Romans 6
Contemporary English Version
Dead to Sin but Alive because of Christ
6 What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's gift of undeserved grace will show up even better? 2 No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? 3 Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? 4 (A) When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
5 If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. 6 We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. 7 We know sin doesn't have power over dead people.
8 As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. 9 We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. 10 When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. 11 In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God.
12 Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires 13 or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God. 14 Don't let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God's undeserved grace and not by the Law.
Slaves Who Do What Pleases God
15 What does all this mean? Does it mean we are free to sin, because we are ruled by God's gift of undeserved grace and not by the Law? Certainly not! 16 Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. 17 You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you followed the example set forth in the teaching you received. 18 Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God.
19 I am using these everyday examples, because in some ways you are still weak. You used to let the different parts of your body be slaves of your evil thoughts. But now you must make every part of your body serve God, so that you will belong completely to him.
20 When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. 21 But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. 22 Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. 23 Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6
Christian Standard Bible
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 newness[a] of life.(J) 5 For if we have been united 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) so that the body ruled by sin[d] might be rendered powerless(N) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died(O) is freed[e] from sin. 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 the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin(S) and alive to God in Christ Jesus.[f]
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey[g] its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts[h] 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 of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the 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 the law but under grace?(X) Absolutely not!(Y) 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone[i] 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 to which you were handed[j] over,(AD) 18 and having been set free from sin,(AE) you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy(AF) because of the weakness of your flesh.[k] For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to 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 with regard to righteousness.[l](AG) 21 So what fruit was produced[m] then from the things you are now ashamed of?(AH) The outcome of those things is death.(AI) 22 But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God,(AJ) you have your fruit, which results in sanctification(AK)—and the outcome 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)
Footnotes
- 6:4 Or a new way
- 6:5 Be joined with him
- 6:6 Lit man
- 6:6 Lit that the body of sin
- 6:7 Or justified; lit acquitted
- 6:11 Other mss add our Lord
- 6:12 Other mss add sin (lit it) in
- 6:13 Or members, also in v. 19
- 6:16 Lit that to whom you offer yourselves
- 6:17 Or entrusted
- 6:19 Or your human nature
- 6:20 Lit free to righteousness
- 6:21 Lit what fruit do you have
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