Romans 6

1 What then [next in order, as a consequence] shall we say? Shall we continue [remain, keep on] in sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] so that [in order that, to] grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] may increase [abound, become more abundant]? word study 2 Certainly not [God forbid, by no means]! How can we [who have been spiritually separated] who died [stopped living, passed away] to sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] live [have life, exist] in it [this sinful state, spiritual death] any longer [still, continue to]? word study 3 Or aren’t you aware [be ignorant, lacking knowledge] that all of us who were baptized [immersed, fully wet] into Christ Jesus [the Messiah, God’s anointed] were baptized [submerged, united] into His death [separation from sin, spiritual death]? word study 4 We were therefore [as a result of our faith] buried with Him [united with Christ in death] through baptism [a ceremonial act of washing or immersion] into death [physical or spiritual separation from God], in order that, just as Christ [the anointed Messiah] was raised from the dead [given new life, resurrected] through the glory [honor, praise, and admiration] of the Father [God, the male parent and creator], we too may walk [live, conduct our lives] in newness [a fresh start, renewal] of life [physical and spiritual existence]. word study 5 For if we have been united [closely joined] with Him [in a deep, spiritual sense] like this [in the likeness of his death] in His death [physical and spiritual separation], we will certainly also be united [planted together] with Him in His resurrection [a standing up again from death, new life]. word study 6 We know [are conscious, have understanding] that our old self [old man, sinful nature] was crucified [put to death, nailed to the cross] with Him so that the body [physical person, fleshly desires] of sin [missing the mark, rebellion against God] might be rendered [made, done away with] powerless [useless, inactive], that we should no longer [never again, from this time on] be slaves [servants, in bondage] to sin [lawlessness, disobedience]. word study 7 For anyone who has died [stopped living, passed away spiritually] has been freed [justified, set free] from sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards]. word study 8 Now if [in the event that, assuming] we died [passed away, ceased to exist] with Christ [the Anointed One, Jesus], we believe [have faith, trust] that we will also [certainly, undoubtedly] live [coexist, survive] with Him [together, in companionship]. word study 9 For we know [are spiritually aware, perceive] that since Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] was raised [brought back to life, resurrected] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically], He cannot die [stop living, pass away] again; death [the end of physical or spiritual life] no longer [not anymore] has dominion [power, lordship] over Him [as the supreme authority]. word study 10 The death [to stop living, or pass away] He died, He died [once for all, unto] to sin [missing the mark, or falling short of God’s standards] once [at one time, for all time] for all; but the life [having life, either physically or spiritually] He lives, He lives [to serve, to honor] to God [the one true deity]. word study 11 So you too must count [reckon, consider] yourselves dead [lifeless, spiritually deceased] to sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], but alive [living, having spiritual life] to God [the Supreme Deity, Creator] in Christ Jesus [the Anointed One, God’s salvation]. word study 12 Therefore [then, as a consequence] do not let sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] reign [rule, have authority] in your mortal [liable to die, subject to death] body [the whole physical person] so that you obey [listen attentively, submit to] its desires [strong longings, lusts]. word study 13 Do not present [yield, give over] the parts of your body [members, limbs] to sin [missing the mark, rebellion against God] as instruments [tools, weapons] of wickedness [unrighteousness, evil], but present [stand by, dedicate] yourselves to God [the Supreme Being, Creator] as those who have been brought [resurrected, made alive] from death [physical or spiritual] to life [eternal, abundant]; and present [offer, surrender] the parts of your body to Him as instruments [means, agencies] of righteousness [justice, moral integrity]. word study 14 For sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] shall not be your master [have dominion over you, rule over], because you are not under [subject to, governed by] law [Moses’ law, a set of rules], but under [governed by, under the authority of] grace [divine influence, graciousness, God’s unmerited favor]. word study 15 What then? Shall we sin [commit acts of disobedience, fall short] because we are not under [subject to the authority of] law [the Mosaic law, a set of rules], but under [living in the realm of] grace [unmerited favor, divine influence]? Certainly not [by no means, God forbid]! word study 16 Do you not know [are you not aware, have you not realized] that when you offer yourselves as obedient [willing to submit, yielding] slaves [servants, bondservants], you are slaves [bondservants, subject to] to the one you obey [listen to, follow], whether you are slaves [servants, in bondage] to sin [missing the mark, rebellion against God] leading to death [separation from God, eternal destruction], or to obedience [submission, loyalty] leading to righteousness [right living, holiness, being in right relationship with God]? word study 17 But thanks be to God [the one true deity] that, though you once were slaves [servants, bondservants] to sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], you wholeheartedly [from the heart, sincerely] obeyed [listened attentively, became obedient] the form [model, pattern] of teaching [doctrine, instruction] to which you were committed [delivered, surrendered]. word study 18 You have been set free [made free, liberated] from sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] and have become slaves [servants, bondservants] to righteousness [living according to God’s will, being in right standing with God]. word study 19 I am speaking in human [characteristic of people] terms because of the weakness [frailty or lack of strength] of your flesh [physical body]. Just as you used to offer the parts [limbs or members] of your body in slavery [servitude] to impurity [moral uncleanness] and to escalating [toward or into] wickedness [lawlessness], so now offer them in slavery [bondage] to righteousness [living according to God’s will] leading to holiness [being set apart for God]. word study 20 For [as a reason, explaining why] when you were [in the past, previously] slaves [servants, bondmen] to sin [missing the mark, rebellion against God], you were free [unrestricted, liberated] of obligation [concern, responsibility] to righteousness [living according to God’s will, moral uprightness]. word study 21 What fruit [result, product, or outcome] did you reap [harvest, gather, or receive] at that time [then, in the past] from the things [actions, deeds, or behaviors] of which you are now [currently, at this moment] ashamed [regretful, embarrassed, or remorseful]? The outcome [end result, conclusion, or goal] of those things [actions, deeds, or behaviors] is [leads to, results in, or ends in] death [physical or spiritual separation from God]. word study 22 But now [at this present time] that you have been set free [liberated, released] from sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] and have become slaves [servants, bondslaves] to God [the one true deity], the fruit [product, result] you reap [harvest, gather] leads to holiness [sanctification, being set apart], and the outcome [end result, goal] is eternal [lasting forever, age-during] life [physical and spiritual existence]. word study 23 For the wages [compensation, payment] of sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] is death [physical or spiritual separation from God], but the gift [free gift, divine gratuity] of God [the one true deity] is eternal [lasting forever, age-during] life [physical and spiritual existence] in [through, because of] Christ Jesus [the anointed Messiah, God’s salvation] our Lord [master, ruler]. word study