The Old Man Was Crucified
A Sermon on Romans 6:5-6
Originally preached Oct. 31, 1958
Scripture
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve …
Sermon Description
What does it mean when Christians say to “put off the old man”? Sometimes, Christians can get carried away with the notion of the “old self,” saying they need the old self to die and be crucified. However, in this sermon from Romans 6:5–6 titled “The Old Man Was Crucified,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that the old self is indeed gone and was crucified with Christ. Paul says that because the Christian is united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, any old self that was under the reign of sin has also died. Although the Christian was not physically with Christ during those acts, they were spiritually with Him. Even now, they are spiritually with Christ and growing. Instead of saying that the old self needs to die, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that the Christian needs to shed old characteristics of sin. They should no longer live like the old self because He has already died. Paul guarantees that it has already been done and Christ’s people are no longer slaves to sin.
Sermon Breakdown
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The sermon begins by introducing Romans 6:5-6. Dr. Lloyd-Jones notes that verse 5 summarizes what Paul has said in verses 3-4 about being united with Christ in his death and resurrection through baptism. Verse 6 then expounds on the first half of verse 5.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses the meaning of "planted together" in verse 5. He says it refers to a joint growth leading to essential union, like branches in a vine. It emphasizes the intimate union believers have with Christ.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that "likeness" is used because our death and resurrection are not identical to Christ's, though we share in the benefits and results. Christ's were unique as the Son of God, while ours are spiritual.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones says "shall be" in verse 5 refers not just to the future bodily resurrection but to new life believers have now. Verse 11 shows Paul is talking about reckoning ourselves dead to sin and alive to God now.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones says verse 5 teaches the certainty that if we share in Christ's death, we will share in his resurrection. Our future glorification is guaranteed.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones introduces verse 6, noting "knowing this" refers to something believers should be certain of by faith, not experience. He asks if we really know and live in light of this truth.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones discusses the meaning of "old man." He says it does not refer to the carnal nature, our pre-Christian moral being, or the flesh. Rather, it refers to who we were in Adam, under sin and wrath. This "old man" was crucified with Christ.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that "crucified with" does not mean a slow process but a definitive past event. Christ died once, and we died with him. The "old man" is gone.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones reconciles this with verses calling us to put off the old man. We are to put off living like the old man, not the old man himself. We are to live like the new man we are in Christ.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes this is objective truth to believe, not experience. Like Abraham, we believe God's word about what Christ has done and who we are in him. Experience follows faith.
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Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes this answers the objection in verse 1. God's grace delivers us from sin to new life in Christ.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Romans 6:5-6
What does Paul mean by being "planted together in the likeness of Christ's death" in Romans 6:5?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the term "planted together" means "growing together in such an intimate way that it means an essential union." It expresses "a very, very definite and a very real union" with Christ. The phrase "in the likeness of his death" indicates that our death with Christ is not identical to His, but similar. As Lloyd-Jones explains, "Our death and our resurrection are in the likeness of his, but they're not identical with his. We shall never know the suffering he knew." What happened to Christ literally and physically happens to us spiritually, giving us all the benefits and results of His death and resurrection.
What does it mean that "we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that this does not refer only to our future bodily resurrection, though it includes that. Rather, it primarily refers to our present spiritual life in Christ. He states, "He means this newness of life to which is referred at the end of chapter four. We have been raised with Christ into a new life. We are no longer in that old life under the dominion and the tyranny of sin." This is something we experience now, though it will be completed when our bodies are also glorified like Christ's. Lloyd-Jones adds, "We are already this, essentially spiritually. But the day is coming when we shall be so in every respect."
What does Paul mean by "our old man" in Romans 6:6?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that "the old man" does not mean our carnal nature, our moral being prior to rebirth, or the flesh with its affections and lusts. Rather, "the old man is the man that I used to be in Adam." He explains, "I was a man in Adam. I am now a man in Christ. What's the old man? Well, it's that man that I was and which I no longer am." This is critically important for understanding sanctification. Lloyd-Jones says, "The old man was crucified with Christ. He's non-existent. He's not there. The man that you were in Adam, if you're a Christian, has gone out of being."
How does understanding "the old man was crucified" affect Christian living?
According to Lloyd-Jones, properly understanding this truth transforms our approach to sanctification. He emphasizes that "We are never called upon to crucify our old man... because it's already happened." The New Testament approach isn't about trying to kill the old man but realizing he's already gone. "The whole trouble with us as the New Testament is that we don't realize who and what we are. We still go on thinking we're the old man and we're trying to do things to the old man. It's been done." Lloyd-Jones states that understanding this truth would cause Christians to "hold up our heads. We'd be able to defy sin and Satan. We'd rejoice in Christ Jesus if we only saw it."
Is the truth about our death with Christ something we experience or believe?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones insists this is something we believe by faith, not something we experience first. He explains, "This is something I say, that we are to believe and to receive by faith. This isn't something you experience. This is something you believe. And it is only as you believe it that your experience will be affected." He compares this to Abraham believing God's promise despite all evidence to the contrary: "I know that I have died to sin because the word tells me it's not experimental at this stage at all. It's the bare statement of God. And I must believe it as Abram believed that word."
Why does Paul use the word "knowing" in Romans 6:6?
Lloyd-Jones explains that Paul uses the expression "knowing this" to emphasize that "this is something which we should all know. Something with which we should be perfectly familiar. Something concerning which we should have an absolute certainty." However, Lloyd-Jones clarifies that "it's not experimental knowledge, but it is the knowledge of faith. It is the knowledge which is revealed in the scripture and of which faith is certain." This knowledge forms the foundation for Christian living and sanctification.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.