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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15 What, then, does this mean?[a] Should we go on sinning because we are not under Law but under grace? Of course not! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, though you were once slaves of sin, you became obedient from your hearts to that form of teaching with which you were entrusted! 18 And since you have been freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

19 I am speaking in simple[b] terms because of the frailty of your human nature.[c] Just as you once offered the parts of your body[d] as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater disobedience, so now, in the same way, you must offer the parts of your body[e] as slaves to righteousness that leads to sanctification.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 6:15 The Gk. lacks does this mean
  2. Romans 6:19 Lit. human
  3. Romans 6:19 Lit. your flesh
  4. Romans 6:19 Lit. your members
  5. Romans 6:19 Lit. your members