Romans 8-10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Romans 8

The Life-Giving Spirit

 ¹ Therefore, no condemnation ^(A) now exists for those in ^(B) Christ Jesus, ^{(C) [a] 2} because the Spirit's law of life ^(D) in Christ Jesus has set you ^[b] free from the law of sin and of death. ^{(E) 3} What the law could not do ^(F) since it was limited ^[c] by the flesh, ^(G) God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours ^(H) under sin's domain, ^[d] and as a sin offering, ^{(I) 4} in order that the law's requirement would be accomplished ^(J) in us who do not walk according to the flesh ^(K) but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those whose lives are ^[e] according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, ^(L) but those whose lives are ^[f] according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For the mind-set of the flesh ^(M) is death, ^(N) but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile ^(O) to God because it does not submit itself to God's law, for it is unable to do so. ⁸ Those whose lives are ^[g] in the flesh ^(P) are unable to please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since ^[h] the Spirit of God lives in you. ^(Q) But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, ^(R) he does not belong to Him. ¹⁰ Now if Christ is in you, ^(S) the body is dead ^[i] because of sin, but the Spirit ^[j] is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead ^(T) lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through ^[k] His Spirit who lives in you.

   

The Holy Spirit's Ministries

 ¹² So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, ¹³ for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, ^(U) you will live. ¹⁴ All those led by God's Spirit ^(V) are God's sons. ^{(W) 15} For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, ^(X) but you received the Spirit of adoption, ^(Y) by whom we cry out, " Abba, Father!" ^{(Z) 16} The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit ^(AA) that we are God's children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs ^(AB) —heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—seeing that ^[l] we suffer with Him ^(AC) so that we may also be glorified with Him.

   

From Groans to Glory

 ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing ^(AD) with the glory ^(AE) that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation ^(AF) for God's sons ^(AG) to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected ^(AH) to futility ^(AI) —not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it ^(AJ) —in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself ^(AK) will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God's children. ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains ^(AL) until now. ²³ And not only that, ^(AM) but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits ^(AN) —we also groan within ourselves, ^(AO) eagerly waiting for adoption, ^(AP) the redemption of our bodies. ^{(AQ) 24} Now in this hope ^(AR) we were saved, yet hope ^(AS) that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, ^(AT) we eagerly wait for it with patience.

    ²⁶ In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, ^(AU) but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us ^{(AV) [m]} with unspoken groanings. ²⁷ And He who searches the hearts ^(AW) knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

    ²⁸ We know that all things work together ^[n] for the good ^[o] of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. ^{(AX) 29} For those He foreknew ^{(AY) [p]} He also predestined ^(AZ) to be conformed to the image of His Son, ^(BA) so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. ^{(BB) 30} And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; ^(BC) and those He justified, He also glorified. ^(BD)

   

The Believer's Triumph

 ³¹ What then are we to say about these things? ^(BE)

    If God is for us, who is against us? ^(BF)

    ³² He did not even spare His own Son, ^(BG)

    but offered Him up for us all; ^(BH)

    how will He not also with Him grant us everything?

    ³³ Who can bring an accusation against God's elect? ^(BI)

    God is the One who justifies. ^(BJ)

    ³⁴ Who is the one who condemns? ^(BK)

    Christ Jesus is the One who died, ^(BL) but even more, has been raised; ^(BM)

    He also is at the right hand of God ^(BN) and intercedes for us. ^(BO)

    ³⁵ Who can separate us from the love of Christ?

    Can affliction ^(BP) or anguish or persecution ^(BQ)

    or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

    ³⁶ As it is written:

   

    Because of You we are being put to death all day long; ^(BR)

    we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. ^{(BS) (BT)}

   

    ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than victorious ^(BU)

    through Him who loved us. ^(BV)

    ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, ^(BW)

    nor angels nor rulers, ^(BX)

    nor things present, nor things to come, ^(BY) nor powers,

    ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing

    will have the power to separate us

    from the love of God ^(BZ) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! ^(CA)

Romans 9

Israel's Rejection of Christ

 ¹ I speak the truth in Christ ^(CB) —I am not lying; my conscience is testifying to me with the Holy Spirit ^[q] — ² that I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish ^(CC) that I myself were cursed ^(CD) and cut off ^[r] from the Messiah for the benefit of my brothers, my countrymen by physical descent. ^{(CE) [s] 4} They are Israelites, ^(CF) and to them belong the adoption, ^(CG) the glory, ^(CH) the covenants, ^(CI) the giving of the law, ^(CJ) the temple service, ^(CK) and the promises. ^{(CL) 5} The forefathers are theirs, ^(CM) and from them, by physical descent, ^[t] came the Messiah, ^(CN) who is God ^(CO) over all, ^(CP) blessed forever. ^{(CQ) [u]} Amen.

