The New Life in Christ

What should we say then?(A) Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?(B) Absolutely not!(C) How can we who died to sin(D) still live in it? Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized(E) into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?(F) Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death,(G) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead(H) by the glory of the Father,(I) so we too may walk in a new way[a] of life.(J) For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death,(K) we will certainly also be[b] in the likeness of His resurrection. For we know that our old self[c](L) was crucified with Him(M) in order that sin’s dominion over the body[d] may be abolished,(N) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died(O) is freed[e] from sin’s claims.[f] Now if we died with Christ,(P) we believe that we will also live with Him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead,(Q) will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him.(R) 10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin(S) but alive to God in Christ Jesus.[g]

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey[h] its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts[i] of it to sin(T) as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God,(U) and all the parts[j] of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law(V) but under grace.(W)

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace?(X) Absolutely not!(Y) 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone[k] as obedient slaves,(Z) you are slaves of that one you obey(AA)—either of sin leading to death(AB) or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin,(AC) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred[l] to,(AD) 18 and having been liberated from sin,(AE) you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy[m](AF) because of the weakness of your flesh.[n] For just as you offered the parts[o] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.[p](AG) 21 So what fruit was produced[q] then from the things you are now ashamed of?(AH) For the end of those things is death.(AI) 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God,(AJ) you have your fruit, which results in sanctification[r](AK)—and the end is eternal life!(AL) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:4 Or in newness
  2. Romans 6:5 Be joined with Him
  3. Romans 6:6 Lit man; = the person before conversion
  4. Romans 6:6 Lit that the body of sin
  5. Romans 6:7 Or justified; lit acquitted
  6. Romans 6:7 Lit from sin
  7. Romans 6:11 Other mss add our Lord
  8. Romans 6:12 Other mss add sin (lit it) in
  9. Romans 6:13 Or members
  10. Romans 6:13 Or members
  11. Romans 6:16 Lit that to whom you offer yourselves
  12. Romans 6:17 Or entrusted
  13. Romans 6:19 Lit I speak humanly; Paul is personifying sin and righteousness as slave masters.
  14. Romans 6:19 Or your human nature
  15. Romans 6:19 Or members
  16. Romans 6:20 Lit free to righteousness
  17. Romans 6:21 Lit what fruit do you have
  18. Romans 6:22 Or holiness

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

What shall we say, then?(A) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?(B) By no means! We are those who have died to sin;(C) how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized(D) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death(E) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead(F) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.(G)

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.(H) For we know that our old self(I) was crucified with him(J) so that the body ruled by sin(K) might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin(L) because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.(M)

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.(N) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,(O) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.(P) 10 The death he died, he died to sin(Q) once for all;(R) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin(S) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign(T) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,(U) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.(V) 14 For sin shall no longer be your master,(W) because you are not under the law,(X) but under grace.(Y)

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?(Z) By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey(AA)—whether you are slaves to sin,(AB) which leads to death,(AC) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God(AD) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,(AE) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching(AF) that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin(AG) and have become slaves to righteousness.(AH)

19 I am using an example from everyday life(AI) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness(AJ) leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin,(AK) you were free from the control of righteousness.(AL) 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!(AM) 22 But now that you have been set free from sin(AN) and have become slaves of God,(AO) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.(AP) 23 For the wages of sin is death,(AQ) but the gift of God is eternal life(AR) in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless
  2. Romans 6:23 Or through