The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans

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- Chapter 8 -

(Ezekiel 36:16–38; Galatians 5:16–26)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and death.

For though this was impossible under the law, because it was weakened by the flesh, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and because of sin, in order to condemn sin in the flesh,

so that the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us. For we are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.

For those who are in agreement with the flesh are mindful of the things of the flesh. But those who are in agreement with the spirit are mindful of the things of the spirit.

For the prudence of the flesh is death. But the prudence of the spirit is life and peace.

And the wisdom of the flesh is inimical to God. For it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be.

So those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

And you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if it is true that the Spirit of God lives within you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.

But if Christ is within you, then the body is indeed dead, concerning sin, but the spirit truly lives, because of justification.

But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead lives within you, then he who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead shall also enliven your mortal bodies, by means of his Spirit living within you.

Heirs with Christ

Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, so as to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh, you will die. But if, by the Spirit, you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.

For all those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

And you have not received, again, a spirit of servitude in fear, but you have received the Spirit of the adoption of sons, in whom we cry out: “Abba, Father!”

For the Spirit himself renders testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God.(a)

But if we are sons, then we are also heirs: certainly heirs of God, but also co-heirs with Christ, yet in such a way that, if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

(2 Corinthians 5:1–10)

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

For the anticipation of the creature anticipates the revelation of the sons of God.(b)

For the creature was made subject to emptiness, not willingly, but for the sake of the One who made it subject, unto hope.

For the creature itself shall also be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the sons of God.

For we know that every creature groans inwardly, as if giving birth, even until now;

and not only these, but also ourselves, since we hold the first-fruits of the Spirit. For we also groan within ourselves, anticipating our adoption as the sons of God, and the redemption of our body.

For we have been saved by hope. But a hope which is seen is not hope. For when a man sees something, why would he hope?

But since we hope for what we do not see, we wait with patience.

And similarly, the Spirit also helps our weakness. For we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself asks on our behalf with ineffable sighing.(c)

And he who examines hearts knows what the Spirit seeks, because he asks on behalf of the saints in accordance with God.

God Works in All Things

(Ephesians 1:3–14)

And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together unto good, for those who, in accordance with his purpose, are called to be saints.

For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined, in conformity with the image of his Son, so that he might be the Firstborn among many brothers.(d)

And those whom he predestined, he also called. And those whom he called, he also justified. And those whom he justified, he also glorified.

So, what should we say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

He who did not spare even his own Son, but handed him over for the sake of us all, how could he not also, with him, have given us all things?

Who will make an accusation against the elect of God? God is the One who justifies;

who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus who has died, and who has indeed also risen again, is at the right hand of God, and even now he intercedes for us.

More than Conquerors

(Psalm 44:1–26)

Then who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation? Or anguish? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or peril? Or persecution? Or the sword?

For it is as it has been written: “For your sake, we are being put to death all day long. We are being treated like sheep for the slaughter.”

But in all these things we overcome, because of him who has loved us.

For I am certain that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor the present things, nor the future things, nor strength,(e)

nor the heights, nor the depths, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes

(a)8:16 The Spirit himself, etc:By the inward motions of divine love, and the peace of conscience, which the children of God experience, they have a kind of testimony of God’s favour; by which they are much strengthened in their hope of their justification and salvation; but yet not so as to pretend to an absolute assurance: which is not usually granted in this mortal life: during which we are taught to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12. And that he that thinks himself to stand, must take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor. 10:12. See also, Rom. 11:20, 21, 22.(Challoner)

(b)8:19 The expectation of the creature, etc:He speaks of the corporeal creation, made for the use and service of man; and, by occasion of his sin, made subject to vanity, that is, to a perpetual instability, tending to corruption and other defects; so that by a figure of speech it is here said to groan and be in labour, and to long for its deliverance, which is then to come, when sin shall reign no more; and God shall raise the bodies and unite them to their souls never more to separate, and to be in everlasting happiness in heaven.(Challoner)

(c)8:26 Asks for us:The Spirit is said to ask, and desire for the saints, and to pray in us; inasmuch as he inspires prayer, and teaches us to pray.(Challoner)

(d)8:29 He also predestinated, etc:That is, God has preordained that all his elect should be conformable to the image of his Son. We must not here offer to pry into the secrets of God’s eternal election; only firmly believe that all our good, in time and eternity, flows originally from God’s free goodness; and all our evil from man’s free will.(Challoner)

(e)8:38 I am sure:That is, I am persuaded; as it is in the Greek, pepeismai.(Challoner)

(Ezekiel 36:16–38; Galatians 5:16–26)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.(a)

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

For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be.

Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba!(b) Father!”

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

(2 Corinthians 5:1–10)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.

For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.

For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?

But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.

In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.

He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.

God Works in All Things

(Ephesians 1:3–14)

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.(c)

Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

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

He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?

Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

More than Conquerors

(Psalm 44:1–26)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”(d)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

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

nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes

(a)8:1 NU omits “who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”

(b)8:15 Abba is an Aramaic word for “Father” or “Daddy”, which can be used affectionately and respectfully in prayer to our Father in heaven.

(c)8:29 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(d)8:36 ℘ Psalms 44:22