Study Desk

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

What shall we say, then?^(a) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?^(b)

By no means! We are those who have died to sin;^(c) how can we live in it any longer?

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized^(d) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death^(e) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(f) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.^(g)

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.^(h)

For we know that our old self⁽ⁱ⁾ was crucified with him^(j) so that the body ruled by sin^(k) might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(l)—

because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(m)

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.⁽ⁿ⁾

For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,^(o) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.^(p)

The death he died, he died to sin^(q) once for all;^(r) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin^(s) but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore do not let sin reign^(t) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,^(u) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.^(v)

For sin shall no longer be your master,^(w) because you are not under the law,^(x) but under grace.^(y)

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(z) By no means!

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey^(aa)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(ab) which leads to death,^(ac) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

But thanks be to God^(ad) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(ae) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(af) that has now claimed your allegiance.

You have been set free from sin^(ag) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(ah)

I am using an example from everyday life^(ai) 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^(aj) leading to holiness.

When you were slaves to sin,^(ak) you were free from the control of righteousness.^(al)

What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^(am)

But now that you have been set free from sin^(an) and have become slaves of God,^(ao) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^(ap)

For the wages of sin is death,^(aq) but the gift of God is eternal life^(ar) in^[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.