Romans 6

No Longer Slaves to Sin, but God’s Servants

1 What should we say then? Should we continue to sin so that God’s kindnesst will increase?

2 That’s unthinkable! As far as sin is concerned, we have died. So how can we still live under sin’s influence?
3 Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?4 When we were baptized into his death, we were placed into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life.5 If we’ve become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life as he did.6 We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies. Because of this we are no longer slaves to sin.

7 The person who has died has been freed from sin.
8 If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.9 We know that Christ, who was brought back to life, will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.10 When he died, he died once and for all to sin’s power. But now he lives, and he lives for God.

11 So consider yourselves dead to sin’s power but living for God in the power Christ Jesus gives you.
12 Therefore, never let sin rule your physical body so that you obey its desires.13 Never offer any part of your body to sin’s power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of.

14 Certainly, sin shouldn’t have power over you because you’re not controlled by laws, but by God’s favor.t
15 Then what is the implication? Should we sin because we are not controlled by laws but are controlled by God’s favor? That’s unthinkable!16 Don’t you know that if you offer to be someone’s slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting obedience be your master leads to God’s approval.17 You were slaves to sin. But I thank God that you have become wholeheartedly obedient to the teachings which you were given.

18 Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of.
19 I’m speaking in a human way because of the weakness of your corrupt nature. Clearly, you once offered all the parts of your body as slaves to sexual perversion and disobedience. This led you to live disobedient lives. Now, in the same way, offer all the parts of your body as slaves that do what God approves of. This leads you to live holy lives.

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from doing what God approves of.
21 What did you gain by doing those things? You’re ashamed of what you used to do because it ended in death.22 Now you have been freed from sin and have become God’s slaves. This results in a holy life and, finally, in everlasting life.

23 The reward for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection;6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;7 for he that hath died is justified from sin.8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him.10 For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God.11 Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.16 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification.20 For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.21 What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.23 For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.