17 But athanks be to God that 1though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that bform of teaching to which you were committed,

18 and having been afreed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

19 aI am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just bas you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, 1resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, 2resulting in sanctification.

20 For awhen you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

21 Therefore what 1abenefit were you then 2deriving 3from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is bdeath.

22 But now having been afreed from sin and benslaved to God, you 1derive your 2cbenefit, 3resulting in sanctification, and dthe outcome, eternal life.

23 For the wages of asin is death, but the free gift of God is beternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.