Romans 6
Living a New Life
1 What should we say then? Should we keep on sinning so that God's grace can increase?2 Not at all! As far as sin is concerned, we are dead. So how can we keep on sinning?3 All of us were baptized into Christ Jesus. Don't you know that we were baptized into his death?4 By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father's glory. And like Christ we also can live a new life.
5 By being baptized, we have been joined with him in his death. We will certainly also be joined with him in his resurrection.6 We know that what we used to be was nailed to the cross with him. That happened so our sinful bodies would lose their power. We are no longer slaves of sin.7 Those who have died have been set free from sin.
8 We died with Christ. So we believe that we will also live with him.9 We know that Christ was raised from the dead and will never die again. Death doesn't control him anymore.10 When he died, he died once and for all time as far as sin is concerned. Now that he lives, he lives as far as God is concerned.
11 In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned. Now that you believe in Christ Jesus, consider yourselves to be alive as far as God is concerned.
12 So don't let sin rule your body, which is going to die. Don't obey its evil longings.13 Don't give the parts of your body to serve sin. Don't let them be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. Give the parts of your body to him to do what is right.
14 Sin will not be your master. Law does not rule you. God's grace has set you free.
Slaves to Right Living
15 What should we say then? Should we sin because we are not ruled by law but by God's grace? Not at all!
16 Don't you know that when you give yourselves to obey someone you become that person's slave? You can be slaves of sin. Then you will die. Or you can be slaves who obey God. Then you will live a godly life.17 You used to be slaves of sin. But thank God that with your whole heart you obeyed the teachings you were given!18 You have been set free from sin. You have become slaves to right living.
19 Because you are human, you find this hard to understand. So I have said it in a way that will help you understand it. You used to give the parts of your body to be slaves to unclean living. You were becoming more and more evil. Now give your bodies to be slaves to right living. Then you will become holy.
20 Once you were slaves of sin. At that time right living did not control you.21 What benefit did you gain from doing the things you are now ashamed of? Those things lead to death!
22 You have been set free from sin. God has made you his slaves. The benefit you gain leads to holy living. And the end result is eternal life.23 When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.
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.