²⁰ When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.

¹⁶ Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. ¹⁷ Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.

³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.