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Romans 6 – Defining Justification by Faith
“Romans 6 does not supplement justification by faith or merely explain its effects or consequences; rather, it defines justification by faith. . . . Following 5:1-11, Paul provides three sets of quite fully developed antitheses that contrast pre- and post-justification existence: life in Adam vs. life in Christ (5:12-21), slaver to sin vs. slaver to God (6:1-7:6), and life in the flesh vs. life in the Spirit (7:7-8:39). . . . The first part of ch. 6 is an extended definition of justification by faith as resurrection by co-crucifixion that explains what happens in baptism when one moves from Adam to Christ, from sin to God, from the flesh to the Spirit – that is, when one is justified by faith, restored to right covenant relations, and crucified, buried, and resurrected with Christ.” (Michael Gorman, Inhabiting the Cruciform God: Kenosis, Justification, and Theosis in Paul’s Narrative Soteriology, 73-4)
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