Dead to Sin, Alive to God
1 What shall we say then?Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 Certainly not! How shall we whodied to sin live any longer in it?
3 Or do you not know thatas many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesuswere baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we wereburied with Him through baptism into death, thatjust as Christ was raised from the dead bythe glory of the Father,even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall beinthelikenessofHisresurrection,
6 knowing this, thatour old man was crucified withHim,thatthe body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7 Forhe who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Nowif we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing thatChrist, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
10 Forthedeaththat He died,He died to sin once for all; butthelifethat He lives,He lives to God.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to bedead indeed to sin, butalive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
13 And do not present yourmembersasinstruments of unrighteousness to sin, butpresent yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your membersasinstruments of righteousness to God.
14 Forsin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God
15 What then? Shall we sinbecause we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
16 Do you not know thatto whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sinleadingto death, or of obedienceleadingto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked thatthoughyou were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heartthat form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
18 Andhaving been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
19 I speak in humantermsbecause of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your membersasslaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessnessleadingtomorelawlessness, so now present your membersasslavesofrighteousness for holiness.
20 For when you wereslaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? Forthe end of those thingsisdeath.
22 But nowhaving been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
23 Forthe wages of sinisdeath, butthe gift of Godiseternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.