1 What, then, are we to conclude? Should we remain in sin {hamartia: missing the mark} so that grace {charis: unmerited favor} may increase?
2 May it never be! Since we have died {apethanomen: decisive break} to sin {hamartia: moral failing}, how could we still live in it?
3 Or do you not understand that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Crucified Lord} were baptized into His death {thanatos: separating death}?
4 So we were united with Him in burial by baptism into death, that just as Christ {Christos, Risen Messiah} was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father {Patros, Glorious Father}, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him {Christos, Crucified Lord} in the likeness {homoioma: representative pattern} of His death, we will also share in His resurrection.
6 We know this: our old self {palaios anthropos: former sinful self} was crucified together with Him {Christos, Co-Crucified Lord} so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless and we would no longer serve sin as slaves.
7 For the one who has died {apothanon: decisive death} has been set free {dedikaiotai: legally released} from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ {Christos, Risen Life-Giver}, we believe that we will also live with Him {auto, united fellowship}.
9 We know that Christ {Christos, Risen Death-Conqueror}, having been raised from the dead, does not die again; death {thanatos: former ruling power} no longer rules over Him.
10 For the death He died, He died to sin {hamartia: moral wrongdoing} once for all; but the life He lives, He lives for God {Theos, Lifeward Orientation}.
11 In the same way, you also must consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God {Theos, Recipient of New Life} in Christ Jesus {Christos Iesous, Sphere of New Existence}.
12 Therefore, do not permit sin to exercise authority {basileuo: exercise dominion} in your mortal {thnetos: subject to death} body, so that you obey its desires.
13 Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God {Theos, Holy Lord} as those made alive from the dead {nekron: once dead}, and present your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
14 For sin {hamartia: enslaving power} will not hold sway over you, for you are not under the law but under grace {charis: unearned favor}.
15 What then? Should we sin {hamartano: deliberate rebellion} because we are not under law {nomos: external legal code} but under grace? May it never be!
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves as slaves {doulos: fully owned servant} for obedience, you are slaves of the one you obey, whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness {dikaiosynen: covenant right standing}?
17 But thanks be to God {Theos, Recipient Of Thanks} that although you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed from the heart the pattern {typos: enduring standard} of teaching to which you were handed over.
18 Having been liberated {eleutherothentes: released from slavery} from sin, you were enslaved to righteousness {dikaiosyne: covenant faithfulness}.
19 I am speaking in human terms {anthropinon: down-to-earth analogy} because of the weakness of your flesh; for just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification {hagiasmos: devoted separation}.
20 For when you were slaves {douloi: fully owned servants} of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness {dikaiosynē: covenant-aligned justice}.
21 What fruit, therefore, were you getting then from the things of which you are now ashamed {epaischynesthe: feeling disgrace}? For the end of those things is death {thanatos: separation from God}.
22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God {Theos, Transforming Master}, you bear fruit for sanctification {hagiasmos: progressive holiness}, and the end is eternal life.
23 For what sin pays as wages is death, but the gift of God {Theos, Gracious Life Giver} is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord {Christos Iesous Kyrios, Mediator of Life}.