Justification by Faith

21 But now apart [a]from the Law (A)the righteousness of God has been revealed, being (B)witnessed by the [b]Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the (C)righteousness of God through (D)faith (E)in Jesus Christ for (F)all those [c]who believe; for (G)there is no distinction, 23 for all [d](H)have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift (I)by His grace through (J)the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as (K)a [e]propitiation [f](L)in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, [g]because in God’s merciful (M)restraint He (N)let the sins previously committed go unpunished; 26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who [h]has faith in Jesus.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:21 Or from law
  2. Romans 3:21 I.e., the Old Testament
  3. Romans 3:22 Or who believe. For there is
  4. Romans 3:23 Or sinned
  5. Romans 3:25 I.e., a means of reconciliation between God and mankind by paying the penalty for sin
  6. Romans 3:25 Or by
  7. Romans 3:25 Lit because of the passing over of the sins previously committed, in the restraint of God
  8. Romans 3:26 Lit is of the faith of Jesus

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 3:22 Or through the faithfulness of
  2. Romans 3:25 The Greek for sacrifice of atonement refers to the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant (see Lev. 16:15,16).

God Is Light

(A)This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that (B)God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (C)If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we (D)lie and (E)do not practice the truth; but if we (F)walk in the Light as (G)He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and (H)the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (I)If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the (J)truth is not in us. (K)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and (L)cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 (M)If we say that we have not sinned, we (N)make Him a liar and (O)His word is not in us.

Christ Is Our Advocate

(P)My little children, I am (Q)writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, (R)we have an [a](S)Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is (T)the [b]propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also (U)for the sins of the whole world.

(V)By this we know that we have come to (W)know Him, if we (X)keep His commandments. The one who says, “(Y)I have come to (Z)know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a (AA)liar, and (AB)the truth is not in him; but whoever (AC)follows His word, in him the (AD)love of God has truly been perfected. (AE)By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says that he (AF)remains in Him (AG)ought, himself also, walk just as He walked.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 2:1 Or Intercessor
  2. 1 John 2:2 I.e., means of reconciliation with God by atoning for sins; or sin-offering

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

This is the message we have heard(A) from him and declare to you: God is light;(B) in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,(C) we lie and do not live out the truth.(D) But if we walk in the light,(E) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.(F)

If we claim to be without sin,(G) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.(H) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins(I) and purify us from all unrighteousness.(J) 10 If we claim we have not sinned,(K) we make him out to be a liar(L) and his word is not in us.(M)

My dear children,(N) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate(O) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,(P) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(Q)

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

We know(R) that we have come to know him(S) if we keep his commands.(T) Whoever says, “I know him,”(U) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.(V) But if anyone obeys his word,(W) love for God[b] is truly made complete in them.(X) This is how we know(Y) we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.(Z)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:7 Or every
  2. 1 John 2:5 Or word, God’s love