Verse 12
Paul had expounded the reality and implications of the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:1-10). He had also urged his readers, therefore, to consider themselves dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11). He now proceeded to call on them to present themselves to God in a decisive act of self-dedication (Romans 6:12-23).
"Therefore" draws a conclusion on the basis of what has preceded. Since believers know that we are no longer subject to sin’s domination, and since we believe that is true, we should not let sin reign in our bodies (selves) any longer. Sin is no longer our master, so we can and should stop carrying out its orders. Paul undoubtedly was giving a general prohibition, not implying that the Roman Christians in particular were letting sin reign over them (cf. Romans 15:14-15). When temptation comes, we do not have to yield.
". . . ’passions’ would include not only the physical lusts and appetites but also those desires that reside in the mind and will: the desire to have our own way, the desire to possess what other people have (cf. Romans 7:7-8), the desire to have dominance over others." [Note: Moo, p. 383.]
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