verse, therefore, is introduced as the ground of the declaration "we shall live with him," at the close of v. 8. 2. The perpetuity of the life of Christ is one of the points in which our life is to be conformed to his.
(10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once, &c. This verse is an amplification and explanation of the preceding. Christ's life is perpe- tual, inasmuch as his dying unto sin was for once only ; but as he lives, he lives for ever in the presence, and to the glory of God. It is evident that Christ's dying unto sin must be understood in a different sense from that in which we are said to die unto sin. The dative probably here, as so often elsewhere, expresses the ground or reason for which any thing is done; see on v. 2, ' He died on account of sin.' The phrase, there- fore, is to be understood as those in Gal. 1 : 4. Rom. 4: 25, &c. &c., where he is said to have died for sin, i. e. for its expiation and destruc- tion. This sacrifice, unlike the impotent oflTerings under the law, was so efiicacious that it never need be repeated ; and therefore Christ, having once sufiered death, is never again to be subject to its dominion, Heb. 9 : 28. 1 Pet. 3 : 18.
But in that he liveth, he Kveth unto God. The structure of this sentence is antithetical, agreeably to Paul's manner, see ch. 5 : 10 ; and this accounts for the form of the expression he liveth unto God, which is opposed to the phrase he died unto sin. Christ lives to the glory of God and in communion with him. This is the second point in which our life is to be conformed to his. It is to be not only perpetual, i. e. with- out relapse into spiritual death, but also devoted to the service and enjoy- ment of God.
(11) This verse contains an inference from the preceding discussion, and an application of it to the case of Christians. If Christ has died for the destruction and expiation of sin, and if all who belong to him are united to him in his death so as to have their sins expiated and destroyed ; and if, moreover, their head, in whom they live, has risen to a new and endless life of glory and holiness, then let Christians view their relation to Christ in its true light, and live accordingly.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves as dead indeed, unto sin, &c. That .s, regard yourselves as having died with Christ for deliverance from the guilt of sin, see vs. 5, 6, 8 ; and also for the destruction of its power, see vs. 6, 7. But alive unto God. Let believers consider themselves par- takers not only of the death of Christ, but also of his life. As his life is perpetual and devoted unto God, so also must theirs be. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is through Christ that we die unto sin, and live unto God. It is not we that live, but Christ who liveth in us, Gal. 2 : 19. The words rendered through Christ may be more literally trans- lated in Christ, i. e. it is in virtue of union with him that we die unto sin and live unto God.