Peace with God Through Faith

5 ^(A)Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, ^(B)we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also ^(C)obtained access by faith^[b] into this grace ^(D)in which we stand, and ^(E)we^[c] rejoice^[d] in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we ^(F)rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering ^(G)produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and ^(H)hope does not put us to shame, because God's love ^(I)has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

²⁹ For those whom he ^(A)foreknew he also ^(B)predestined ^(C)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be ^(D)the firstborn among many brothers.

¹³ when slandered, we entreat. ^(A)We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, ^(B)the refuse of all things.

¹⁴ I do not write these things ^(C)to make you ashamed, but to admonish you ^(D)as my beloved children. ¹⁵ For ^(E)though you have countless^[a] guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For ^(F)I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ¹⁶ I urge you, then, ^(G)be imitators of me. ¹⁷ That is why ^(H)I sent^[b] you Timothy, ^(I)my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,^{[c] (J)}as I teach them everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Some are ^(K)arrogant, ^(L)as though I were not coming to you.

¹⁹ Now ^(A)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(B)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(C)those who do^[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(D)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(E)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(F)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (G)gentleness, ^(H)self-control; ^(I)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(J)have crucified the flesh with its ^(K)passions and desires.

⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began ^(A)a good work in you ^(B)will bring it to completion at ^(C)the day of Jesus Christ.

Testing of Your Faith

^2 (A)Count it all joy, my brothers,^[a] when you meet trials ^(B)of various kinds, ³ for you know that ^(C)the testing of your faith ^(D)produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be ^(E)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.