Book of Common Prayer
So Don’t Let Sin Reign In You, But Present Yourselves To God As Alive From The Dead
12 Therefore do not let sin be reigning in your mortal body so that you are obeying its desires, 13 nor be presenting your body-parts to sin as instruments[a] of unrighteousness. But present yourselves to God as-if [b] being alive from the dead, and your body-parts to God as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not lord-over you— for you are not under the Law[c], but under grace.
This Does Not Mean We Should Sin Because We Are Not Under Law, But Under Grace
15 Therefore, what? Should we sin[d] because we are not under the Law but under grace? May it never be!
You Were Freed From Slavery To Sin. So Present Yourselves As Slaves of Righteousness
16 Do you not know that to whom you are presenting yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whom you are obeying— whether slaves of sin leading-to[e] death, or slaves of obedience leading-to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that you were slaves of sin, but you obeyed from the heart the form[f] of teaching to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set-free from sin, you were enslaved[g] to righteousness 19 (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh). For just as you presented your body-parts as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading-to lawlessness, so now present your body-parts as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness.
The Fruit of Sin Is Shame And Death; Righteousness Leads To Holiness And Life
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free to[h] righteousness. 21 So what fruit were you having at that time? Things[i] over which you are now ashamed! For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been set-free from sin and enslaved to God, you are having your fruit leading-to holiness. And the outcome is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
47 The one being of [a] God hears the words of God. For this reason you are not hearing— because you are not of God”.
I Am Honoring My Father. If You Keep My Word, You Will Never See Death
48 The Jews responded and said to Him, “Do we not rightly say that You are a Samaritan[b] and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I am honoring My Father, and you are dishonoring Me. 50 But I am not seeking My glory. There is the One seeking it, and judging. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you— if anyone keeps My word, he will never[c] see death, ever”.
You Do Not Know God, But I Do. And Abraham Was Glad When He Saw My Day
52 So the Jews said to Him, “Now we have come-to-know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets! And You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death, ever!’ 53 You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? The prophets died also. Whom do You make Yourself ?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. The One glorifying Me is My Father— Whom you say that ‘He is our God’. 55 And you have not come-to-know Him, but I know Him. And if I say that I do not know Him, I will be a liar like you. But I know Him, and I am keeping His word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced-greatly to see My day. And he saw it, and was glad”.
Before Abraham Was, I Am. Hearing This, They Picked Up Stones To Kill Jesus
57 So the Jews said to Him, “You do not yet have fifty years, and You have seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you— before Abraham came-into-being[d], I am[e]”. 59 Therefore they picked up stones in order that they might throw them at Him. But Jesus was hidden[f], and went out of the temple.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing