³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a](A) 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b](B) 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”^(C)

⁴ Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.^(A)

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^{(A) 35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.^{(B) 36} So if the Son sets you free,^(C) you will be free indeed.

⁸ When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin,^(A) because people do not believe in me;

²³ for all have sinned^(A) and fall short of the glory of God,

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(A) By no means! ¹⁶ Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey^(B)—whether you are slaves to sin,^(C) which leads to death,^(D) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(E) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(F) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(G) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(H) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(I)

¹⁹ I am using an example from everyday life^(J) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness^(K) leading to holiness. ²⁰ When you were slaves to sin,^(L) you were free from the control of righteousness.^{(M) 21} What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!^{(N) 22} But now that you have been set free from sin^(O) and have become slaves of God,^(P) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^{(Q) 23} For the wages of sin is death,^(R) but the gift of God is eternal life^(S) in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.^{(A) 19} For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God^(B) to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,^(C) in hope ²¹ that^[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay^(D) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.^(E)

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning^(F) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,^(G) groan^(H) inwardly as we wait eagerly^(I) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.^{(J) 24} For in this hope we were saved.^(K) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.^(L) Who hopes for what they already have?

²³ But whoever has doubts^(A) is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.^[a]

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins^(A) and purify us from all unrighteousness.^{(B) 10} If we claim we have not sinned,^(C) we make him out to be a liar^(D) and his word is not in us.^(E)

2 My dear children,^(F) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate^(G) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,^(H) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.^(I)

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

³ We know^(J) that we have come to know him^(K) if we keep his commands.^{(L) 4} Whoever says, “I know him,”^(M) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.^(N)