sin means, is pardoned, is freed from the guilt and punishment of sin by justification. This verse then assigns a very important reasor for the truth which the apostle had so frequently stated, viz. that the believer could not live in sin. ' For he that is dead with Christ is thereby justified, and freed from the punishment of sin ; he is thus reconciled to God; and as reconciliation and communion with God are the true sources of holiness, he is also freed from sin.' This inter- pretation is confirmed by the next verse, in which our dying with Christ is represented as securing our living with him. See Gal. 2: 19, 20. 6 : 14. Col. 2 : 6. 3:3. 1 Pet. 4 : 1. In all these passages, with more or less distinctness, the death of Christ, and believers dying with him, are represented as the ground and cause of their living unto God.
Verses 8 — 11. These verses contain the application of the truth taught in the preceding passage. ' If we are dead with Christ, we shall share in his life. If he lives, we shall live also. As his life is perpetual, it secures the continued supplies of life to all his members. Death has no more donainion over him. Having died unto, or on account of sin once, he now ever lives to, and with God. His people, therefore, must be conformed to him ; dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God.' This passage does not contain a mere comparison between the literal death and resurrection of Christ, and the spiritual death and resurrection of believers, but it exhibits the connexion between the death and life of the Redeemer and the sanctification of his people.
(8) Now if we be dead ivith Christ, &c. If the truth stated in the pre- ceding verses is admitted, viz. that our union with Christ is such that his death secures our deliverance from the penalty and power of sin, rve believe we shall also live with him. That is, we are sure that the con- sequences of his death are not merely negative, i. e. not simply deliver- ance from evil, moral and physical, but also a participation in his life. To live with Christ, therefore, includes two ideas, association with him, and similarity to him. We partake of his life, and consequently our life is like his. In like manner, since we die with him, we die as he died. So, too, when we are said to reign luith him, to be glorified together, both these ideas, are included; see ch. 8: 17, and many similar passages. The life here spoken of is that "eternal life" which believers are said to possess even in this world; see John 3 : 36. 5 : 24; and which is mani- fested here by devotion to God, and hereafter in the purity and blessed- ness of heaven. It includes, therefore, all the consequences of redemption.
(9) Knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more. The perpetuity of Christ's life is presented, 1. As the ground of assur- ance of the perpetuity of the life of believers. We shall partake of the life of Christ, i. e. of the spiritual and eternal blessings of redemption, because he ever lives to make intercession for us, and to grant us those supplies of grace which we need, see ch. 5 : 10. John 14 : 19. 1 Cor. 15 : 23, &c. &c. As death has no more dominion over him, there is nc ground of apprehension that our supplies of life shall be cut oiF. Tliis