Add parallel Print Page Options

Since we have been delivered from sin through Christ, we must fashion ourselves to live as the servants of God, not following our own desires. The different rewards of righteousness and sin.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, so that there may be an abundance of grace? God forbid. How can we, who are dead as regards sin, live any longer in it? Do you not remember that all we who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, are baptized to die with him? We are buried with him by baptism in order to die, so that in the same way as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the Father, we also may walk in a new life. For if we are grafted in death like him, so also must we be in the resurrection. We must remember that our old man is crucified with him also, so that the body of sin may utterly be destroyed, to the intent that henceforth we will not be servants of sin. For he who is dead, is justified from sin.

And so if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we are to live with him – remembering that Christ, once raised from death, dies no more. Death no longer has power over him. 10 For concerning that he died, he died as to sin once. And concerning that he lives, he lives unto God. 11 Think of yourselves also in the same way: that you are dead concerning sin, but are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Therefore let not sin reign in your mortal bodies, so that you bow to it in its affections and lusts. 13 Neither give your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. But give yourselves unto God as people who are alive from death, and give your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 Let not sin have power over you. For you are not under the law, but under grace.

  15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Do you not consider that whomever you commit yourselves to, as servants to obey, his servants you are? – whomever you bow to, whether it be through sin to death, or through obedience to righteousness. 17 But God be thanked that, though you were once the servants of sin, you have conformed with heart to the model of instruction unto which you were delivered. 18 You are then made free from sin, and have become the servants of righteousness.

  19 I will speak plainly, because of the infirmity of your flesh. Just as you once gave your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity, from iniquity to iniquity, so now give your members as servants to righteousness so that you may be sanctified. 20 For when you were the servants of sin, you were not under righteousness. 21 What fruit had you then, in those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now you are delivered from sin, and made the servants of God, and have as your fruit to be sanctified, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the reward of sin is death, but eternal life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.