In this chapter, Paul refutes the teaching that Christians can live however they want after they are saved. Scholars call this teaching "antinomianism" or being "against the law." This is because people are trying to live without any type of rules in their life. Paul recalls the great price Jesus paid for a Christian to be saved to motivate godly living. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/save]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/godly]])
Before believing in Jesus, people are servants or slaves of sin. After being saved, Christians are freed from serving sin and are able to choose to serve Christ in their lives. Paul explains that when a Christian chooses to sin, it is because the person has willingly chosen sin. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/faith]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
This chapter uses the imagery of fruit. The image of fruit usually refers to a person's faith producing good works in their life. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/fruit]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous]])
Paul uses rhetorical questions in this chapter. It appears the intent of these rhetorical questions is to make the reader see their sin so they will trust in Jesus. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]], [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/guilt]] and [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/sin]])
"Death" is used many different ways in this chapter: physical death, spiritual death, sin reigning in the heart of man, and to end something. Sin and death contrast with the new life provided by Christ and the new way Christians are supposed to live after they are saved. (See: [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/death]])
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