5We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²Through faith in Jesus we have received God’s grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God’s glory.

³And that’s not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. ⁴The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. ⁵And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.

⁶At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. ⁷It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. ⁸But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God’s anger. ¹⁰Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives.

¹¹And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹²Sin entered the world because one man sinned. And death came because of sin. Everyone sinned, so death came to all people.

¹³Before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not judged when there is no law. ¹⁴Death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. Death ruled even over those who did not sin as Adam did. He broke God’s command. But he also became a pattern of the One who was going to come.

¹⁵God’s gift is different from Adam’s sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But it was even more sure that God’s grace would also come through one man. That man is Jesus Christ. God’s gift of grace was more than enough for the whole world.

¹⁶The result of God’s gift is different from the result of Adam’s sin. God judged one sin. That brought guilt. But after many sins, God’s gift made people right with him.

¹⁷One man sinned, and death ruled because of his sin. But we are even more sure of what will happen because of what the one man, Jesus Christ, has done. Those who receive the rich supply of God’s grace will rule with Christ in his kingdom. They have received God’s gift and have been made right with him.

¹⁸One man’s sin brought guilt to all people. So also one right act made all people right with God. And all who are right with God will live. ¹⁹Many people were made sinners because one man did not obey. But one man did obey. That is why many people will be made right with God.

²⁰The law was given so that sin would increase. But where sin increased, God’s grace increased even more. ²¹Sin ruled because of death. So also grace rules in the lives of those who are right with God. The grace of God brings eternal life because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done.

Living a New Life

6What should we say then? Should we keep on sinning so that God’s grace can increase? ²Not at all! As far as sin is concerned, we are dead. So how can we keep on sinning? ³All of us were baptized into Christ Jesus. Don’t you know that we were baptized into his death? ⁴By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father’s glory. And like Christ we also can live a new life.

⁵By being baptized, we have been joined with him in his death. We will certainly also be joined with him in his resurrection. ⁶We know that what we used to be was nailed to the cross with him. That happened so our sinful bodies would lose their power. We are no longer slaves of sin. ⁷Those who have died have been set free from sin.

⁸We died with Christ. So we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹We know that Christ was raised from the dead and will never die again. Death doesn’t control him anymore. ¹⁰When he died, he died once and for all time as far as sin is concerned. Now that he lives, he lives as far as God is concerned.

¹¹In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned. Now that you believe in Christ Jesus, consider yourselves to be alive as far as God is concerned.

¹²So don’t let sin rule your body, which is going to die. Don’t obey its evil longings. ¹³Don’t give the parts of your body to serve sin. Don’t let them be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. Give the parts of your body to him to do what is right.

¹⁴Sin will not be your master. Law does not rule you. God’s grace has set you free.

Slaves to Right Living

¹⁵What should we say then? Should we sin because we are not ruled by law but by God’s grace? Not at all!

¹⁶Don’t you know that when you give yourselves to obey someone you become that person’s slave? You can be slaves of sin. Then you will die. Or you can be slaves who obey God. Then you will live a godly life. ¹⁷You used to be slaves of sin. But thank God that with your whole heart you obeyed the teachings you were given! ¹⁸You have been set free from sin. You have become slaves to right living.

¹⁹Because you are human, you find this hard to understand. So I have said it in a way that will help you understand it. You used to give the parts of your body to be slaves to unclean living. You were becoming more and more evil. Now give your bodies to be slaves to right living. Then you will become holy.

²⁰Once you were slaves of sin. At that time right living did not control you. ²¹What benefit did you gain from doing the things you are now ashamed of? Those things lead to death!

²²You have been set free from sin. God has made you his slaves. The benefit you gain leads to holy living. And the end result is eternal life. ²³When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.

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