⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(A) and the power of sin is the law.^(B)

¹⁵ because the law brings wrath.^(A) And where there is no law there is no transgression.^(B)

¹⁰ For all who rely on the works of the law^(A) are under a curse,^(B) as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”^{[a](C) 11} Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God,^(D) because “the righteous will live by faith.”^{[b](E) 12} The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[c](F) 13} Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law^(G) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”^[d](H)

⁵ For when we were in the realm of the flesh,^[a](A) the sinful passions aroused by the law^(B) were at work in us,^(C) so that we bore fruit for death.^{(D) 6} But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law^(E) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.^(F)

The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(G) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(H) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(I) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^{[b](J) 8} But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(K) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.^{(L) 9} Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. ¹⁰ I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life^(M) actually brought death. ¹¹ For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(N) deceived me,^(O) and through the commandment put me to death. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.^(P)

¹³ Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good^(Q) to bring about my death,^(R) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

²³ For the wages of sin is death,^(A) but the gift of God is eternal life^(B) in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

²⁴ I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,^(A) you will indeed die in your sins.”

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.^(A) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,^(B)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,^(A) and death through sin,^(B) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned^(C)—

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.^(D)

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die^(A) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”^(B)