Romans 6:21

What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

Here is another inducement for the disciples to proceed in the development of holy lives (a growing process; see under Romans 6:5). Think of sin objectively, what good is it anyway? What fruit comes of impiety and licentiousness, except death? The so-called "pleasures" of sin; what are they except the fever of passion-torn souls? The prior behavior of the Christians while still in sin was such as they were then ashamed of, and this is testimony enough to the fact that becoming a Christian involves a reversal of the life-style. It is this dramatic fact that has been edited out of current editions of Christianity. In addition to the essential worthlessness, shame, and profitlessness of sinful living, there is the final and overwhelming consideration of "death," God's sentence against sin. Thus Paul continued his plea for Christians to live like Christians are supposed to live.