Romans 3:21-8:39

Christian Standard Bible

The Righteousness of God through Faith

²¹ But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed,^(A) attested by the Law and the Prophets.^{[a](B) 22} The righteousness of God is through faith^(C) in Jesus Christ^[b](D) to all who believe,^(E) since there is no distinction.^{(F) 23} For all have sinned^(G) and fall short of the^[c] glory of God; ²⁴ they are justified freely by his grace^(H) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.^{(I) 25} God presented him as the mercy seat^[d](J) by his blood,^(K) through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God^(L) passed over the sins previously committed.^{(M) 26} God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.

Boasting Excluded

²⁷ Where, then, is boasting?^(N) It is excluded. By what kind of law?^[e](O) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law^[f] of faith. ²⁸ For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^{(P) 29} Or is God the God of Jews only?^(Q) Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is one God^(R) who will justify the circumcised by faith^(S) and the uncircumcised through faith. ³¹ Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not!^(T) On the contrary, we uphold the law.^(U)

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather^(V) according to the flesh, has found?^{[g] 2} If Abraham was justified^[h] by works,^(W) he has something to boast about—but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.^{[i](X) 4} Now to the one who works,^(Y) pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly,^(Z) his faith is credited for righteousness.

David Celebrating the Same Truth

⁶ Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Abraham Justified before Circumcision

⁹ Is this blessing only for the circumcised,^(AB) then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.^{[k](AC) 10} In what way, then, was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? It was not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. ¹¹ And he received the sign of circumcision^(AD) as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith^[l](AE) while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father^(AF) of all who believe^(AG) but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. ¹² And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.

The Promise Granted through Faith

¹³ For the promise to Abraham^(AH) or to his descendants that he would inherit the world^(AI) was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴ If those who are of the law are heirs,^(AJ) faith is made empty and the promise nullified, ¹⁵ because the law produces wrath.^(AK) And where there is no law,^(AL) there is no transgression.

¹⁶ This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,^(AM) to guarantee it to all the descendants^(AN)—not only to the one who is of the law^[m] but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations^[n](AO)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed,the one who gives life to the dead^(AP) and calls^(AQ) things into existence that do not exist.^{(AR) 18} He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations^[o](AS) according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.^{[p](AT) 19} He did not weaken in faith when he considered^[q] his own body to be already dead^(AU) (since he was about a hundred years old)^(AV) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb.^{(AW) 20} He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(AX) 21} because he was fully convinced^(AY) that what God had promised, he was also able to do.^{(AZ) 22} Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.^{[r](BA) 23} Now it was credited to him^[s] was not written for Abraham alone,^{(BB) 24} but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him^(BC) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(BD) 25} He was delivered up for^[t] our trespasses^(BE) and raised for our justification.^(BF)

Faith Triumphs

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,^(BG) we have peace^[u] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(BH) 2} We have also obtained access through him^(BI) by faith^[v] into this grace in which we stand,^(BJ) and we boast^[w] in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that,^(BK) but we also boast in our afflictions,^(BL) because we know that affliction produces endurance,^{(BM) 4} endurance produces proven character,^(BN) and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us,^(BO) because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts^(BP) through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The Justified Are Reconciled

⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time,^(BQ) Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. ⁸ But God proves^(BR) his own love for us^(BS) in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood,^(BT) will we be saved through him from wrath.^{(BU) 10} For if, while we were enemies,^(BV) we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.^{(BW) 11} And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.^(BX)

Death through Adam and Life through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man,^(BY) and death through sin,^(BZ) in this way death spread to all people,^(CA) because all sinned.^{[x] 13} In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.^{(CB) 14} Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression.^(CC) He is a type of the Coming One.^(CD)

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man^(CE) Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. ¹⁶ And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment,^(CF) resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.^{[y] 17} If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life^(CG) through the one man, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life^(CH) for everyone. ¹⁹ For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners,^(CI) so also through the one man’s obedience^(CJ) the many will be made righteous. ²⁰ The law came along to multiply the trespass.^(CK) But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more^{(CL) 21} so that, just as sin reigned in death,^(CM) so also grace will reign^(CN) through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The New Life in Christ

6 What should we say then?^(CO) Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?^{(CP) 2} Absolutely not!^(CQ) How can we who died to sin^(CR) still live in it? ³ Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized^(CS) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?^{(CT) 4} Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death,^(CU) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(CV) by the glory of the Father,^(CW) so we too may walk in newness^[z] of life.^{(CX) 5} For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death,^(CY) we will certainly also be^[aa] in the likeness of his resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self^[ab](CZ) was crucified with him^(DA) so that the body ruled by sin^[ac] might be rendered powerless^(DB) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, ⁷ since a person who has died^(DC) is freed^[ad] from sin. ⁸ Now if we died with Christ,^(DD) we believe that we will also live with him, ⁹ because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead,^(DE) will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.^{(DF) 10} For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ¹¹ So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin^(DG) and alive to God in Christ Jesus.^[ae]

¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey^[af] its desires. ¹³ And do not offer any parts^[ag] of it to sin^(DH) as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God,^(DI) and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law^(DJ) but under grace.^(DK)

