Book of Common Prayer

Since we have been delivered from sin through Christ, we must fashion ourselves to live as the servants of God, not following our own desires. The different rewards of righteousness and sin.

6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, so that there may be an abundance of grace? ² God forbid. How can we, who are dead as regards sin, live any longer in it? ³ Do you not remember that all we who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, are baptized to die with him? ⁴ We are buried with him by baptism in order to die, so that in the same way as Christ was raised up from death by the glory of the Father, we also may walk in a new life. ⁵ For if we are grafted in death like him, so also must we be in the resurrection. ⁶ We must remember that our old man is crucified with him also, so that the body of sin may utterly be destroyed, to the intent that henceforth we will not be servants of sin. ⁷ For he who is dead, is justified from sin.

⁸ And so if we are dead with Christ, we believe that we are to live with him – ⁹ remembering that Christ, once raised from death, dies no more. Death no longer has power over him. ¹⁰ For concerning that he died, he died as to sin once. And concerning that he lives, he lives unto God. ¹¹ Think of yourselves also in the same way: that you are dead concerning sin, but are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

³³ They answered him, We are Abraham’s seed, and were never bond to any man. Why do you say then, You shall be made free?

³⁴ Jesus answered them, Truly truly I say to you that whoever commits sin, is the servant of sin. ³⁵ And the servant does not abide in the house forever. But the Son abides forever. ³⁶ If the Son therefore makes you free, then you are free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s seed. But you seek means to kill me, because my sayings have no place in you. ³⁸ I speak that which I have seen with my Father, and you do that which you have seen with your father.

³⁹ They answered and said to him, Abraham is our father.

Jesus said to them, If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the deeds of Abraham.  ⁴⁰ But now you are going about to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I have heard from God. This Abraham did not do. ⁴¹ You do the deeds of your father.

Then they said to him, We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, who is God.

⁴² Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, then you would love me. For I proceeded forth and come from God. Neither did I come of myself, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why do you not know my speech? Even because you cannot abide the hearing of my words. ⁴⁴ You are of your father, the devil, and your will is to follow the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and did not abide in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own nature. For he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ And because I tell you the truth, therefore you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Which of you can rebuke me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷ He who is of God hears God’s words. You therefore do not hear them, because you are not of God.