³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^(A)

⁶ For we know that our old self^(A) was crucified with him^(B) so that the body ruled by sin^(C) might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(D)— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(E)

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.^{(F) 9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,^(G) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.^{(H) 10} The death he died, he died to sin^(I) once for all;^(J) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Slaves to Righteousness

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

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(J) 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^(K) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(L) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(M) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(N) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(O) and have become slaves of God,^(P) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(Q) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(R) but the gift of God is eternal life^(S) in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(A)