Romans 6:12

KJV

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

KJV (with Strong's)

Let {G936} not {G3361} sin {G266} therefore {G3767} reign {G936} in {G1722} your {G5216} mortal {G2349} body {G4983}, that {G1519} ye should obey {G5219} it {G846} in {G1722} the lusts {G1939} thereof {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires;

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.

American Standard Version

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Romans 6:12 issues a powerful imperative to believers, building upon the foundational truth that they have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection, thereby breaking sin's former dominion. This verse is a direct command to actively resist the pervasive influence of sin within their earthly bodies, preventing it from exercising its tyrannical rule and leading them into its destructive desires. It calls for a conscious, daily choice to live out the spiritual reality of their new identity in Christ, rather than passively yielding to the old patterns of sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Romans 6:12 serves as a crucial hinge between Paul's theological exposition of the believer's union with Christ (Romans 6:1-11) and his subsequent practical exhortations for Christian living (Romans 6:12-23). Having definitively answered the rhetorical question, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (Romans 6:1), Paul meticulously explains that believers have died to sin through their identification with Christ's death and have been raised to walk in "newness of life" (Romans 6:4). Verses 6-11 emphasize the objective reality of this spiritual transformation: "our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6). Therefore, Romans 6:12 is not a suggestion but a logical and necessary command, urging believers to live out the spiritual truth that sin no longer holds them captive, as further reinforced in [Romans 6:14](/romans/6-14 "Romans 6:14 - Sin Shall Not Have Dominion").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Paul wrote his epistle to the church in Rome, a diverse community of Jewish and Gentile believers navigating complex theological and practical issues within the heart of the Roman Empire. The concept of "slavery" was deeply ingrained in Roman society, making Paul's analogy of being "slaves of sin" versus "slaves of righteousness" highly resonant. Furthermore, the prevailing Greco-Roman philosophies often either indulged the body's desires or advocated for extreme asceticism. Paul's teaching here presents a nuanced, Christ-centered alternative: the body is not inherently evil, but it is the arena where the spiritual battle against sin's influence is waged. The command to "let not sin reign" would have challenged both libertine tendencies and legalistic self-effort, pointing instead to a Spirit-empowered obedience.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Romans and Pauline theology. It underscores the theme of **Sanctification**, emphasizing that salvation is not merely a past event (justification) but an ongoing process of growth in holiness, requiring active participation from the believer. It highlights the **Believer's Responsibility** in living out their new identity; while Christ has broken sin's power, believers are commanded to actively resist its influence. The concept of **Spiritual Warfare** is also prominent, as the "mortal body" is presented as the battleground where the "lusts thereof" contend for control. This command flows directly from the reality of **Union with Christ**, where the believer's death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ provides the basis and power for obedience, as seen in [Romans 6:11](/romans/6-11 "Romans 6:11 - Alive Unto God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Sin (Greek, _hamartía'_):** (G266) From a root meaning "to miss the mark," _hamartía_ refers to a deviation from God's standard, a transgression, or an offense. In this context, it is personified as a powerful entity or force that seeks to exert control over the believer's life. Paul often uses it in Romans to denote both individual acts of wrongdoing and the pervasive power of evil that holds humanity captive.
* **Reign (Greek, _basileúō'_):** (G936) Meaning "to rule as a king" or "to exercise kingly power." This word vividly portrays sin as a monarch attempting to usurp authority over the believer's life. The imperative "Let not... reign" is a command to dethrone this tyrannical ruler, asserting that sin no longer has legitimate dominion over those who are in Christ.
* **Mortal (Greek, _thnētós'_):** (G2349) Derived from _thnēskō_ ("to die"), this adjective means "liable to die" or "subject to death." It refers to the physical body, which is perishable and still susceptible to weakness, disease, and the desires that can lead to sin. It distinguishes the body, which still experiences the effects of the Fall, from the regenerated spirit.
* **Lusts (Greek, _epithymía'_):** (G1939) While often associated with illicit sexual desires, _epithymía_ broadly means "strong desires," "cravings," or "longings," especially for what is forbidden or contrary to God's will. These are the internal impulses that sin uses as its instruments to gain control over the "mortal body."

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,"**: This is a direct, negative imperative, a command for believers to actively prevent sin from exercising its authority. The word "therefore" (G3767, _oûn_) links this command directly to the preceding theological truths about the believer's death to sin and new life in Christ. The "mortal body" is identified as the specific arena where sin seeks to establish its rule, highlighting the ongoing tension between the regenerated spirit and the unredeemed aspects of human physicality.
* **"that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."**: This clause explains the purpose or result of allowing sin to reign. If sin is permitted to rule, the inevitable outcome is obedience to its "lusts" or strong, often illicit, desires. The phrase "obey it" (G5219, _hypakoúō_) implies a conscious yielding to sin's dictates, a surrender to its impulses that manifest through the body's cravings. This shows the practical outworking of sin's reign: it leads to sinful actions driven by ungodly desires.

