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

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

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

¹⁰ For all who rely on works of the law are ^(A)under a curse; for it is written, ^(B)“Cursed be everyone who does not ^(C)abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” ¹¹ Now it is evident that ^(D)no one is justified before God by the law, for ^(E)“The righteous shall live by faith.”^{[a] 12} But the law is not of faith, rather ^(F)“The one who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ ^(G)redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ^(H)“Cursed is everyone who is hanged ^(I)on a tree”—

⁵ For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work ^(A)in our members ^(B)to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the ^(C)new way of ^(D)the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.^[a]

The Law and Sin

⁷ What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, ^(E)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if ^(F)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, ^(G)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. ^(H)For apart from the law, sin lies dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. ¹⁰ The very commandment ^(I)that promised life proved to be death to me. ¹¹ For sin, ^(J)seizing an opportunity through the commandment, ^(K)deceived me and through it killed me. ¹² So ^(L)the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

¹³ Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

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

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

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

¹² Therefore, just as ^(A)sin came into the world through one man, and ^(B)death through sin, and ^(C)so death spread to all men^[a] because ^(D)all sinned— ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but ^(E)sin is not counted where there is no law.

²⁴ I told you that you ^(A)would die in your sins, for ^(B)unless you believe that ^(C)I am he you will die in your sins.”

²¹ So he said to them again, ^(A)“I am going away, and ^(B)you will seek me, and ^(C)you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”