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The Spirit Gives Life

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah[a] Jesus.[b] For the Spirit’s law of life in the Messiah[c] Jesus has set me[d] free from the Law of sin and death. For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did. By sending his own Son in the form of humanity,[e] he condemned sin by being incarnate, so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to human nature but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To focus our minds on the human nature leads to death, but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace. That is why the mind that focuses on human nature is hostile toward God. It refuses to submit to the authority of God’s Law because it is powerless to do so. Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature cannot please God.

You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God’s Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah,[f] he does not belong to him. 10 But if the Messiah[g] is in you, your bodies are dead due to sin, but the spirit[h] is alive due to righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then the one who raised the Messiah[i] from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Consequently, brothers, we are not—with respect to human nature, that is—under an obligation to live according to human nature. 13 For if you live according to human nature, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you continuously put to death the activities of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba![j] Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with the Messiah[k]—if, in fact, we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

God’s Spirit Helps Us

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us. 19 For the creation is eagerly awaiting the revelation of God’s children, 20 because the creation has become subject to futility, though not by anything it did.[l] The one who subjected it did so in the certainty[m] 21 that the creation itself would also be set free from corrupting bondage in order to share the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that all the rest of creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth up to the present time. 23 However, not only the creation, but we who have the first fruits of the Spirit also groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For we were saved with this hope in mind.[n] Now a hope that can be observed is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet observe, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, since we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us[o] with groans too deep for words, 27 and the one who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, for the Spirit[p] intercedes for the saints according to God’s will.[q] 28 And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together[r] for good.

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that the Son[s] might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined, he also called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What, then, can we say about all of this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 The one who did not spare his own Son, but offered him as a sacrifice[t] for all of us, surely will give us all things, along with his Son,[u] won’t he? 33 Who will accuse God’s elect? It is God who justifies! 34 Who is the one to condemn? It is the Messiah[v] Jesus who is interceding on our behalf. He died, and more importantly, has been raised and is seated at the right hand of God.

35 Who will separate us from the Messiah’s[w] love? Can trouble, distress, persecution, hunger, nakedness, danger, or a violent death[x] do this?[y] 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being put to death all day long.
    We are thought of as sheep headed for slaughter.”[z]

37 In all these things we are triumphantly victorious due to the one who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is ours[aa] in union with the Messiah[ab] Jesus, our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:1 Or Christ
  2. Romans 8:1 Other mss. read Jesus, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit
  3. Romans 8:2 Or Christ
  4. Romans 8:2 Other mss. read you
  5. Romans 8:3 Lit. of the flesh
  6. Romans 8:9 Or Christ
  7. Romans 8:10 Or Christ
  8. Romans 8:10 Or Spirit
  9. Romans 8:11 Or Christ
  10. Romans 8:15 Abba is Aram. for Father.
  11. Romans 8:17 Or Christ
  12. Romans 8:20 Lit. by its subjecting
  13. Romans 8:20 Lit. hope
  14. Romans 8:24 The Gk. lacks in mind
  15. Romans 8:26 Other mss. lack for us
  16. Romans 8:27 Lit. he
  17. Romans 8:27 Lit. according to God
  18. Romans 8:28 Other mss. read that God works all things together for good for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose
  19. Romans 8:29 Lit. that he
  20. Romans 8:32 The Gk. lacks as a sacrifice
  21. Romans 8:32 Lit. with him
  22. Romans 8:34 Or Christ
  23. Romans 8:35 Or Christ’s
  24. Romans 8:35 Lit. a sword
  25. Romans 8:35 The Gk. lacks do this
  26. Romans 8:36 Cf. Ps 44:22
  27. Romans 8:39 The Gk. lacks ours
  28. Romans 8:39 Or Christ

Deliverance from Bondage

Therefore there is now no (A)condemnation at all for those who are (B)in (C)Christ Jesus. For (D)the law of the Spirit of life [a]in (E)Christ Jesus (F)has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For (G)what the Law could not do, [b](H)weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in (I)the likeness of [c]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the (J)requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who (K)do not walk [d]according to the flesh but [e]according to the Spirit. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on (L)the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, (M)the things of the Spirit. (N)For the mind [f]set on the flesh is (O)death, but the mind [g]set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind [h]set on the flesh is (P)hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are (Q)in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not (R)in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God (S)dwells in you. But (T)if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 (U)If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is [i]alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who (V)raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, (W)He who raised (X)Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [j]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for (Y)if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are (Z)putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are (AA)being led by the Spirit of God, these are (AB)sons and daughters of God. 15 For you (AC)have not received a spirit of slavery [k]leading to fear again, but you (AD)have received [l]a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “(AE)Abba! [m]Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself (AF)testifies with our spirit that we are (AG)children of God, 17 and if children, (AH)heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (AI)if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (AJ)are not worthy to be compared with the (AK)glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the (AL)eagerly awaiting creation waits for (AM)the revealing of the (AN)sons and daughters of God. 20 For the creation (AO)was subjected to (AP)futility, not willingly, but (AQ)because of Him who subjected it, [n]in hope 21 that (AR)the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation (AS)groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 (AT)And not only that, but also we ourselves, having (AU)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves (AV)groan within ourselves, (AW)waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, (AX)the redemption of our body. 24 For (AY)in hope we have been saved, but (AZ)hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But (BA)if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Our Victory in Christ

