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.

^24 (A)“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If ^(B)they have called the master of the house ^[a]Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! ²⁶ Therefore do not fear them. ^(C)For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God^(D)

²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, ^(E)speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ^28 (F)And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather ^(G)fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^[b]hell. ²⁹ Are not two ^(H)sparrows sold for a ^[c]copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ^30 (I)But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Confess Christ Before Men^(J)

^32 (K)“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, ^(L)him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ^33 (M)But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Christ Brings Division^(N)

^34 (O)“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to ^(P)‘set^[d] a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ^(Q)‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ ^37 (R)He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ^38 (S)And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ^39 (T)He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.