與上帝和好

我們既然因信而被稱為義人,就藉著我們的主耶穌基督與上帝和好了。 我們又靠著祂,藉著信進入現在所站的這恩典中,歡歡喜喜地盼望分享上帝的榮耀。 不但如此,我們在苦難中也歡喜,因為知道苦難使人生忍耐, 忍耐生品格,品格生盼望。 這種盼望不會落空,因為上帝的愛藉著所賜給我們的聖靈已傾注在我們心中。

當我們還軟弱無助的時候,基督就在所定的日期為罪人死了。 為義人死,是罕見的;為好人死,也許有敢做的; 但基督卻在我們還做罪人的時候為我們死!上帝的愛就這樣顯明了。

現在,我們既然因祂所流的血而被稱為義人,豈不更要靠著祂免受上帝的烈怒嗎? 10 如果我們還與上帝爲敵的時候,尚且可以藉著上帝兒子的死亡與上帝和好,和好後的我們豈不更要藉著祂兒子的生命得到拯救嗎? 11 不但如此,我們藉著主耶穌基督與上帝和好之後,還要藉著祂在上帝面前歡喜。

亞當與基督

12 因此,罪怎樣從一個人進入世界並帶來了死亡,死亡也怎樣臨到了全人類,因為全人類都犯了罪。 13 沒有律法之前,罪已經在世上了;但沒有律法,罪也不算為罪。 14 事實上,從亞當到摩西的時代,死亡一直辖制著人類,甚至連那些不與亞當犯同樣罪的人也不能倖免。亞當是將要來的那位的預表。

15 然而,上帝的洪恩遠超過亞當的過犯。若因一人的過犯,眾人都要死亡,那麼上帝的恩典,也就是通過耶穌基督一人所賜的恩典,豈不要更豐富地臨到眾人嗎? 16 再者,上帝的恩賜不同於一人犯罪的後果。一人犯罪便帶來審判和定罪,恩賜卻使眾人罪惡得赦、被稱為義人。 17 如果因一人的過犯,死亡就藉著那人作了王,那麼接受上帝洪恩又得到祂所賜之義的人,豈不更要藉著耶穌基督一人在生命中作王嗎?

18 如此說來,因為一人的過犯,眾人都被定罪;照樣,因為一人的義行,眾人都被稱為義人,得到生命。 19 因為一人的悖逆,眾人成為罪人;照樣,因為一人的順服,眾人將被稱為義人。 20 律法是後來頒佈的,使過犯更多地顯出來,只是哪裡的罪越多,哪裡的恩典就顯得越豐富。 21 罪怎樣掌權帶來死亡[a],恩典也照樣藉著義掌權,為要藉著我們主耶穌基督帶來永生。

Footnotes

  1. 5·21 罪怎樣掌權帶來死亡」或譯「罪怎樣藉著死亡掌權」。

God's friends

So we see that God has accepted us as right because we believe in him. As a result, we are friends with God, because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us. Also, because we trust Jesus Christ, he has caused us to know that God is very kind. That makes us strong in our lives here. We also are sure that we will live with God in heaven. So we are very happy.[a]

We are happy even when we have troubles and pain. That is because we know that those troubles help us to become patient and strong. And when we remain strong, we show that we trust God. When we trust God like that, it causes us to hope for God's help. And when we hope like that, it will not disappoint us. That is because we know that God loves us very much. God has given his Holy Spirit to be with us. The Holy Spirit causes us to know God's love very well.

At one time we were weak and we could not help ourselves. Then, at the right time, Christ died to save us. He died on behalf of people who have turned away from God. Nobody will agree to die on behalf of another person, even if that person has done what is right. Maybe someone might be brave enough to die on behalf of a person who is very good. But God has shown us how much he loves us. Even when we still did not obey God, Christ died on our behalf.

