⁶ For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,^(A) so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

² because through Christ Jesus^(A) the law of the Spirit who gives life^(B) has set you^[a] free^(C) from the law of sin^(D) and death.

¹⁹ After being made alive,^[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(A)—

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh^(A) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(B) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(C) they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you,^(D) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[a] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(E) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies^(F) because of^[b] his Spirit who lives in you.

²⁵ Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come^(A) when the dead will hear^(B) the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life^(C) in himself.

³ At one time^(A) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness^(B) and love of God our Savior^(C) appeared,^{(D) 5} he saved us,^(E) not because of righteous things we had done,^(F) but because of his mercy.^(G) He saved us through the washing^(H) of rebirth and renewal^(I) by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us^(J) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace,^(K) we might become heirs^(L) having the hope^(M) of eternal life.^(N)

³ All of us also lived among them at one time,^(A) gratifying the cravings of our flesh^[a](B) and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us,^(C) God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions^(D)—it is by grace you have been saved.^(E)

²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit,^(A) let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Living for God

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body,^(A) arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.^{(B) 2} As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,^(C) but rather for the will of God.