Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified^(A) through faith,^(B) we^[a] have peace^(C) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(D) 2} through whom we have gained access^(E) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.^(F) And we^[b] boast in the hope^(G) of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings,^(H) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;^{(I) 4} perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope^(J) does not put us to shame, because God’s love^(K) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,^(L) who has been given to us.

⁶ You see, at just the right time,^(M) when we were still powerless,^(N) Christ died for the ungodly.^{(O) 7} Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.^(P)

⁹ Since we have now been justified^(Q) by his blood,^(R) how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath^(S) through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies,^(T) we were reconciled^(U) to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!^{(V) 11} Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.^(W)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,^(X) and death through sin,^(Y) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned^(Z)—

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.^{(AA) 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,^(AB) who is a pattern of the one to come.^(AC)

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,^(AD) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,^(AE) 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^(AF) 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^(AG) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,^(AH) so also one righteous act resulted in justification^(AI) and life^(AJ) for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man^(AK) the many were made sinners,^(AL) so also through the obedience^(AM) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

²⁰ The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.^(AN) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,^{(AO) 21} so that, just as sin reigned in death,^(AP) so also grace^(AQ) might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life^(AR) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?^(AS) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?^{(AT) 2} By no means! We are those who have died to sin;^(AU) how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized^(AV) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death^(AW) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(AX) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.^(AY)

⁵ 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.^{(AZ) 6} For we know that our old self^(BA) was crucified with him^(BB) so that the body ruled by sin^(BC) might be done away with,^[d] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(BD)— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(BE)

⁸ Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.^{(BF) 9} For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,^(BG) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.^{(BH) 10} The death he died, he died to sin^(BI) once for all;^(BJ) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹ In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin^(BK) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(BL) 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,^(BM) 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.^{(BN) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(BO) because you are not under the law,^(BP) but under grace.^(BQ)

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(BR) 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^(BS)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(BT) which leads to death,^(BU) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(BV) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(BW) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(BX) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(BY) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(BZ)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(CA) 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^(CB) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(CC) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(CD) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(CE) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(CF) and have become slaves of God,^(CG) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(CH) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(CI) but the gift of God is eternal life^(CJ) in^[e] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters^(CK)—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? ² 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.^{(CL) 3} So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress.^(CM) But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

⁴ So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law^(CN) through the body of Christ,^(CO) that you might belong to another,^(CP) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For when we were in the realm of the flesh,^[f](CQ) the sinful passions aroused by the law^(CR) were at work in us,^(CS) so that we bore fruit for death.^{(CT) 6} But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law^(CU) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.^(CV)

The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(CW) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(CX) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(CY) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^{[g](CZ) 8} But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(DA) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.^{(DB) 9} 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^(DC) actually brought death. ¹¹ For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(DD) deceived me,^(DE) and through the commandment put me to death. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.^(DF)

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^(DG) to bring about my death,^(DH) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,^(DI) sold^(DJ) as a slave to sin.^{(DK) 15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.^{(DL) 16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.^{(DM) 17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.^{(DN) 18} For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[h](DO) 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.^{(DP) 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.^(DQ)

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

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,^(DY) but in my sinful nature^[i] a slave to the law of sin.^(DZ)

Life Through the Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation^(EA) for those who are in Christ Jesus,^{(EB) 2} because through Christ Jesus^(EC) the law of the Spirit who gives life^(ED) has set you^[j] free^(EE) from the law of sin^(EF) and death. ³ For what the law was powerless^(EG) to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[k](EH) God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh^(EI) to be a sin offering.^[l](EJ) And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement^(EK) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^(EL)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;^(EM) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.^{(EN) 6} The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(EO) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(EP) and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;^(EQ) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh^(ER) cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh^(ES) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(ET) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(EU) they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you,^(EV) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[m] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(EW) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies^(EX) because of^[n] 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.^{(EY) 13} For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;^(EZ) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,^(FA) you will live.^(FB)

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God^(FC) are the children of God.^{(FD) 15} The Spirit^(FE) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;^(FF) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[o] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[p] Father.”^{(FG) 16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(FH) that we are God’s children.^{(FI) 17} Now if we are children, then we are heirs^(FJ)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings^(FK) in order that we may also share in his glory.^(FL)

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.^{(FM) 19} For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God^(FN) 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,^(FO) in hope ²¹ that^[q] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay^(FP) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.^(FQ)

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning^(FR) 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,^(FS) groan^(FT) inwardly as we wait eagerly^(FU) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.^{(FV) 24} For in this hope we were saved.^(FW) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.^(FX) Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.^(FY)

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^(FZ) himself intercedes for us^(GA) through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(GB) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes^(GC) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good^(GD) of those who love him, who^[r] have been called^(GE) according to his purpose.^{(GF) 29} For those God foreknew^(GG) he also predestined^(GH) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(GI) that he might be the firstborn^(GJ) among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And those he predestined,^(GK) he also called;^(GL) those he called, he also justified;^(GM) those he justified, he also glorified.^(GN)

More Than Conquerors

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things?^(GO) If God is for us,^(GP) who can be against us?^{(GQ) 32} He who did not spare his own Son,^(GR) 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^(GS) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns?^(GT) No one. Christ Jesus who died^(GU)—more than that, who was raised to life^(GV)—is at the right hand of God^(GW) and is also interceding for us.^{(GX) 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?^(GY) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?^{(GZ) 36} As it is written:

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors^(HB) through him who loved us.^{(HC) 38} For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[t] neither the present nor the future,^(HD) nor any powers,^{(HE) 39} neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God^(HF) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(HG)

BOOK I

Psalms 1–41

Psalm 1