#### Literary Devices
Paul employs several potent **Literary Devices** in Romans 6:12 to convey his urgent message. Most prominent is **Personification**, where "sin" is treated as a living entity, a tyrannical king (implied by "reign") seeking to exert dominion over the believer. This vivid imagery helps the reader understand sin not merely as abstract wrongdoing but as an active, hostile force. The verse also uses **Imperative Mood** ("Let not... reign"), which underscores the direct command and the active responsibility of the believer. Furthermore, the phrase "mortal body" serves as a **Synecdoche**, where the part (the physical body) represents the whole person in their earthly, fallen state, emphasizing the battleground of sanctification. The contrast between the spiritual reality of being dead to sin and the ongoing struggle in the "mortal body" creates a powerful **Antithesis**, highlighting the tension believers experience as they live out their new identity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Romans 6:12 is a crucial theological anchor for understanding the practical outworking of sanctification. It clarifies that while believers are justified by grace through faith, their new status in Christ demands an active, intentional resistance to sin's continuing allure. The verse does not suggest that sin is eradicated from the believer's life, but rather that its power to compel obedience has been broken. The Christian's struggle is no longer that of a slave under a master, but of a freed person choosing not to return to bondage. This ongoing battle is empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, enabling believers to fulfill the command to not let sin reign. It underscores the partnership between divine grace and human responsibility in the journey of spiritual transformation.

* [Romans 8:13](/romans/8-13 "Romans 8:13 - Putting to Death the Deeds of the Body")
* [Galatians 5:16](/galatians/5-16 "Galatians 5:16 - Walk by the Spirit")
* [1 Peter 2:11](/1_peter/2-11 "1 Peter 2:11 - Abstain from Fleshly Lusts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Romans 6:12 is a profound call to intentional living for the believer. It reminds us that our salvation in Christ is not a passive state but an active, dynamic reality that requires our daily participation. The "mortal body" is the very arena where our commitment to Christ is tested and proven. To "let not sin reign" means consciously choosing to align our thoughts, desires, and actions with the will of God, rather than yielding to the impulses of our fallen nature. This requires vigilance, self-denial, and a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit. It's a continuous process of presenting our bodies as instruments of righteousness, recognizing that while sin's power is broken, its presence remains, necessitating an ongoing spiritual discipline and surrender to Christ's lordship in every area of our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of your "mortal body" or daily life do you most often feel sin attempting to "reign" through its "lusts"?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to actively "not let sin reign" in those identified areas, drawing on your new identity in Christ?**
* **How does understanding your union with Christ (death to sin, resurrection to new life) empower you to resist sin's dominion, rather than relying solely on willpower?**

### FAQ

**Does Romans 6:12 imply that a believer can achieve sinless perfection in this life?**

Answer: No, Romans 6:12 does not imply sinless perfection. While it commands believers to actively prevent sin from reigning, it acknowledges the ongoing presence of the "mortal body" and its "lusts," which remain susceptible to temptation. The emphasis is on sin's *dominion* being broken, not its *presence* being eradicated. Believers are no longer *slaves* to sin, but they still struggle with its influence. The call is to a continuous, active resistance and a progressive growth in holiness, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Other passages, like [1 John 1:8](/1_john/1-8 "1 John 1:8 - If we say that we have no sin"), clearly state that "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." The goal is not perfection, but persistent obedience and reliance on God's grace when we stumble, knowing that sin no longer defines or controls us.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Romans 6:12 finds its ultimate fulfillment and enablement in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The command to "let not sin... reign" is not a legalistic burden but a joyful possibility made real by Christ's victory. Through His death, Christ broke the power and dominion of sin, freeing believers from its slavery, as affirmed in [Romans 6:6-7](/romans/6-6 "Romans 6:6-7 - Our Old Man Crucified"). His resurrection inaugurated a "newness of life" (Romans 6:4), where believers are now "alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:11). The Holy Spirit, given by Christ, indwells believers, providing the divine power necessary to resist the "lusts" of the mortal body and to walk in obedience, as promised in [Romans 8:4](/romans/8-4 "Romans 8:4 - The Righteousness of the Law Fulfilled in Us"). Therefore, Christ is not only the example of perfect obedience but also the empowering source who enables us to live out the reality of sin's dethronement, transforming us from slaves of sin into instruments of righteousness for God's glory ([Romans 6:13](/romans/6-13 "Romans 6:13 - Present Your Members to God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Galatians 5:16

[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Romans 6:16

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Galatians 5:24

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

1 John 2:15

Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:17

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Psalms 19:13

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.