Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God^(A) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.^{(B) 22} This righteousness^(C) is given through faith^(D) in^[a] Jesus Christ^(E) to all who believe.^(F) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(G) 23} for all have sinned^(H) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(I) freely by his grace^(J) through the redemption^(K) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b](L) through the shedding of his blood^(M)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(N)— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us^(A) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,^(B) we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.^{(C) 12} We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again,^(D) but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,^(E) so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³ If we are “out of our mind,”^(F) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^{(G) 15} And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves^(H) but for him who died for them^(I) and was raised again.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly^(J) point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,^(K) the new creation^(L) has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here!^{(M) 18} All this is from God,^(N) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(O) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(P) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(Q) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(R) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(S) 21} God made him who had no sin^(T) to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(U)