You Will Know Them by Their Fruits^(A)

^15 (B)“Beware of false prophets, ^(C)who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ^16 (D)You will know them by their fruits. ^(E)Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, ^(F)every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ^19 (G)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ^(A)

¹² Therefore, just as ^(B)through one man sin entered the world, and ^(C)death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— ¹³ (For until the law sin was in the world, but ^(D)sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, ^(E)who is a type of Him who was to come. ¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the ^[a]offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded ^(F)to many. ¹⁶ And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many ^[b]offenses resulted in justification. ¹⁷ For if by the one man’s ^[c]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

¹⁸ Therefore, as through ^[d]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through ^(G)one^[e] Man’s righteous act the free gift came ^(H)to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by ^(I)one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

²⁰ Moreover ^(J)the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace ^(K)abounded much more, ²¹ so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

^11 (A)Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is ^(B)living and powerful, and ^(C)sharper than any ^(D)two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is ^(E)a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ^13 (F)And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^(G)naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Our Compassionate High Priest

¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great ^(H)High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, ^(I)let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For ^(J)we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but ^(K)was in all points tempted as we are, ^(L)yet without sin. ^16 (M)Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.