Romans 5:12-6:23

New International Version

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,^(A) and death through sin,^(B) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned^(C)—

¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.^{(D) 14} Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam,^(E) who is a pattern of the one to come.^(F)

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,^(G) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,^(H) overflow to the many! ¹⁶ Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one man, death^(I) reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life^(J) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,^(K) so also one righteous act resulted in justification^(L) and life^(M) for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man^(N) the many were made sinners,^(O) so also through the obedience^(P) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.^(Q) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,^{(R) 21} so that, just as sin reigned in death,^(S) so also grace^(T) might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life^(U) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?^(V) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?^{(W) 2} By no means! We are those who have died to sin;^(X) how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized^(Y) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death^(Z) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(AA) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.^(AB)

⁵ 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.^{(AC) 6} For we know that our old self^(AD) was crucified with him^(AE) so that the body ruled by sin^(AF) might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(AG)— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(AH)

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.^{(AI) 9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,^(AJ) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.^{(AK) 10} The death he died, he died to sin^(AL) once for all;^(AM) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin^(AN) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(AO) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,^(AP) 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.^{(AQ) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(AR) because you are not under the law,^(AS) but under grace.^(AT)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(AU) By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey^(AV)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(AW) which leads to death,^(AX) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(AY) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(AZ) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(BA) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(BB) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(BC)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(BD) 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^(BE) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(BF) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(BG) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(BH) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(BI) and have become slaves of God,^(BJ) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(BK) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(BL) but the gift of God is eternal life^(BM) in^[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.