Romans 5:20-6:4

Romans 5:20-6:4 (WEB) The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

🔑 Key Points

1. The Law Entered That the Offense Might Abound

Why would God give a law that makes sin increase? Because the law reveals the reality of our sin and, Sproul notes, because fallen hearts are so wicked that every new command becomes a fresh occasion for rebellion — 'the more rules you give them, the more determined they are to break them.' The law does not cause our sin; it exposes it, and it inflames the rebellion already there.

2. Grace Does Much More Abound

Paul is not weighing equal quantities — five pounds of sin, five pounds of grace. The contrast is superlative: where sin abounded, grace super-abounded. Sin reigned in death; grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life. Sproul, standing at his own mother's deathbed as a young man, felt the insanity of death — and the gospel answers that death is the last defeated enemy, for grace has triumphed through the righteousness of Christ.

3. 'God Forbid!' — The Demons of Antinomianism

If grace abounds over sin, why not sin more to get more grace? Paul answers with an expression of apostolic abhorrence: God forbid — don't even think it. Sproul traces how this very charge was leveled against Luther, and how the 'demon of antinomianism' knocks at the door every time the gospel is preached: 'Saved from the law, O blessed condition — I can sin all I want and still have remission.' No work ever contributes to our justification, but that never means works don't matter.

4. Justified Unto Good Works, Not By Them

Rome's formula: faith plus works equals justification. The antinomian formula: faith equals justification minus works. The biblical formula: faith equals justification plus works. Sproul uses the Lordship Salvation controversy to press the point — a person cannot receive Christ as Savior while refusing Him as Lord. Justification is instantaneous and complete the moment you believe, but it immediately initiates sanctification; a profession of faith with no change at all should raise the question whether the profession was genuine.

5. Baptized into His Death, Raised to Walk in Newness of Life

Baptism is the sign of the new covenant — a visible, tangible seal of our union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Luther answered temptation with 'I am baptized!' Not that the water saves, but that identification with Christ is total: if you are joined to the risen Christ, you have already died to sin and already carry the down payment of resurrection life. How can such a person continue in sin that grace may abound? It is not possible.

💬 Discussion Questions

Where have you seen the law expose — or even aggravate — rebellion in your own heart?
Which formula do your daily instincts follow: faith plus works, faith minus works, or faith that works? What would change if you got the formula right?
What concrete evidence of 'newness of life' has your union with Christ produced in the last year?

📖 The Passage