Rom 6 | HCSB | STEP | What should we say then ? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply ?

Romans 6

The New Life in Christ

1 What should we say then? ^a Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? ^b 2 Absolutely not! ^c How can we who died to sin ^d still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized ^e into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ^f 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, ^g in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead ^h by the glory of the Father, ⁱ so we too may ^{▼▼walk: A term often used in a figurative way to mean "way of life" or "behavior"}walk in a new way ^{▼▼Or in newness} of life. ^l 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, ^m we will certainly also be ^{▼▼Be joined with Him} in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self ^{▼▼Lit man; = the person before conversion
,} ^p was crucified with Him ^q in order that sin’s dominion over the body ^{▼▼Lit that the body of sin} may be abolished, ^s so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died ^t is freed ^{▼▼Or justified; lit acquitted} from sin’s claims. ^{▼▼Lit from sin} 8 Now if we died with Christ, ^w we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, ^x will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. ^y 10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin ^z but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ^{▼▼Other mss add our Lord}

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey ^{▼▼Other mss add sin (lit it) in} its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts ^{▼▼Or members} of it to sin ^ad as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, ^ae and all the parts ^{▼▼Or members} of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law ^ag but under grace. ^ah

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? ^ai Absolutely not! ^aj 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone ^{▼▼Lit that to whom you offer yourselves} as obedient ^{▼▼slave: The strong Greek word doulos cannot be accurately translated in English by "servant" or "bond servant"; the HCSB translates this word as "slave," not out of insensitivity to the legitimate concerns of modern English speakers, but out of a commitment to accurately convey the brutal reality of the Roman empire's inhumane institution as well as the ownership called for by Christ.}slaves, ^am you are slaves of that one you obey ^an – either of sin leading to death ^ao or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, ^ap you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred ^{▼▼Or entrusted} to, ^ar 18 and having been liberated from sin, ^as you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy ^{▼▼Lit I speak humanly; Paul is personifying sin and righteousness as slave masters.
,} ^au because of the weakness of your flesh. ^{▼▼Or your human nature} For just as you offered the parts ^{▼▼Or members} of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in ^{▼▼saint(s)/sanctification/sanctify/sanctified: The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.}sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness. ^{▼▼Lit free to righteousness
,} ^az 21 So what fruit was produced ^{▼▼Lit what fruit do you have} then from the things you are now ashamed of? ^bb For the end of those things is death. ^bc 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, ^bd you have your fruit, which results in sanctification ^{▼▼Or holiness
,} ^bf – and the end is eternal life! ^bg 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ^bh