Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God(A) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(B) 22 This righteousness(C) is given through faith(D) in[a] Jesus Christ(E) to all who believe.(F) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(G) 23 for all have sinned(H) and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified(I) freely by his grace(J) through the redemption(K) that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[b](L) through the shedding of his blood(M)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished(N) 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

27 Where, then, is boasting?(O) It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(P) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(Q) 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(R) 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Abraham Justified by Faith

What then shall we say(S) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(T) discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(U) What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c](V)

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(W) but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(X) David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[d](Y)

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?(Z) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.(AA) 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(AB) So then, he is the father(AC) of all who believe(AD) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(AE) that he would be heir of the world,(AF) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(AG) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(AH) 15 because the law brings wrath.(AI) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(AJ)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(AK) and may be guaranteed(AL) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(AM) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[e](AN) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(AO) to the dead and calls(AP) into being things that were not.(AQ)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(AR) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[f](AS) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(AT)—since he was about a hundred years old(AU)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(AV) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(AW) in his faith and gave glory to God,(AX) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(AY) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(AZ) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(BA) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(BB) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(BC) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(BD) and was raised to life for our justification.(BE)

Peace and Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified(BF) through faith,(BG) we[g] have peace(BH) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(BI) through whom we have gained access(BJ) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.(BK) And we[h] boast in the hope(BL) of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[i] also glory in our sufferings,(BM) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(BN) perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope(BO) does not put us to shame, because God’s love(BP) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,(BQ) who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time,(BR) when we were still powerless,(BS) Christ died for the ungodly.(BT) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(BU)

Since we have now been justified(BV) by his blood,(BW) how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath(BX) through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies,(BY) we were reconciled(BZ) to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!(CA) 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.(CB)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,(CC) and death through sin,(CD) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned(CE)

13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law.(CF) 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam,(CG) who is a pattern of the one to come.(CH)

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,(CI) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,(CJ) overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death(CK) reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life(CL) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,(CM) so also one righteous act resulted in justification(CN) and life(CO) for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man(CP) the many were made sinners,(CQ) so also through the obedience(CR) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.(CS) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,(CT) 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death,(CU) so also grace(CV) might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life(CW) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

What shall we say, then?(CX) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?(CY) By no means! We are those who have died to sin;(CZ) how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized(DA) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death(DB) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead(DC) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.(DD)

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.(DE) For we know that our old self(DF) was crucified with him(DG) so that the body ruled by sin(DH) might be done away with,[j] that we should no longer be slaves to sin(DI) because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.(DJ)

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.(DK) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,(DL) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.(DM) 10 The death he died, he died to sin(DN) once for all;(DO) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin(DP) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign(DQ) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,(DR) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.(DS) 14 For sin shall no longer be your master,(DT) because you are not under the law,(DU) but under grace.(DV)

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?(DW) By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey(DX)—whether you are slaves to sin,(DY) which leads to death,(DZ) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God(EA) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,(EB) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching(EC) that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin(ED) and have become slaves to righteousness.(EE)

19 I am using an example from everyday life(EF) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness(EG) leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin,(EH) you were free from the control of righteousness.(EI) 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!(EJ) 22 But now that you have been set free from sin(EK) and have become slaves of God,(EL) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.(EM) 23 For the wages of sin is death,(EN) but the gift of God is eternal life(EO) in[k] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

Do you not know, brothers and sisters(EP)—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.(EQ) So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress.(ER) But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law(ES) through the body of Christ,(ET) that you might belong to another,(EU) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh,[l](EV) the sinful passions aroused by the law(EW) were at work in us,(EX) so that we bore fruit for death.(EY) But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law(EZ) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.(FA)

The Law and Sin

What shall we say, then?(FB) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!(FC) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.(FD) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[m](FE) But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(FF) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.(FG) Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life(FH) actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(FI) deceived me,(FJ) and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.(FK)

13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good(FL) to bring about my death,(FM) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(FN) sold(FO) as a slave to sin.(FP) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.(FQ) 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.(FR) 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.(FS) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[n](FT) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.(FU) 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.(FV)

21 So I find this law at work:(FW) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being(FX) I delight in God’s law;(FY) 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war(FZ) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin(GA) at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?(GB) 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!(GC)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,(GD) but in my sinful nature[o] a slave to the law of sin.(GE)

Life Through the Spirit

Therefore, there is now no condemnation(GF) for those who are in Christ Jesus,(GG) because through Christ Jesus(GH) the law of the Spirit who gives life(GI) has set you[p] free(GJ) from the law of sin(GK) and death. For what the law was powerless(GL) to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[q](GM) God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh(GN) to be a sin offering.[r](GO) And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement(GP) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.(GQ)

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;(GR) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.(GS) The mind governed by the flesh is death,(GT) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life(GU) and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;(GV) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh(GW) cannot please God.

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh(GX) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.(GY) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,(GZ) they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you,(HA) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[s] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead(HB) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies(HC) because of[t] his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.(HD) 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;(HE) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,(HF) you will live.(HG)

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God(HH) are the children of God.(HI) 15 The Spirit(HJ) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;(HK) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[u] And by him we cry, “Abba,[v] Father.”(HL) 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit(HM) that we are God’s children.(HN) 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs(HO)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings(HP) in order that we may also share in his glory.(HQ)

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(HR) 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God(HS) to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,(HT) in hope 21 that[w] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay(HU) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.(HV)

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning(HW) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,(HX) groan(HY) inwardly as we wait eagerly(HZ) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.(IA) 24 For in this hope we were saved.(IB) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.(IC) Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.(ID)

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit(IE) himself intercedes for us(IF) through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts(IG) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes(IH) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good(II) of those who love him, who[x] have been called(IJ) according to his purpose.(IK) 29 For those God foreknew(IL) he also predestined(IM) to be conformed to the image of his Son,(IN) that he might be the firstborn(IO) among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,(IP) he also called;(IQ) those he called, he also justified;(IR) those he justified, he also glorified.(IS)

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?(IT) If God is for us,(IU) who can be against us?(IV) 32 He who did not spare his own Son,(IW) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge(IX) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?(IY) No one. Christ Jesus who died(IZ)—more than that, who was raised to life(JA)—is at the right hand of God(JB) and is also interceding for us.(JC) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(JD) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(JE) 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[y](JF)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(JG) through him who loved us.(JH) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[z] neither the present nor the future,(JI) nor any powers,(JJ) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(JK) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(JL)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  2. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).
  3. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  4. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
  5. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  6. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5
  7. Romans 5:1 Many manuscripts let us
  8. Romans 5:2 Or let us
  9. Romans 5:3 Or let us
  10. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless
  11. Romans 6:23 Or through
  12. Romans 7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  13. Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21
  14. Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
  15. Romans 7:25 Or in the flesh
  16. Romans 8:2 The Greek is singular; some manuscripts me
  17. Romans 8:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 4-13.
  18. Romans 8:3 Or flesh, for sin
  19. Romans 8:10 Or you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive
  20. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts bodies through
  21. Romans 8:15 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture; also in verse 23.
  22. Romans 8:15 Aramaic for father
  23. Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
  24. Romans 8:28 Or that all things work together for good to those who love God, who; or that in all things God works together with those who love him to bring about what is good—with those who
  25. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:22
  26. Romans 8:38 Or nor heavenly rulers

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

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

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.

11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.