Dead to Sin but Alive because of Christ
1 What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's gift of undeserved grace will show up even better? 2 No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? 3 Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? 4 When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
5 If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. 6 We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. 7 We know sin doesn't have power over dead people.
8 As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. 9 We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. 10 When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. 11 In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God.
12 Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires 13 or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God. 14 Don't let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God's undeserved grace and not by the Law.
Slaves Who Do What Pleases God
15 What does all this mean? Does it mean we are free to sin, because we are ruled by God's gift of undeserved grace and not by the Law? Certainly not! 16 Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. 17 You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you followed the example set forth in the teaching you received. 18 Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God.
19 I am using these everyday examples, because in some ways you are still weak. You used to let the different parts of your body be slaves of your evil thoughts. But now you must make every part of your body serve God, so that you will belong completely to him.
20 When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. 21 But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. 22 Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. 23 Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Miruši grēkam – dzīvi Kristū
1 Ko tad nu sacīsim? Vai paliksim grēkā, lai vairotos žēlastība? 2 Nē, taču! Mēs, kas esam nomiruši grēkam, kā lai mēs vēl dzīvojam tajā? 3 Vai tad jūs nezināt, ka mēs, kas kristīti uz Jēzu Kristu, esam kristīti uz viņa nāvi? 4 Tā mēs kristībā līdz ar viņu esam aprakti nāvē, lai tāpat kā Kristus, kas caur Tēva godību uzmodināts no mirušajiem, arī mēs staigātu jaunā dzīvē. 5 Ja mēs ar viņu esam savienoti nāves līdzībā, tad būsim ar viņu savienoti arī augšāmcelšanās līdzībā, 6 zinādami, ka vecais cilvēks mūsos ir līdz ar viņu krustā sists, lai tiktu iznīcināta grēcīgā miesa, tā ka mēs vairs nekalpojam grēkam, 7 jo tas, kas nomiris, ir attaisnots un brīvs no grēka. 8 Ja esam miruši līdz ar Kristu, mēs ticam, ka arī dzīvosim līdz ar viņu, 9 zinādami, ka no mirušiem augšāmceltais Kristus vairs nemirs. Nāve vairs nevalda pār viņu, 10 jo mirdams viņš reiz par visām reizēm ir nomiris grēkam, bet dzīvodams viņš dzīvo Dievam. 11 Tā uzskatiet arī jūs sevi kā mirušus grēkam, bet dzīvus Dievam Jēzū Kristū. 12 Lai jūsu mirstīgajā miesā vairs nevalda grēks, kas liek paklausīt tās iekārēm! 13 Neatdodiet savus locekļus grēkam par netaisnības ieročiem, bet nododiet sevi Dievam kā tādus, kas no mirušiem darīti dzīvi, un savus locekļus dodiet par taisnības ieročiem Dievam! 14 Grēks vairs nevaldīs pār jums, jo jūs neesat padoti bauslībai, bet gan žēlastībai.
Taisnības kalpi
15 Ko nu? Vai varam grēkot, ja vairs neesam padoti bauslībai, bet gan žēlastībai? Nē, taču! 16 Vai tad nezināt, ka, nodevuši sevi verdzības klausībā, jūs esat vergi tam, kam paklausāt, – vai nu grēkam, kas ved nāvē, vai paklausībai Dievam, kas ved uz taisnību. 17 Bet lai pateicība Dievam, ka, reiz būdami grēka vergi, jūs no sirds esat paklausījuši tai mācībai, kas jums nodota, 18 un, atbrīvoti no grēka, jūs paklausāt taisnībai. 19 Jūsu cilvēciskā nespēka dēļ es runāju vienkāršā cilvēku valodā. Tāpat kā jūs, ļaunu darīdami, reiz nodevāt savus locekļus kā vergus nešķīstībai un ļaundarībai, tā tagad nododiet savus locekļus kā vergus taisnībai uz svētumu. 20 Kad jūs bijāt grēka vergi, jūs nekalpojāt taisnībai. 21 Kāds tad toreiz bija jūsu auglis? Tāds, par ko jums tagad jākaunas; tas viss ved nāvē. 22 Bet tagad, kad esat atbrīvoti no grēka un kļuvuši par kalpiem Dievam, jūsu darba auglis ir svētums; tas viss ved mūžīgajā dzīvībā. 23 Jo alga par grēku ir nāve, bet Dieva dāvana ir mūžīgā dzīvība Jēzū Kristū, mūsu Kungā.
