2 My dear children,^(A) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate^(B) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,^(C) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.^(D)

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?^(A) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?^{(B) 2} By no means! We are those who have died to sin;^(C) how can we live in it any longer?

¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(A) 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,^(B) 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.^{(C) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(D) because you are not under the law,^(E) but under grace.^(F)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(G) 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^(H)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(I) which leads to death,^(J) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(K) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(L) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(M) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(N) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(O)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(P) 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^(Q) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(R) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(S) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(T) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(U) and have become slaves of God,^(V) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^(W)