The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Part 36

(15)But not as the trespa.s.s, so also is the free gift; for if by the trespa.s.s of the one the many died, much more did the grace of G.o.d, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

(16)And not as through one that sinned, is the gift; for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespa.s.ses unto justification. (17)For if by the trespa.s.s of the one, death reigned through the one; much more they who receive the abundance of the grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.)

(18)So then, as through one trespa.s.s it came upon all men unto condemnation; so also through one righteous act it came upon all men unto justification of life. (19)For as through the disobedience of the one man the many were const.i.tuted sinners, so also through the obedience of the one will the many be const.i.tuted righteous.

(20)Moreover the law came in also, that the trespa.s.s might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; (21)that as sin reigned in death, so also might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

VI.

WHAT then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (2)Far be it! How shall we who died to sin, live any longer therein? (3)Know ye not, that all we who were immersed into Jesus Christ were immersed into his death? (4)We were buried therefore with him by the immersion into his death; that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life. (5)For if we have become united with the likeness of his death, we shall be also with that of his resurrection, (6)knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, in order that we should no longer be in bondage to sin. (7)For he that died has been justified from sin. (8)And if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; (9)knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more; death has dominion over him no more. (10)For in that he died, he died to sin once; but in that he lives, he lives to G.o.d. (11)So also reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to G.o.d through Jesus Christ.

(12)Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the l.u.s.ts thereof; (13)nor yield your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but yield yourselves to G.o.d as being alive from the dead, and your members to G.o.d as instruments of righteousness. (14)For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under law, but under grace.

(15)What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law but under grace? Far be it! (16)Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (17)But thanks be to G.o.d, that ye were servants of sin, but obeyed from the heart that form of teaching which was delivered to you[6:18]; (18)and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.

(19)I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as ye yielded your members servants to uncleanness, and to iniquity unto iniquity; so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto sanctification. (20)For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free as to righteousness. (21)What fruit therefore 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 G.o.d, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end everlasting life. (23)For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of G.o.d is eternal life, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

VII.

KNOW ye not, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for so long a time as he lives? (2)For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives; but if the husband die, she is loosed from the law of the husband. (3)So then if, while the husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she be married to another man.

(4)Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, in order that ye should be married to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit to G.o.d. (5)For when we were in the flesh, the emotions of sins, which were by the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (6)But now we are delivered from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

(7)What then shall we say? Is the law sin? Far be it! But I had not known sin, except through law; for I had not known coveting, if the law had not said: Thou shalt not covet. (8)But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of coveting. For without law, sin is dead.

(9)And I was alive without law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10)And the commandment, which was for life, that I found to be for death. (11)For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

(12)So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

(13)Has then that which is good become death to me? Far be it! But sin, that it might appear sin, working death to me by that which is good, that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

(14)For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin. (15)For what I perform, I know not; for not what I desire, that do I; but what I hate, that I do. (16)But if what I desire not, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.

(17)Now then, it is no longer I that perform it, but the sin that dwells in me.

(18)For I know that there dwells not in me, that is, in my flesh, any good; for to desire is present with me; but to perform that which is good I find not. (19)For the good that I desire, I do not; but the evil that I desire not, that I do. (20)But if what I desire not, that I do, it is no more I that perform it, but the sin that dwells in me.

(21)I find then the law, that, when I desire to do good, evil is present with me. (22)For I delight in the law of G.o.d 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)Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? (25)I thank G.o.d through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then I myself with the mind serve the law of G.o.d, but with the flesh the law of sin.

VIII.

THERE is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (2)For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death. (3)For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, G.o.d sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; (4)that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (5)For they that are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6)For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7)Because the carnal mind is enmity against G.o.d; for it does not submit itself to the law of G.o.d, neither indeed can it; (8)and they that are in the flesh can not please G.o.d.

(9)But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of G.o.d dwells in you. And if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (10)And if Christ is in you, the body indeed is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11)And if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwells in you.

(12)So that, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. (13)For if ye live according to the flesh, ye shall die; but if by the Spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14)For as many as are led by the Spirit of G.o.d, they are sons of G.o.d. (15)For ye did not receive the spirit of bondage, again to fear; but ye received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16)The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of G.o.d; (17)and if children, also heirs; heirs of G.o.d, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

(18)For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are of no account, in comparison with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

(19)For the earnest longing of the creation is waiting for the revelation of the sons of G.o.d. (20)For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly (but by reason of him who made it subject), in hope (21)that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of G.o.d. (22)For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. (23)And not only so, but ourselves also, though we have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

(24)For we were saved in hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man sees, why does he also hope for? (25)But if we hope for that we see not, we with patience wait for it. (26)And in like manner does the Spirit also help our weakness; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. (27)And he who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of G.o.d.

(28)And we know that all things work together for good to those who love G.o.d, to those who are called according to his purpose.

(29)Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. (30)And whom he predestined, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

(31)What then shall we say to these things? If G.o.d is for us, who shall be against us? (32)He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? (33)Who shall lay any thing to the charge of G.o.d's chosen? G.o.d is he that justifies; (34)who is he that condemns? Christ is he that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is also at the right hand of G.o.d, who also intercedes 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, for thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for slaughter.

(37)Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (38)For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor princ.i.p.alities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, (39)neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of G.o.d, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IX.

I SAY the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, (2)that I have great grief and continual anguish in my heart. (3)For I myself could wish to be accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh; (4)who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service, and the promises; (5)whose are the fathers, and of whom as to the flesh is Christ, who is over all, G.o.d blessed forever. Amen.

(6)Not as though the word of G.o.d has failed. For not all they are Israel, who are of Israel; (7)neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. (8)That is, not they who are the children of the flesh are children of G.o.d; but the children of the promise are reckoned as seed.

(9)For the word of promise is this: At this season I will come, and Sarah shall have a son. (10)And not only so; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, our father Isaac (11)(for they being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of G.o.d according to election might stand, not of works, but of him who calls), (12)it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger.

(13)As it is written:

Jacob I loved, But Esau I hated.

(14)What then shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with G.o.d? Far be it! (15)For he says to Moses: I will have mercy on whomsoever I have mercy, and I will have compa.s.sion on whomsoever I have compa.s.sion.

(16)So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of G.o.d who shows mercy, (17)For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: Even for this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show forth my power in thee, and that my name might be declared in all the earth.

(18)So that, on whom he will he has mercy, and whom he will he hardens.

(19)Thou wilt say then to me: Why then does he yet find fault? For who resists his will? (20)Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against G.o.d? Shall the thing formed say to him who formed it: Why didst thou make me thus?

(21)Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? (22)And what if G.o.d, willing to show forth his wrath, and to make known his power, endured with much long-suffering vessels of wrath fitted for destruction; (23)and that he might make known the riches of his glory on vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared for glory; (24)whom he also called, even us, not from among the Jews only, but also from among the Gentiles? (25)As also he says in Hosea:

I will call them my people, who were not my people; And her beloved, who was not beloved.

(26)And it shall be, that in the place where it was said to them, Ye are not my people, there shall they be called, Sons of the living G.o.d.

(27)And Isaiah cries concerning Israel:

Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant shall be saved; (28)For he will finish the work[9:28a], And cut it short in righteousness; Because a short work[9:28b] will the Lord make upon the earth.

(29)And as Isaiah has said before:

Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, And been made like to Gomorrah.