Romans 6:10

In that he died. Literally, “that which he died,” which may be translated, “the death he died.” Compare, “the life which I now live,” literally, “that which I live” (Galatians 2:20).

Died unto sin. He became “sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The sin that He bore was not His, but ours (see 1 Peter 2:22, 24). But when Christ humbled Himself and became obedient unto death (Philippians 2:8), the claim upon Him as our sin bearer was satisfied. The purpose for which His voluntary submission was undertaken had been accomplished once for all (see Romans 3:25, 26).

Once. Greek ephapax, “once for all.” There is no need for the sacrifice to be repeated (see Hebrews 7:27; 9:12, 26, 28; 10:10).

In that he liveth. Literally, “that which He lives,” which may be rendered, “the life that He lives.” In the words “he liveth” we have the testimony of one who had seen the Lord. In the blinding light that shone around him on the road to Damascus, Paul recognized a divine presence and asked, “Who art thou, Lord?” Then came the astounding discovery that Jesus, whose followers he was persecuting, was alive (Acts 9:3-9).

Unto God. Christ’s life on earth was also, of course, “unto God.” But Paul seems to be drawing a distinction between Christ’s life on earth, a life of conflict with sin and subjection to death, and His present glorified life, exalted to the right hand of the Father (John 17:5; Acts 7:55). Because He was “made ... to be sin” for our sake (2 Corinthians 5:21), Jesus felt “the Father’s wrath upon Him as man’s substitute” (Desire of Ages, p. 753). But now that He has triumphed over sin and death, He once again enjoys uninterrupted communion with the Father and lives “unto God.”