1What should we say then?6:1 Rm 3:5 Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?6:1 Rm 3:8; 6:15

2Absolutely not!6:2 Lk 20:16 How can we who died to sin6:2 Rm 7:4,6; Gl 2:19; Col 2:20; 3:3; 1Pt 2:24 still live in it?

3Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized6:3 Mt 28:19; 1Co 1:13–17; 12:13; Gl 3:27 into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?6:3 Ac 2:38; 8:16; 19:5

4Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death,6:4 Col 2:12 in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead6:4 Ac 2:24 by the glory of the Father,6:4 Jn 11:40; 2Co 13:4 so we too may walk in newness6:4 Or a new way of life.6:4 Rm 7:6; 2Co 5:17; Gl 6:15; Eph 4:23–24; Col 3:10

5For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death,6:5 2Co 4:10; Php 3:10; Col 2:12; 3:1 we will certainly also be6:5 Be joined with him in the likeness of his resurrection.

6For we know that our old self6:6 Lit man6:6 Eph 4:22; Col 3:9 was crucified with him6:6 Gl 2:20; 5:24; 6:14 so that the body ruled by sin6:6 Lit that the body of sin might be rendered powerless6:6 Rm 7:24 so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,

7since a person who has died6:7 1Pt 4:1 is freed6:7 Or justified; lit acquitted from sin.

8Now if we died with Christ,6:8 2Co 4:10; 2Tm 2:11 we believe that we will also live with him,

9because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead,6:9 Ac 2:24 will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.6:9 Rv 1:18

10For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin6:11 Rm 7:4,6; Gl 2:19; Col 2:20; 3:3; 1Pt 2:24 and alive to God in Christ Jesus.6:11 Other mss add our Lord

15What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?6:15 Rm 6:1 Absolutely not!6:15 Lk 20:16

16Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone6:16 Lit that to whom you offer yourselves as obedient slaves,6:16 Rm 11:2; 1Co 3:16; 5:6; 6:2–3,9,15–16,19; 9:13,24 you are slaves of that one you obey6:16 Jn 8:34; 2Pt 2:19 — either of sin leading to death6:16 Rm 6:23 or of obedience leading to righteousness?

17But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin,6:17 Rm 1:8; 2Co 2:14 you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed6:17 Or entrusted over,6:17 2Tm 1:3

18and having been set free from sin,6:18 Jn 8:32; Rm 8:2 you became enslaved to righteousness.

19I am using a human analogy6:19 Rm 3:5 because of the weakness of your flesh.6:19 Or your human nature For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.

20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.6:20 Lit free to righteousness6:20 Mt 6:24

21So what fruit was produced6:21 Lit what fruit do you have then from the things you are now ashamed of?6:21 Jr 12:13; Ezk 16:63; Rm 7:5 The outcome of those things is death.6:21 Rm 1:32; 5:12; 8:6,13; Gl 6:8

22But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God,6:22 1Co 7:22; 1Pt 2:16 you have your fruit, which results in sanctification6:22 Rm 7:4 — and the outcome is eternal life!6:22 1Pt 1:9

23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.6:23 Mt 25:46; Rm 5:21; 8:39