As Paul continues in Romans, he turns to the issue of sin. Sin does not and must not reign in our lives, because we have been joined to Christ - we are in union with him. In verses 3-4, Paul uses baptism as a picture, a reminder of our union with Christ. Because we are in union with Christ, we are dead to sin, it no longer has the power in our lives. Paul calls these believers in Rome and us today, to stop yielding ourselves to sin. Stop allowing sin to be the boss in our lives. This is possible because of our union with Christ in his death and in his resurrection. Baptism is a vivid picture of our union with Jesus.

Throughout Romans, Paul offers a defense of what he believes and teachers about the gospel for these believers in Rome he has not yet met. Some of these believers may have been questioning him, his message, and how it relates to Judaism. Paul writes to explain at length the connection of Jesus, the gospel and to defend it, in spite of the rejection of Jesus as the Jewish Messiah by many Jews.