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

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin^(F) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(G) 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,^(H) 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.^{(I) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(J) because you are not under the law,^(K) but under grace.^(L)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(M) 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^(N)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(O) which leads to death,^(P) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(Q) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(R) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(S) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(T) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(U)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(V) 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^(W) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(X) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(Y) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(Z) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(AA) and have become slaves of God,^(AB) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(AC) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(AD) but the gift of God is eternal life^(AE) in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.