1What shall we say then ? Shall we continue in sin , that grace may abound ? 2God forbid . How shall we , that are dead to sin , live any longer therein ? 3Know ye not , that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death : that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father , even so we also should walk in newness of life .
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death , we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection : 6Knowing this , that our old man is crucified with him , that the body of sin might be destroyed , that henceforth we should not serve sin . 7For he that is dead is freed from sin . 8Now if we be dead with Christ , we believe that we shall also live with him : 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more ; death hath no more dominion over him . 10For in that he died , he died unto sin once : but in that he liveth , he liveth unto God .
Presenting Ourselves to God
11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin , but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord . 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body , that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof . 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin : but yield yourselves unto God , as those that are alive from the dead , and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God . 14For sin shall not have dominion over you : for ye are not under the law , but under grace .
The Consequences of Sin and Righteousness
15What then ? shall we sin , because we are not under the law , but under grace ? God forbid . 16Know ye not , that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey , his servants ye are to whom ye obey ; whether of sin unto death , or of obedience unto righteousness ? 17But God be thanked , that ye were the servants of sin , but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you . 18Being then made free from sin , ye became the servants of righteousness . 19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh : for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity ; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness . 20For when ye were the servants of sin , ye were free from righteousness . 21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed ? for the end of those things is death . 22But now being made free from sin , and become servants to God , ye have your fruit unto holiness , and the end everlasting life . 23For the wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord .