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william macdonald Here's the Difference - A Study of Important Biblical Distinctions including the Dispensations, Two Comings of Christ, the Church and Israel, Judicial and Parental Forgiveness, Double Fulfillments of Prophecy, Relationship and Fellowship.
What is the meaning of "our old man is crucified"? Print E-mail
What is the meaning of "our old man is crucified" (Romans 6:6)?

The tense of the verb, here translated "is crucified," points to a single event. In this case, the event is in the past, so some translations read "has been crucified" (JND) or "was crucified" (ESV, NASB, NKJV). The verb could be translated "co-crucified," clearly referring to the crucifixion of Christ. Our old man was co-crucified with Christ.

Paul opens this chapter asking, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" In answering that, he extends the truths established in the previous chapter. Adam is the initial "federal head," representing us all. He sinned and we have received the condemnation of that: physically, "death passed on all men" (5:12). Legally (in God’s court), we are constituted sinners, because of his disobedience (v 19). Morally, we tend to choose sin, for God’s giving man greater light in the Law only increased the transgression (v 20). The Law showed man’s sinful disposition. Those under the federal headship of Christ receive justification (v 18). Can these who have been justified by faith (v 1), continue the same as they were when Adam was their representative head? No, they cannot because of one act of obedience and righteousness (vv 18, 19).

For believers, that act, the death of the cross, brought justification, meaning God has declared them righteous. By that same act, they will be made righteous (v 19). Now Paul shows that the same act has righteously ended their legal standing in Adam (6:6). God views the crucifixion of Christ as ending that standing. Our old man (our legal standing in Adam as sinners) was crucified together with Christ. We are no longer under the dominion (or reign) of sin and death (5:21 with v 17). God’s purpose in ending our former standing was that "we should not serve sin" (6:6). We cannot continue in sin.

D. Oliver
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