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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.

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