Living a New Life in Christ
1What 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 a death like his. So we will certainly also be joined with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that what we used to be was nailed to the cross with him. That happened so our bodies that were ruled by sin would lose their power. So we are no longer slaves of sin. 7That’s because those 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. He did this to break the power of sin. Now that he lives, he lives in the power of God.
11In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned. Now you believe in Christ Jesus. So 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 desires. 13Don’t give any part of yourself to serve sin. Don’t let any part of yourself be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. So give every part of yourself to God to do what is right. 14Sin will no longer control you like a master. That’s because the 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 the 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? If you are slaves of sin, then you will die. But if you are 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 am using an everyday example to help you understand. You used to give yourselves to be slaves to unclean living. You were becoming more and more evil. Now give yourselves 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. That’s because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.
Ang Bagong Buhay kay Cristo
1Ano ngayon ang masasabi natin? Magpapatuloy ba tayo sa kasalanan para lalong madagdagan ang biyaya ng Dios sa atin? 2Aba, hindi maaari! Hindi maaari na magpatuloy pa tayo sa pagkakasala dahil ang kasalanan ay wala ng kapangyarihan sa atin. 3Hindi ba ninyo alam na noong binautismuhan tayo kay Jesu-Cristo, nangangahulugan ito na kasama tayo sa kanyang kamatayan? 4Kaya noong binautismuhan tayo, namatay tayo at inilibing na kasama niya. Kung paanong binuhay muli si Cristo sa pamamagitan ng dakilang kapangyarihan ng Ama, tayo rin ay mamuhay sa bagong buhay.
5At kung nakasama tayo sa kanyang kamatayan, tiyak na mabubuhay tayong muli6:5 mabubuhay tayong muli: o, magkakaroon tayo ng bagong buhay. tulad ng muli niyang pagkabuhay. 6Alam natin na ang dati nating pagkatao ay ipinako na sa krus kasama ni Cristo para mamatay, kaya hindi na tayo dapat alipinin pa ng kasalanan. 7Sapagkat ang taong patay na ay malaya na sa kasalanan. 8At kung namatay tayong kasama ni Cristo, naniniwala tayong mabubuhay din tayong kasama niya. 9Sapagkat alam nating si Cristoʼy muling nabuhay at hindi na muling mamamatay. Wala nang kapangyarihan sa kanya ang kamatayan. 10Minsan lang siyang namatay para sa kasalanan ng mga tao; at nabubuhay siya ngayon para sa Dios. 11At dahil nakay Cristo Jesus na kayo, ituring ninyo ang inyong mga sarili na patay na sa kasalanan at nabubuhay na para sa Dios. 12Huwag na ninyong paghariin ang kasalanan sa inyong katawang may kamatayan, para hindi na ninyo sundin ang masasamang hilig nito. 13Huwag na ninyong gamitin ang alin mang bahagi ng inyong katawan sa paggawa ng kasalanan. Sa halip, ialay ninyo ang inyong sarili sa Dios bilang mga taong binigyan ng bagong buhay. Ilaan ninyo sa Dios ang inyong katawan sa paggawa ng kabutihan. 14Sapagkat hindi na dapat maghari pa sa inyo ang kasalanan, dahil wala na kayo sa ilalim ng Kautusan kundi sa ilalim na ng biyaya ng Dios.
Mga Alipin ng Katuwiran
15Ngayon, dahil wala na tayo sa ilalim ng Kautusan kundi sa biyaya na ng Dios, nangangahulugan bang magpapatuloy pa rin tayo sa paggawa ng kasalanan? Aba, hindi! 16Hindi nʼyo ba alam na alipin tayo ng anumang sinusunod natin? Kaya kung sinusunod natin ang kasalanan, alipin tayo ng kasalanan at ang dulot nitoʼy kamatayan. Pero kung sumusunod tayo sa Dios, mga alipin tayo ng Dios at ang dulot nitoʼy katuwiran. 17Noong una, alipin kayo ng kasalanan. Pero salamat sa Dios dahil ngayon, buong puso ninyong sinusunod ang mga aral na itinuro sa inyo. 18Pinalaya na kayo sa kasalanan at ngayoʼy mga alipin na kayo ng katuwiran.
19Ginagamit ko bilang halimbawa ang tungkol sa mga alipin para madali ninyong maunawaan ang ibig kong sabihin. Noong unaʼy nagpaalipin kayo sa karumihan at kasamaan, at naging masama nga kayo. Ngayon namaʼy magpaalipin kayo sa kabutihan para maging banal kayo. 20Noong alipin pa kayo ng kasalanan, wala kayong pakialam sa matuwid na pamumuhay. 21Ano nga ba ang napala ninyo sa dati ninyong pamumuhay na ikinakahiya na ninyo ngayon? Ang dulot ng mga iyon ay kamatayan. 22Pero pinalaya na kayo sa kasalanan at alipin na kayo ng Dios. At ang dulot nitoʼy kabanalan at buhay na walang hanggan. 23Sapagkat ang kabayaran ng kasalanan ay kamatayan, ngunit ang kaloob ng Dios ay buhay na walang hanggan sa pamamagitan ni Cristo Jesus na ating Panginoon.
