1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue still in sinne, that grace may abounde? God forbid. 2 Howe shall we, that are dead to sinne, liue yet therein? 3 Knowe ye not, that all we which haue bene baptized into Iesus Christ, haue bene baptized into his death? 4 We are buried then with him by baptisme into his death, that like as Christ was raysed vp from the dead to the glorie of the Father, so we also should walke in newnesse of life. 5 For if we be planted with him to the similitude of his death, euen so shall we be to the similitude of his resurrection, 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sinne might be destroied, that henceforth we should not serue sinne. 7 For he that is dead, is freed from sinne. 8 Wherefore, if we bee dead with Christ, we beleeue that we shall liue also with him, 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more: death hath no more dominion ouer him. 10 For in that hee died, hee died once to sinne but in that he liueth, he liueth to God. 11 Likewise thinke ye also, that ye are dead to sin, but are aliue to God in Iesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sinne reigne therefore in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in ye lusts therof: 13 Neither giue ye your members, as weapons of vnrighteousnes vnto sinne: but giue your selues vnto God, as they that are aliue from the dead, and giue your members as weapons of righteousnesse vnto God. 14 For sinne shall not haue dominion ouer you: for ye are not vnder ye Lawe, but vnder grace. 15 What then? shall we sinne, because we are not vnder the Law, but vnder grace? God forbid. 16 Knowe ye not, that to whomsoeuer yee giue your selues as seruats to obey, his seruants ye are to whom ye obey, whether it be of sinne vnto death, or of obedience vnto righteousnesse? 17 But God be thanked, that ye haue beene the seruants of sinne, but yee haue obeyed from the heart vnto the forme of the doctrine, wherunto ye were deliuered. 18 Being then made free from sinne, yee are made the seruants of righteousnesse. 19 I speake after the maner of man, because of the infirmitie of your flesh: for as yee haue giuen your members seruants to vncleannes and to iniquitie, to commit iniquitie, so now giue your mebers seruants vnto righteousnesse in holinesse. 20 For when ye were the seruants of sinne, ye were freed from righteousnesse. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are nowe ashamed? For the ende of those things is death. 22 But now being freed from sinne, and made seruants vnto God, ye haue your fruit in holines, and the end, euerlasting life. 23 For the wages of sinne is death: but the gift of God is eternall life, through Iesus Christ our Lord.
Dead to Sin but Alive in Union with Christ
1 What shall we say, then? Should we continue to live in sin so that God's grace will increase? 2 Certainly not! We have died to sin—how then can we go on living in it? 3 For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. 4 By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life.
5 For since we have become one with him in dying as he did, in the same way we shall be one with him by being raised to life as he was. 6 And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed, so that we should no longer be the slaves of sin. 7 For when we die, we are set free from the power of sin. 8 Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that Christ has been raised from death and will never die again—death will no longer rule over him. 10 And so, because he died, sin has no power over him; and now he lives his life in fellowship with God. 11 In the same way you are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concerned, but living in fellowship with God through Christ Jesus.
12 Sin must no longer rule in your mortal bodies, so that you obey the desires of your natural self. 13 Nor must you surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. 14 Sin must not be your master; for you do not live under law but under God's grace.
Slaves of Righteousness
15 What, then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under God's grace? By no means! 16 Surely you know that when you surrender yourselves as slaves to obey someone, you are in fact the slaves of the master you obey—either of sin, which results in death, or of obedience, which results in being put right with God. 17 But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received. 18 You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. 19 (I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes.
20 When you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21 What did you gain from doing the things that you are now ashamed of? The result of those things is death! 22 But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life. 23 For sin pays its wage—death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.