Because Christ died on the cross, God has accepted us as right with himself. So we certainly know that Christ will save us when God judges everyone. Because of Jesus, God will not be angry with us and punish us. 10 While we were still God's enemies, God's Son died on our behalf. As a result, we became God's friends. So, now that we are God's friends, his Son will certainly save us. Christ will save us because he is alive again. 11 But that is not everything! We are very happy now because of what God has done for us. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made this possible. It is because of him that we have now become God's friends.

Adam and Christ

12 It was because of one man, Adam, that sin came into the world.[b] Death was the result of Adam's sin. Because of that, death came to all people, because everyone failed to obey God. 13 Before God gave his Law to Moses, people did wrong things. Sin was already there in the world. But at that time, God did not say that people were guilty, because there was no law for them to obey. 14 But still death ruled all people, from the time when Adam lived until the time when Moses lived. Everyone died, even those who did not fail in the same way that Adam failed.

Adam shows us something about God's special Messiah who would come at a future time. 15 But they are not the same. Adam was the man who did not obey what God said to him. Jesus Christ is the man who brought God's free gift to people. Adam was just one person but many people died because of his sin. But God has shown in a greater way that he is very kind to people. Very many people have received God's gift because of one man, Jesus Christ. Christ has been very kind to many people!

16 Also, God's gift is different from the result of Adam's sin. Adam chose not to obey God once and punishment came as a result. But the result of God's gift is greater. People have done many wrong things, not only one wrong thing. But God accepts them as right with him. 17 One man, Adam, did not obey God, and death began to rule everyone as a result. But what the one man, Jesus Christ, did is much greater! Because of him, people can become right with God. They receive that great gift from God because he is very good and very kind. Because of what Jesus Christ has done, those people will rule like kings in their lives.

18 So God's punishment came to all people because of that one wrong thing that Adam did. But the one thing that Christ did makes people free. God accepts all people because of that one good thing that Christ did. Those people receive true life from God. 19 One man did not obey God and, as a result, many people became guilty because of their sins. But, because one man did obey God, many people will become right with God.[c]

20 God gave his Law to Moses to show more clearly that people were doing wrong things. But when people did more and more wrong things, God continued to be kind in more and more ways. 21 We see that sin ruled people's lives and brought death to them. But God's gift makes people right with him, and that is what rules their lives. People receive that gift because God is kind. As a result, they will have life with God for ever, because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done.

Footnotes

  1. 5:2 If we trust Jesus Christ and we believe that he died on the cross as a sacrifice on our behalf, then we are happy. We know that God is kind and he makes us strong in the life that we live here. We also know that one day we will live with God in heaven. We will see that God is very great and we will praise him.
  2. 5:12 Adam was the first person that God made. See Genesis 1:26-27. God told Adam that he must not eat any fruit from a certain tree. But Adam did not obey God. See Genesis 2:15—3:13.
  3. 5:19 Jesus Christ died on the cross as a sacrifice, so that God would forgive people's sins. As a result, God forgives the sins of the many people who believe in Jesus. They become right with God. These people do not receive death as a punishment for sin. Instead, they receive true life as a gift from God, because he is kind.

Peace and Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified(A) through faith,(B) we[a] have peace(C) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(D) through whom we have gained access(E) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.(F) And we[b] boast in the hope(G) of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings,(H) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(I) perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope(J) does not put us to shame, because God’s love(K) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,(L) who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time,(M) when we were still powerless,(N) Christ died for the ungodly.(O) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(P)

Since we have now been justified(Q) by his blood,(R) how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath(S) through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies,(T) we were reconciled(U) to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!(V) 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.(W)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,(X) and death through sin,(Y) and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned(Z)

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.(AA) 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,(AB) who is a pattern of the one to come.(AC)

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,(AD) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,(AE) 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(AF) 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(AG) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people,(AH) so also one righteous act resulted in justification(AI) and life(AJ) for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man(AK) the many were made sinners,(AL) so also through the obedience(AM) of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.(AN) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,(AO) 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death,(AP) so also grace(AQ) might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life(AR) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 5:1 Many manuscripts let us
  2. Romans 5:2 Or let us
  3. Romans 5:3 Or let us

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.