Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?(A) By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey(B)—whether you are slaves to sin,(C) which leads to death,(D) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God(E) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,(F) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching(G) that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin(H) and have become slaves to righteousness.(I)

19 I am using an example from everyday life(J) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness(K) leading to holiness.

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From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace?(A) Absolutely not!(B) 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone[a] as obedient slaves,(C) you are slaves of that one you obey(D)—either of sin leading to death(E) or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin,(F) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred[b] to,(G) 18 and having been liberated from sin,(H) you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy[c](I) because of the weakness of your flesh.[d] For just as you offered the parts[e] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:16 Lit that to whom you offer yourselves
  2. Romans 6:17 Or entrusted
  3. Romans 6:19 Lit I speak humanly; Paul is personifying sin and righteousness as slave masters.
  4. Romans 6:19 Or your human nature
  5. Romans 6:19 Or members