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

1Do we then conclude thus, let us continue in sin, that the divine favour may be more fully display'd? 2God forbid, that we who have died to sin should live any longer therein. 3don't you know that when we were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, we were plunged into a state figurative of his death. 4therefore we are buried with him by being plunged into a sort of death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead into a state of glory with the father, even so we also should proceed to a new state of life. 5for if we resembled him with regard to death, certainly we shall likewise do so with regard to his resurrection: 6considering this, that our vicious passions were crucified with him, that the body of sin being destroyed, we might not any longer be vassals to sin. 7for by its being dead, we are set free from sin.

8since then we died with Christ, we are persuaded that we shall also live with him: 9knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, is to die no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10for as to his death, he died upon the account of sin once for all; but as to his being alive, he lives to the glory of God for ever. 11in like manner consider your selves as dead to sin; but alive to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, by making you slaves to the lusts thereof. 13neither yield your members as instruments to iniquity: but yield yourselves unto God, as being alive after having been dead; and your members as instruments of righteousness. 14for then sin shall have no dominion over you: because you are not under the legal, but under the gospel dispensation.

The Wages of Sin

15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under the gospel? 16by no means, know ye not, that to whom ye subject your selves vassals at command, his vassals you are whom you thus obey; the vassals either of sin to destruction, or of obedience to justification? 17but God be thanked, that you, who were the vassals of sin, have sincerely obeyed in the manner the gospel prescribed. 18being then set free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19(I allude to civil affairs, because of your unacquaintedness with spiritual matters:) as then you made your natural faculties subservient to impurity, and all manner of vice; make them now subservient to virtue and holiness.

20for when ye were the vassals of sin, ye were not in the service of virtue. 21what benefit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? since they terminated all in death. 22but now being set free from sin, and actually in the service of God, the present advantage you reap is holiness, and the future everlasting life. 23for the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.