The New Life in Christ

6 What should we say then?^(A) Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?^{(B) 2} Absolutely not!^(C) How can we who died to sin^(D) still live in it? ³ Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized^(E) into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?^{(F) 4} Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death,^(G) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(H) by the glory of the Father,^(I) so we too may walk in a new way^[a] of life.^{(J) 5} For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death,^(K) we will certainly also be^[b] in the likeness of His resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self^[c](L) was crucified with Him^(M) in order that sin’s dominion over the body^[d] may be abolished,^(N) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, ⁷ since a person who has died^(O) is freed^[e] from sin’s claims.^{[f] 8} Now if we died with Christ,^(P) we believe that we will also live with Him, ⁹ because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead,^(Q) will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him.^{(R) 10} For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. ¹¹ So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin^(S) but alive to God in Christ Jesus.^[g]

¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey^[h] its desires. ¹³ And do not offer any parts^[i] of it to sin^(T) as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God,^(U) and all the parts^[j] of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law^(V) but under grace.^(W)

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

¹⁵ What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace?^(X) Absolutely not!^{(Y) 16} Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone^[k] as obedient slaves,^(Z) you are slaves of that one you obey^(AA)—either of sin leading to death^(AB) or of obedience leading to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin,^(AC) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred^[l] to,^{(AD) 18} and having been liberated from sin,^(AE) you became enslaved to righteousness. ¹⁹ I am using a human analogy^[m](AF) because of the weakness of your flesh.^[n] For just as you offered the parts^[o] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. ²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.^{[p](AG) 21} So what fruit was produced^[q] then from the things you are now ashamed of?^(AH) For the end of those things is death.^{(AI) 22} But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God,^(AJ) you have your fruit, which results in sanctification^[r](AK)—and the end is eternal life!^{(AL) 23} For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(AM)