Dead to Sin, Alive to God
(2 Corinthians 4:7–18)

1What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 3Or aren’t you⁺ aware that all of us who were baptized (submerged) into Christ (the Anointed One) Jesus (YHWH saves) were baptized into His death? 4We were therefore buried with Him through baptism (submersion) into death, in order that, just as Christ (the Anointed One) was raised from the dead through the glory {doxēs} of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.

5For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection (rising again). 6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 7For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

8Now if we died with Christ (the Anointed One), we believe that we will also live with Him. 9For we know that since Christ (the Anointed One) was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. 10The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God {Theō}. 11So you⁺ too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God {Theō} in Christ (the Anointed One) Jesus (YHWH saves).

12Therefore do not let sin reign in your⁺ mortal body so that you obey its desires. 13Do not present the parts of your⁺ body to sin as instruments of wickedness (unrighteousness), but present yourselves to God {Theō} as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your⁺ body to Him as instruments of righteousness. 14For sin shall not be your⁺ master, because you⁺ are not under law, but under grace.

The Wages of Sin

15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! 16Do you⁺ not know that when you⁺ offer yourselves as obedient slaves {doulous}, you⁺ are slaves {douloi} to the one you⁺ obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God {Theō} that, though you⁺ once were slaves {douloi} to sin, you⁺ wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching {didachēs} to which you⁺ were committed. 18You⁺ have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your⁺ flesh. Just as you⁺ used to offer the parts of your⁺ body in slavery to impurity (uncleanness) and to escalating wickedness (iniquity), so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.

20For when you⁺ were slaves {douloi} to sin, you⁺ were free of obligation to righteousness. 21What fruit did you⁺ reap at that time from the things of which you⁺ are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death. 22But now that you⁺ have been set free from sin and have become slaves {doulōthentes} to God {Theō}, the fruit you⁺ reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God {Theou} is eternal life in Christ (the Anointed One) Jesus (YHWH saves) our Lord {Kyriō}.