, the more God's forgiveness shines, so maybe we should give Him more opportunities to show off His grace. This is a twisted logic that completely misses the point of God's saving work.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Apostle Paul has just expounded on how God's grace overflows even where sin abounded, but this might lead some to think it's okay to keep sinning to get even more grace. Paul immediately confronts this dangerous misunderstanding, posing the rhetorical question of whether they should continue in sin so that grace can be magnified. He will go on to strongly refute this idea, showing that true believers, united with Christ, are dead to sin and called to a life of holiness.
If God's grace shines brightest when our sin is darkest, why not sin more to make God look even better? Paul tackles this dangerous thought head-on.
Some might hear that God's grace is abundant, especially where sin overflows, and think, "Great! This means we can keep sinning. Our sin just gives God more chances to show off His amazing grace!"
But Paul says, "Whoa, hold on a second! That's a twisted way of thinking about God's goodness."
He's not saying sin is good, or that we should aim to sin more. Instead, he's highlighting the vastness of God's power to overcome even the worst sin. It's like saying a doctor's skill is amazing because they can heal a terrible illness – it doesn't mean you should try to get sick to test the doctor! God's grace isn't a blank check for sin; it's a powerful rescue that frees us from sin's grip.
Paul doesn't just forbid continuing in sin; he reveals a profound shift in our identity that makes it impossible.
Paul's answer to the temptation to keep sinning is radical: We can't live in sin anymore because we've fundamentally changed.
Think about it: When Jesus died on the cross, He died for our sins. And when we put our faith in Him, we are united with Him in His death. This means, in God's eyes, our old self – the one ruled by sin – died with Christ.
Paul calls this being 'dead to sin.' It's not just a matter of changing your behavior; it's a change in your . You are no longer defined by sin's power over you. Just as a dead person can't be commanded by the living, the 'you' that was enslaved to sin is now gone, crucified with Christ.
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Understand the original words
hamartia · Greek Noun
The Greek noun often refers to acts of disobedience or missing the moral mark of God's law. In a theological sense, it describes both the sinful nature inherited from Adam and the resulting acts of rebellion against God's will.
charis · Greek Noun
God’s unmerited favor, kindness, and enabling power toward those who deserve judgment. It is the active, transforming operation of God’s love that saves the believer and sustains their ongoing sanctification.
pleonazō · Greek Verb
The Greek verb refers to the state of increasing or overflowing in abundance. Theologically, it describes the counter-intuitive reality that as human rebellion increases, God’s reach of mercy increases even more.
apothnēskō · Greek Verb
The Greek verb signifies the cessation of biological life, but in this context, it metaphorically denotes a definitive, existential break from a previous authority or way of life. For the believer, it signifies the end of their identification with the fallen, sinful state.
Paul's question in Romans 6:1 arises from the Gentile-dominated church in Rome, who may have misunderstood the implications of God's abundant grace. They could have wrongly concluded that since God's forgiveness is so vast, there's no harm in continuing to sin.
c. 50-55 AD— this verse
Paul Writes Romans
Paul pens his letter to the believers in Rome, likely from Corinth, to explain the gospel and his understanding of it. He addresses deep theological questions about God's righteousness, justification by faith, and the implications for Christian living.
c. 48-50 AD
Jewish Expulsion from Rome
Emperor Claudius expels Jews from Rome, forcing many Jewish Christians to leave the city. This likely led to a predominantly Gentile church by the time Paul writes, potentially raising questions about how Jewish law and Christian freedom interact.
c. 49 AD
Growth of Gentile Christianity
The church in Rome, initially established by Jewish believers, was increasingly composed of Gentile converts. This created a need for clear teaching on how the Old Testament law and Jewish customs related to the new life in Christ.
c. 30-33 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
The pivotal event of Jesus's death and resurrection provides the foundation for Christian theology. Paul's teaching in Romans hinges on the belief that believers die and rise with Christ.
This passage questions whether the law, which reveals sin, would be void if righteousness came through it, echoing Paul's argument against using grace as an excuse for sin.
Titus 2:11-14This passage highlights that God's saving grace teaches us to live righteously, directly countering the idea that grace encourages sinful living.
1 Peter 2:16Peter warns believers not to use their freedom in Christ as a cloak for evil, a direct parallel to Paul's rhetorical question about continuing in sin.
Jude 1:4This verse condemns those who twist God's grace into a license for immorality, mirroring the dangerous mindset Paul addresses in Romans 6:1.
bengelRomans 6:1: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"
Romans 6:1 . Ἐπιμενοῦμεν ; shall we continue? ) Hitherto he treated of the past and the present: now he proceeds to treat of the future; and the forms of expression are suited to those, which immediately precede, whilst he speaks respecting the ‘abounding’ of grace. In this passage the continuing in sin is set before us; in the 15th verse, the going back to sin, which had been overcome. The man, who has obtai…
clarkeRomans 6:1: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"
Shall we continue in sin - It is very likely that these were the words of a believing Gentile, who - having as yet received but little instruction, for he is but just brought out of his heathen state to believe in Christ Jesus - might imagine, from the manner in which God had magnified his mercy, in blotting out his sin on his simply believing on Christ, that, supposing he even gave way to the evil propensiti…
Paul isn't just asking a rhetorical question; he's addressing a dangerous thought that could arise from the incredible news of God's abundant grace. The question "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" reveals a potential misunderstanding: that the more we sin, the more God's forgiveness shines, so maybe we should give Him more opportunities to show off His grace. This is a twisted logic that completely misses the point of God's saving work.
The Apostle Paul has just expounded on how God's grace overflows even where sin abounded, but this might lead some to think it's okay to keep sinning to get even more grace. Paul immediately confronts this dangerous misunderstanding, posing the rhetorical question of whether they should continue in sin so that grace can be magnified. He will go on to strongly refute this idea, showing that true believers, united with Christ, are dead to sin and called to a life of holiness.
The Apostle Paul has just expounded on how God's grace overflows even where sin abounded, but this might lead some to think it's okay to keep sinning to get even more grace. Paul immediately confronts this dangerous misunderstanding, posing the rhetorical question of whether they should continue in sin so that grace can be magnified. He will go on to strongly refute this idea, showing that true believers, united with Christ, are dead to sin and called to a life of holiness.
"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" — Paul isn't just asking a rhetorical question; he's addressing a dangerous thought that could arise from the incredible news of God's abundant grace. The question "Shall we continue in sin that grace…
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Last reviewed October 2026