15 What then? (A)Are we to sin because we are not under [a]the Law but under grace? [b](B)Far from it! 16 Do you not (C)know that the one to whom you present yourselves as (D)slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of (E)sin [c]resulting in death, or of obedience [d]resulting in righteousness? 17 But (F)thanks be to God that [e]though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that [f](G)form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being (H)freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. 19 (I)I am speaking [g]in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just (J)as you presented [h]the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, [i]resulting in further lawlessness, so now present [j]your body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, [k]resulting in sanctification.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:15 Or law
  2. Romans 6:15 Lit May it never happen!
  3. Romans 6:16 Lit to death
  4. Romans 6:16 Lit to righteousness
  5. Romans 6:17 Lit you were slaves...but you became
  6. Romans 6:17 Or pattern
  7. Romans 6:19 I.e., reluctantly using slavery as an analogy
  8. Romans 6:19 Lit your parts as
  9. Romans 6:19 Lit to lawlessness
  10. Romans 6:19 Lit your parts as
  11. Romans 6:19 Lit to sanctification

15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

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