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.

¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a](A) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(B) to the dead and calls^(C) into being things that were not.^(D)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(E) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[b](F) 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(G)—since he was about a hundred years old^(H)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(I) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(J) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(K) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^{(L) 22} This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”^{(M) 23} The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, ²⁴ but also for us,^(N) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him^(O) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(P) 25} He was delivered over to death for our sins^(Q) and was raised to life for our justification.^(R)

⁶ You see, at just the right time,^(A) when we were still powerless,^(B) Christ died for the ungodly.^{(C) 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.^(D)

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

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

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

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.^{(O) 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,^(P) who is a pattern of the one to come.^(Q)

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

¹⁸ Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,^(V) so also one righteous act resulted in justification^(W) and life^(X) for all people. ¹⁹ For just as through the disobedience of the one man^(Y) the many were made sinners,^(Z) so also through the obedience^(AA) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

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