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

¹⁵ What then? Should we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?^(DL) Absolutely not!^{(DM) 16} Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone^[ah] as obedient slaves,^(DN) you are slaves of that one you obey^(DO)—either of sin leading to death^(DP) or of obedience leading to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin,^(DQ) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed^[ai] over,^{(DR) 18} and having been set free from sin,^(DS) you became enslaved to righteousness. ¹⁹ I am using a human analogy^(DT) because of the weakness of your flesh.^[aj] For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. ²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.^{[ak](DU) 21} So what fruit was produced^[al] then from the things you are now ashamed of?^(DV) The outcome of those things is death.^{(DW) 22} But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God,^(DX) you have your fruit, which results in sanctification^(DY)—and the outcome is eternal life!^{(DZ) 23} For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.^(EA)

An Illustration from Marriage

7 Since I am speaking to those who know the law, brothers and sisters,^(EB) don’t you know that the law rules over someone as long as he lives? ² For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives.^(EC) But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband. ³ So then, if she is married to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she is married to another man, she is not an adulteress.

⁴ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death^(ED) in relation to the law^(EE) through the body of Christ^(EF) so that you may belong to another. You belong to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. ⁵ For when we were in the flesh,^(EG) the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us^[am](EH) to bear fruit for death. ⁶ But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit^(EI) and not in the old letter of the law.

Sin’s Use of the Law

⁷ What should we say then?^(EJ) Is the law sin? Absolutely not!^(EK) But I would not have known sin if it were not for the law.^(EL) For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.^{[an](EM) 8} And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment,^(EN) produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.^{(EO) 9} Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life again ¹⁰ and I died. The commandment that was meant for life^(EP) resulted in death for me. ¹¹ For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me,^(EQ) and through it killed me. ¹² So then, the law is holy,^(ER) and the commandment is holy and just and good. ¹³ Therefore, did what is good become death to me? Absolutely not!^(ES) But sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment, sin might become sinful beyond measure.

The Problem of Sin in Us

¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual,^(ET) but I am of the flesh,^[ao] sold^(EU) as a slave under sin.^{(EV) 15} For I do not understand what I am doing,^(EW) because I do not practice what I want to do,^(EX) but I do what I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. ¹⁷ So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh.^(EY) For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one that does it, but it is the sin that lives in me. ²¹ So I discover this law:^[ap](EZ) When I want to do what is good,^[aq] evil is present with me. ²² For in my inner self^[ar] I delight in God’s law,^{(FA) 23} but I see a different law in the parts of my body,^[as](FB) waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?^{(FC) 25} Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!^(FD) So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin.

The Life-Giving Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation^(FE) for those in^(FF) Christ Jesus,^{[at](FG) 2} because the law^[au] of the Spirit of life^(FH) in Christ Jesus has set you^[av] free from the law^[aw] of sin and death.^{(FI) 3} For what the law could not do^(FJ) since it was weakened by the flesh,^(FK) God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh^(FL) as a sin offering,^{[ax](FM) 4} in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled^(FN) in us who do not walk according to the flesh^(FO) but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh,^(FP) 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^(FQ) is death,^(FR) but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mindset of the flesh is hostile^(FS) 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^(FT) cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(FU) If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(FV) he does not belong to him. ¹⁰ Now if Christ is in you,^(FW) the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit^[ay] gives life^[az] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(FX) lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through^[ba] 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,^(FY) you will live. ¹⁴ For all those led by God’s Spirit^(FZ) are God’s sons.^{(GA) 15} For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.^(GB) Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption,^(GC) by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[bb] Father!” ^{(GD) 16} The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit^(GE) that we are God’s children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs^(GF)—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him^(GG) 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^(GH) with the glory^(GI) that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation^(GJ) for God’s sons^(GK) to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected^(GL) to futility^(GM)—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it^(GN)—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself^(GO) 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^(GP) until now. ²³ Not only that,^(GQ) but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits^(GR)—we also groan within ourselves,^(GS) eagerly waiting for adoption,^(GT) the redemption of our bodies.^{(GU) 24} Now in this hope^(GV) we were saved, but hope^(GW) that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ Now if we hope for what we do not see,^(GX) 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,^(GY) but the Spirit himself intercedes for us^[bc](GZ) with inexpressible groanings. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(HA) 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^[bd] for the good^[be] of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.^{(HB) 29} For those he foreknew he also predestined^(HC) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(HD) so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.^{(HE) 30} And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified;^(HF) and those he justified, he also glorified.^(HG)

The Believer’s Triumph

³¹ What, then, are we to say about these things?^(HH) If God is for us, who is against us?^{(HI) 32} He did not even spare his own Son^(HJ) but gave him up for us all.^(HK) How will he not also with him grant us everything? ³³ Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?^(HL) God is the one who justifies.^{(HM) 34} Who is the one who condemns?^(HN) Christ Jesus is the one who died,^(HO) but even more, has been raised;^(HP) he also is at the right hand of God^(HQ) and intercedes for us.^{(HR) 35} Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction^(HS) or distress or persecution^(HT) or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

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