Romans 8-9

Christian Standard Bible

The Life-Giving Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation^(A) for those in^(B) Christ Jesus,^{[a](C) 2} because the law^[b] of the Spirit of life^(D) in Christ Jesus has set you^[c] free from the law^[d] of sin and death.^{(E) 3} For what the law could not do^(F) since it was weakened by the flesh,^(G) God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh^(H) as a sin offering,^{[e](I) 4} in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled^(J) in us who do not walk according to the flesh^(K) but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh,^(L) but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ Now the mindset of the flesh^(M) is death,^(N) but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mindset of the flesh is hostile^(O) to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh^(P) cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(Q) 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 because of sin, but the Spirit^[f] gives life^[g] 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^[h] his Spirit who lives in you.

The Holy Spirit’s Ministries

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, ¹³ because 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 For 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) Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption,^(Y) by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[i] 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 coheirs with Christ—if indeed 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 to decay 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 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, but hope^(AS) that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ Now 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 helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should,^(AU) but the Spirit himself intercedes for us^[j](AV) with inexpressible groanings. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(AW) knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

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

The Believer’s Triumph

³¹ What, then, are we to say about these things?^(BD) If God is for us, who is against us?^{(BE) 32} He did not even spare his own Son^(BF) but gave him up for us all.^(BG) How will he not also with him grant us everything? ³³ Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?^(BH) God is the one who justifies.^{(BI) 34} Who is the one who condemns?^(BJ) Christ Jesus is the one who died,^(BK) but even more, has been raised;^(BL) he also is at the right hand of God^(BM) and intercedes for us.^{(BN) 35} Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction^(BO) or distress or persecution^(BP) or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors^(BS) through him who loved us.^{(BT) 38} For I am persuaded that neither death nor life,^(BU) nor angels nor rulers,^(BV) nor things present nor things to come,^(BW) nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God^(BX) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(BY)

Israel’s Rejection of Christ

9 I speak the truth in Christ^(BZ)—I am not lying; my conscience testifies to me through the Holy Spirit^[n]— ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish^(CA) that I myself were cursed^(CB) and cut off^[o] from Christ for the benefit of my brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. ⁴ They are Israelites,^(CC) and to them belong the adoption,^(CD) the glory,^(CE) the covenants,^(CF) the giving of the law,^(CG) the temple service,^(CH) and the promises.^{(CI) 5} The ancestors are theirs,^(CJ) and from them, by physical descent,^[p] came the Christ,^(CK) who is God^(CL) over all,^(CM) praised forever.^[q](CN) Amen.

God’s Gracious Election of Israel

⁶ Now it is not as though the word of God has failed,^(CO) because not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.^{(CP) 7} Neither is it the case that all of Abraham’s children are his descendants.^[r](CQ) On the contrary, your offspring will be traced^[s] through Isaac.^{[t](CR) 8} That is, it is not the children by physical descent^[u] who are God’s children,^(CS) but the children of the promise^(CT) are considered to be the offspring. ⁹ For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.^{[v](CU) 10} And not only that,^(CV) but Rebekah conceived children^(CW) through one man, our father Isaac. ¹¹ For though her sons had not been born yet or done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to election might stand^(CX)— ¹² not from works but from the one who calls—she was told, The older will serve the younger.^{[w](CY) 13} As it is written: I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.^[x](CZ)

God’s Selection Is Just

¹⁴ What should we say then?^(DA) Is there injustice with God?^(DB) Absolutely not!^{(DC) 15} For he tells Moses, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.^{[y](DD) 16} So then, it does not depend on human will or effort^(DE) but on God who shows mercy.^{(DF) 17} For the Scripture tells Pharaoh, I raised you up for this reason so that I may display my power in you and that my name may be proclaimed in the whole earth.^{[z](DG) 18} So then, he has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy and he hardens whom he wants to harden.^(DH)

¹⁹ You will say to me,^(DI) therefore, “Why then does he still find fault?^(DJ) For who resists his will?” ^{(DK) 20} On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?^(DL) Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?” ^{(DM) 21} Or has the potter no right over the clay,^(DN) to make from the same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor? ²² And what if God, wanting to display his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience^(DO) objects of wrath prepared for destruction?^{(DP) 23} And what if he did this to make known the riches of his glory^(DQ) on objects of mercy^(DR) that he prepared beforehand for glory^(DS)— ²⁴ on us, the ones he also called,^(DT) not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?^{(DU) 25} As it^[aa] also says in Hosea,

²⁷ But Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,

²⁹ And just as Isaiah predicted:

Israel’s Present State

³⁰ What should we say then?^(EC) Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained righteousness—namely the righteousness that comes from faith.^{(ED) 31} But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,^(EE) has not achieved the righteousness of the law.^{[ag](EF) 32} Why is that? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works.^[ah] They stumbled over the stumbling stone.^{(EG) 33} As it is written,