Wine Is a Mocker

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? ^(A)Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who ^(B)died to sin live any longer in it? ³ Or do you not know that ^(C)as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus ^(D)were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were ^(E)buried with Him through baptism into death, that ^(F)just as Christ was raised from the dead by ^(G)the glory of the Father, ^(H)even so we also should walk in newness of life.

^5 (I)For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that ^(J)our old man was crucified with Him, that ^(K)the body of sin might be ^[a]done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ⁷ For ^(L)he who has died has been ^[b]freed from sin. ⁸ Now ^(M)if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, ⁹ knowing that ^(N)Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. ¹⁰ For the death that He died, ^(O)He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, ^(P)He lives to God. ¹¹ Likewise you also, ^[c]reckon yourselves to be ^(Q)dead indeed to sin, but ^(R)alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

^12 (S)Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your ^(T)members as ^[d]instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but ^(U)present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. ¹⁴ For ^(V)sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin ^(W)because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Do you not know that ^(X)to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? ¹⁷ But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart ^(Y)that form of doctrine to which you were ^[e]delivered. ¹⁸ And ^(Z)having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. ¹⁹ I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness ^[f]for holiness.

²⁰ For when you were ^(AA)slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ^21 (AB)What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For ^(AC)the end of those things is death. ²² But now ^(AD)having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit ^[g]to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. ²³ For ^(AE)the wages of sin is death, but ^(AF)the ^[h]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Living Sacrifices to God

12 I ^(A)beseech^[a] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies ^(B)a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your ^[b]reasonable service. ² And ^(C)do not be conformed to this world, but ^(D)be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may ^(E)prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Glorify God in Body and Spirit

^12 (A)All things are lawful for me, but all things are not ^[a]helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of ^[b]any. ^13 (B)Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for ^(C)sexual immorality but ^(D)for the Lord, ^(E)and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴ And ^(F)God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up ^(G)by His power.

¹⁵ Do you not know that ^(H)your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ^(I)“the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” ^17 (J)But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

^18 (K)Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins ^(L)against his own body. ¹⁹ Or ^(M)do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, ^(N)and you are not your own? ²⁰ For ^(O)you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body ^[c]and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

¹⁷ Brethren, ^(A)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as ^(B)you have us for a pattern. ¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are ^(C)the enemies of the cross of Christ: ^19 (D)whose end is destruction, ^(E)whose god is their belly, and ^(F)whose glory is in their shame—^(G)who set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰ For ^(H)our citizenship is in heaven, ^(I)from which we also ^(J)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (K)who will transform our lowly body that it may be ^(L)conformed to His glorious body, ^(M)according to the working by which He is able even to ^(N)subdue all things to Himself.

Be Anxious for Nothing; Think These Thoughts

4 Therefore, my beloved and ^(O)longed-for brethren, ^(P)my joy and crown, so ^(Q)stand fast in the Lord, beloved.