What does Romans 6:7 mean?

Paul has described a startling and strange idea in the previous verse, though it is truly joyful once we understand it. The big idea is this: Those who are not in Christ live under the control of sin. They are compelled to sin, to serve self in all the ways that are against God's direction for us. When someone comes to God by faith in Christ, however, that person actually experiences a spiritual death. Specifically, their "old self" is spiritually crucified, as Christ was physically crucified. The slave-driver of sin is done away with in that crucifixion. That person is literally freed from the power of sin to control his or her life.

So Paul writes in this verse that one who has died in this way, being spiritually crucified with Christ, has been set free from sin. Sin is not in charge of our lives any longer. It can no longer compel us to do it our way instead of God's way. It will become clear in the following verses that we have not lost our desire to sin, but it no longer controls us. Now if we sin, we are simply giving in to temptations and old habits.

Paul will show us why we should not continue to do so.