For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Christ's death was a unique, singular event that forever canceled sin's claim, but His ongoing life is in constant, active communion with God. This stark contrast reveals that His finished work on the cross was absolutely final, while His present life is a continuous, vibrant engagement with the Father.
For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is explaining the implications of our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. Since Christ died to sin once and for all, and now lives eternally to God, those who are united with him through baptism should no longer live as slaves to sin, but live a new life dedicated to God.
Jesus died. It sounds simple, but the Bible says His death was a radical, one-time event that dealt a decisive blow to sin itself.
Paul isn't just saying Jesus died for our sins; he's explaining the effect of that death.
A Death to Sin's Claim
Think of sin like a debt collector. Jesus stepped in and paid the ultimate price, not just for our individual debts, but to cancel sin's claim over humanity entirely. His death wasn't a defeat; it was a strategic, permanent victory.
The "Once for All" Significance
The phrase "once for all" is crucial. It emphasizes that Christ's sacrifice is unique and unrepeatable. Unlike the Old Testament sacrifices that had to be repeated, Jesus' death was the perfect, complete atonement. It dealt with sin so definitively that it will never have power over us again in the same way.
Jesus is alive! But His current life isn't just about His own existence. It has a specific, powerful purpose directed towards God.
The verse pivots from Christ's death to His ongoing life, drawing a parallel for believers.
A Life Dedicated to God's Purpose
Because Jesus' death permanently dealt with sin, He now lives a life entirely devoted to God. This isn't just a passive existence; it's an active life of glorifying God, interceding for us, and advancing God's kingdom. His resurrection power is now fully aligned with God's will.
Our Imitation of His New Life
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Paul wants us to see that if we're united with Christ, His victory over sin and His life lived for God should transform our own lives. Just as He lives eternally for God, we are called to live out our new life in Christ with the same single-minded devotion.
Understand the original words
ephapax · Greek Adverb
A standard expression in biblical theology denoting an act that occurs one time in history and possesses permanent, irreversible efficacy, requiring no repetition.
This passage emphasizes Jesus' unique priestly role, highlighting that unlike earthly priests who offer sacrifices repeatedly, He offered Himself 'once for all' when He sacrificed Himself, directly paralleling the 'once for all' nature of His death in Romans 6:10.
1 Peter 3:18This verse connects Christ's suffering and death to His resurrection, stating 'For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.' This reinforces the idea of a singular, decisive death for sin, echoing the theme in Romans 6:10.
Colossians 2:13-14Here, Paul speaks of being made alive with Christ and forgiven of sins, noting that God 'canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its many regulations' and 'took it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.' This illustrates how Christ's death, as mentioned in Romans 6:10, effectively dealt with sin's penalty.
Romans 6:4This verse directly precedes Romans 6:10 and sets up the argument, stating we were 'buried with him by baptism into death' so that 'just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.' This highlights the connection between Christ's death and resurrection life, and how our new life should reflect His.
cambridgeRomans 6:10: "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
10 . in that he died ] Lit. that which He died ; His dying, in all that it involved. So below, that which He liveth . unto sin ] i.e., as the previous argument shewed, “with reference to the claim of sin;” to meet and cancel it; and therefore so as now to be out of reach of its doom. once ] once for all , “once and for ever.” The word here is not necessary to the argument, but it enforces, by c…
pulpitRomans 6:10: "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
Verse 10. - For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. "Died unto sin" certainly does not mean here, as some have taken it, died by reason of sin, or to atone for sin, but has the sense, elsewhere obvious in this chapter, of ἀποθνήσκειν, followed by a dative, which was explained under ver. 2. Christ was, indeed, never subject to sin, or himself infect…
The verse highlights that Christ's death was a unique, singular event that forever canceled sin's claim, but His ongoing life is in constant, active communion with God. This stark contrast reveals that His finished work on the cross was absolutely final, while His present life is a continuous, vibrant engagement with the Father.
Paul is explaining the implications of our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. Since Christ died to sin once and for all, and now lives eternally to God, those who are united with him through baptism should no longer live as slaves to sin, but live a new life dedicated to God.
Paul is explaining the implications of our baptism into Christ's death and resurrection. Since Christ died to sin once and for all, and now lives eternally to God, those who are united with him through baptism should no longer live as slaves to sin, but live a new life dedicated to God.
"For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God." — The verse highlights that Christ's death was a unique, singular event that forever canceled sin's claim, but His ongoing life is in constant, active communion with God. This stark contrast reveals th…
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Last reviewed October 2026