²⁰ Now ^(A)the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, ^(B)grace abounded all the more,

³ For ^(A)we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. ⁴ But when ^(B)the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, ^(C)not because of works done by us in righteousness, but ^(D)according to his own mercy, by ^(E)the washing of regeneration and ^(F)renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he ^(G)poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that ^(H)being justified by his grace we might become ^(I)heirs ^(J)according to the hope of eternal life.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? ^(A)Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

¹⁴ For ^(A)sin ^(B)will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

¹⁵ For ^(A)the law brings wrath, but ^(B)where there is no law ^(C)there is no transgression.

¹⁹ Why then the law? ^(A)It was added because of transgressions, ^(B)until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ^(C)put in place through angels ^(D)by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now ^(E)an intermediary implies more than one, but ^(F)God is one.

²¹ Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For ^(G)if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. ²² But the Scripture ^(H)imprisoned everything under sin, so that ^(I)the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given ^(J)to those who believe.

²³ Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, ^(K)imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. ²⁴ So then, ^(L)the law was our ^(M)guardian until Christ came, ^(N)in order that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, ^(A)which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

By Grace Through Faith

2 ^(A)And you were ^(B)dead in the trespasses and sins ^2 (C)in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following ^(D)the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in ^(E)the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in ^(F)the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and ^(G)were by nature ^(H)children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^{[b] 4} But^[c] God, being ^(I)rich in mercy, ^(J)because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even ^(K)when we were dead in our trespasses, ^(L)made us alive together with Christ—^(M)by grace you have been saved—