   

God's Gracious Election of Israel

 ⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. ^(CR) For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. ^{(CS) 7} Neither are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants. ^{(CT) [v]} On the contrary, in Isaac your seed will be called. ^{(CU) (CV) 8} That is, it is not the children by physical descent ^[w] who are God's children, ^(CW) but the children of the promise ^(CX) are considered seed. ⁹ For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son. ^{(CY) (CZ) 10} And not only that, ^(DA) but also when Rebekah became pregnant ^{(DB) [x]} by Isaac our forefather ¹¹ (for though they had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to election might stand, ^{(DC) 12} not from works but from the One who calls) she was told: The older will serve the younger. ^{(DD) (DE) 13} As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated. ^{(DF) (DG)}

   

God's Selection Is Just

 ¹⁴ What should we say then? ^(DH) Is there injustice with God? ^(DI) Absolutely not! ^{(DJ) 15} For He tells Moses:

    I will show mercy to whom I show mercy,

    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. ^{(DK) (DL)}

    ¹⁶ So then it does not depend on human will or effort, ^{(DM) [y]} but on God who shows mercy. ^{(DN) 17} For the Scripture tells Pharaoh:

    For this reason I raised you up:

    so that I may display My power in you,

    and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth. ^{(DO) (DP)}

    ¹⁸ So then, He shows mercy to whom He wills, and He hardens whom He wills. ^(DQ)

    ¹⁹ You will say to me, ^(DR) therefore, "Why then does He still find fault? ^(DS) For who can resist His will?" ^{(DT) 20} But who are you ^(DU) —anyone ^[z] who talks back to God? ^(DV) Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" ^{(DW) 21} Or has the potter no right over His clay, ^(DX) to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? ²² And what if God, desiring to display His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience ^(DY) objects of wrath ready for destruction? ^{(DZ) 23} And [what if] He did this to make known the riches of His glory ^(EA) on objects of mercy ^(EB) that He prepared beforehand for glory ^(EC) — ²⁴ on us whom He also called, ^(ED) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? ^{(EE) 25} As He also says in Hosea:

    I will call "Not-My-People," "My-People,"

    and she who is "Unloved," "Beloved." ^{(EF) (EG)}

    ²⁶ And it will be in the place where they were told,

    you are not My people,

    there they will be called sons of the living God. ^{(EH) (EI)}

    ²⁷ But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

    Though the number of Israel's sons is like the sand of the sea, ^(EJ)

    only the remnant will be saved; ^(EK)

    ²⁸ for the Lord will execute His sentence

    completely and decisively on the earth. ^{(EL) [aa] (EM)}

    ²⁹ And just as Isaiah predicted:

    If the Lord of Hosts ^[ab] had not left us a seed, ^(EN)

    we would have become like Sodom,

    and we would have been made like Gomorrah. ^{(EO) (EP)}

   

Israel's Present State

 ³⁰ What should we say then? ^(EQ) Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith. ^{(ER) 31} But Israel, pursuing the law for righteousness, ^(ES) has not achieved the law. ^{(ET) [ac] 32} Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works. ^[ad] They stumbled over the stumbling stone. ^{(EU) 33} As it is written:

    Look! I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble over,

    and a rock to trip over,

    yet the one who believes on Him ^(EV) will not be put to shame. ^{(EW) (EX)}

Romans 10

Righteousness by Faith Alone

 ¹ Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God concerning them ^[ae] is for their salvation! ² I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, ^(EY) but not according to knowledge. ³ Because they disregarded the righteousness from God ^(EZ) and attempted to establish their own righteousness, they have not submitted to God's righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end ^[af] of the law for righteousness ^(FA) to everyone who believes. ^{(FB) 5} For Moses writes about the righteousness that is from the law: The one who does these things will live by them. ^{(FC) (FD) 6} But the righteousness that comes from faith ^(FE) speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, "Who will go up to heaven?" ^{(FF) (FG)} that is, to bring Christ down ⁷ or, "Who will go down into the abyss?" ^{(FH) (FI)} that is, to bring Christ up from the dead. ^{(FJ) 8} On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. ^{(FK) (FL)} This is the message of faith that we proclaim: ⁹ if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," ^(FM) and believe in your heart ^(FN) that God raised Him from the dead, ^(FO) you will be saved. ¹⁰ With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame, ^{(FP) (FQ) 12} for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, ^(FR) since the same Lord ^(FS) of all ^(FT) is rich to all who call on Him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. ^{(FU) (FV)}

   

Israel's Rejection of the Message

 ¹⁴ But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? ^(FW) And how can they hear without a preacher? ^{(FX) 15} And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How welcome ^[ag] are the feet of those ^[ah] who announce the gospel of good things! ^{(FY) (FZ) 16} But all did not obey the gospel. ^(GA) For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? ^{(GB) (GC) 17} So faith comes from what is heard, ^(GD) and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. ^{(GE) [ai] 18} But I ask, "Did they not hear?" Yes, they did:

    Their voice has gone out to all the earth,

    and their words to the ends of the inhabited world. ^{(GF) (GG)}

    ¹⁹ But I ask, "Did Israel not understand?" First, Moses said:

    I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; ^(GH)

    I will make you angry by a nation that lacks understanding. ^{(GI) (GJ)}

    ²⁰ And Isaiah says boldly:

    I was found by those who were not looking for Me;

    I revealed Myself to those who were not asking for Me. ^{(GK) (GL)}

    ²¹ But to Israel he says: All day long I have spread out My hands to a disobedient and defiant people. ^{(GM) (GN)}