Their Faith in Christ

^3 (A)We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ^4 (B)since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of ^(C)your love for all the saints; ⁵ because of the hope ^(D)which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, ⁶ which has come to you, ^(E)as it has also in all the world, and ^(F)is bringing forth ^[a]fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew ^(G)the grace of God in truth; ⁷ as you also learned from ^(H)Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is ^(I)a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, ⁸ who also declared to us your ^(J)love in the Spirit.

God’s Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now ^(A)the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, ^(B)being witnessed by the Law ^(C)and the Prophets, ²² even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all ^[a]and on all who believe. For ^(D)there is no difference; ²³ for ^(E)all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ being justified ^[b]freely ^(F)by His grace ^(G)through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God set forth ^(H)as a ^[c]propitiation ^(I)by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over ^(J)the sins that were previously committed, ²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

^16 (A)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten ^(B)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ^17 (C)For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 Therefore, ^(A)having been justified by faith, ^[a]we have ^(B)peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^2 (C)through whom also we have access by faith into this grace ^(D)in which we stand, and ^(E)rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but ^(F)we also glory in tribulations, ^(G)knowing that tribulation produces ^[b]perseverance; ^4 (H)and perseverance, ^[c]character; and character, hope. ^5 (I)Now hope does not disappoint, ^(J)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

A Heavenly Inheritance

^3 (A)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(B)according to His abundant mercy ^(C)has begotten us again to a living hope ^(D)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance ^[a]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, ^(E)reserved in heaven for you, ^5 (F)who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

^6 (G)In this you greatly rejoice, though now ^(H)for a little while, if need be, ^(I)you have been ^[b]grieved by various trials, ⁷ that ^(J)the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though ^(K)it is tested by fire, ^(L)may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ^8 (M)whom having not ^[c]seen you love. ^(N)Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

²² For we know that the whole creation ^(A)groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have ^(B)the firstfruits of the Spirit, ^(C)even we ourselves groan ^(D)within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the ^(E)redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but ^(F)hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For ^(G)we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but ^(H)the Spirit Himself makes intercession ^[a]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now ^(I)He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints ^(J)according to the will of God.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Knowing God Through Love^(A)

^7 (B)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who ^(C)loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ^9 (D)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten ^(E)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, ^(F)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^(G)to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, ^(H)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

¹⁹ Now ^(A)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[a]adultery, ^[b]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[c]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that ^(B)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But ^(C)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(D)love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, ^(E)goodness, ^(F)faithfulness, ^23 [d]gentleness, self-control. ^(G)Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s ^(H)have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ^25 (I)If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ^26 (J)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.