26 Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for (BB)we do not know what to pray for as we should, but (BC)the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with [o]groanings too deep for words; 27 and (BD)He who searches the hearts knows what (BE)the mind of the Spirit is, because He (BF)intercedes for the [p]saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that [q]God [r]causes (BG)all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are (BH)called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He (BI)foreknew, He also (BJ)predestined to become (BK)conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the (BL)firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30 and these whom He (BM)predestined, He also (BN)called; and these whom He called, He also (BO)justified; and these whom He justified, He also (BP)glorified.

31 (BQ)What then shall we say to these things? (BR)If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who (BS)did not spare His own Son, but (BT)delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring charges against (BU)God’s elect? (BV)God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who (BW)condemns? Christ Jesus is He who (BX)died, but rather, was [s](BY)raised, who is (BZ)at the right hand of God, who also (CA)intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from (CB)the love of [t]Christ? Will (CC)tribulation, or trouble, or (CD)persecution, or (CE)famine, or (CF)nakedness, or (CG)danger, or sword? 36 Just as it is written:

(CH)For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly (CI)conquer through (CJ)Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither (CK)death, nor life, nor (CL)angels, nor principalities, nor (CM)things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from (CN)the love of God that is (CO)in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:2 Or has set you free in Christ Jesus
  2. Romans 8:3 Lit in which it was weak
  3. Romans 8:3 Lit flesh of sin
  4. Romans 8:4 Or in accordance with
  5. Romans 8:4 Or in accordance with
  6. Romans 8:6 Lit of the
  7. Romans 8:6 Lit of the
  8. Romans 8:7 Lit of the
  9. Romans 8:10 Lit life
  10. Romans 8:11 One early ms because of
  11. Romans 8:15 Lit for fear again
  12. Romans 8:15 Or the Spirit
  13. Romans 8:15 Gr translation of the Aramaic Abba provided by Paul
  14. Romans 8:20 Or in hope; because the creation
  15. Romans 8:26 Lit wordless groanings
  16. Romans 8:27 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  17. Romans 8:28 One early ms He; i.e., God
  18. Romans 8:28 Or in all things works together with those...for good
  19. Romans 8:34 One early ms raised from the dead
  20. Romans 8:35 Two early mss God

Free from Indwelling Sin

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, (A)who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For (B)the law of (C)the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from (D)the law of sin and death. For (E)what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, (F)God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who (G)do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For (H)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, (I)the things of the Spirit. For (J)to be [b]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because (K)the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, (L)nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of (M)Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, (N)He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [d]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Sonship Through the Spirit

12 (O)Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For (P)if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you (Q)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For (R)as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For (S)you did not receive the spirit of bondage again (T)to fear, but you received the (U)Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, (V)“Abba,[e] Father.” 16 (W)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then (X)heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, (Y)if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

18 For I consider that (Z)the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For (AA)the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For (AB)the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of [f]corruption into the glorious (AC)liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation (AD)groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have (AE)the firstfruits of the Spirit, (AF)even we ourselves groan (AG)within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the (AH)redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but (AI)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 (AJ)we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but (AK)the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now (AL)He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints (AM)according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those (AN)who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom (AO)He foreknew, (AP)He also predestined (AQ)to be conformed to the image of His Son, (AR)that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also (AS)called; whom He called, these He also (AT)justified; and whom He justified, these He also (AU)glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? (AV)If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 (AW)He who did not spare His own Son, but (AX)delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? (AY)It is God who justifies. 34 (AZ)Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, (BA)who is even at the right hand of God, (BB)who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

(BC)“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 (BD)Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor (BE)principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:1 NU omits the rest of v. 1.
  2. Romans 8:6 fleshly
  3. Romans 8:7 fleshly
  4. Romans 8:11 Or because of
  5. Romans 8:15 Lit., in Aram., Father
  6. Romans 8:21 decay
  7. Romans 8:26 NU omits for us

Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua. Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah Yeshua, has set me free from the “Torah” of sin and death. For what the Torah could not do by itself, because it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate, God did by sending his own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one [but without sin]. God did this in order to deal with sin, and in so doing he executed the punishment against sin in human nature, so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the Spirit wants. For those who identify with their old nature set their minds on the things of the old nature, but those who identify with the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom. For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah — indeed, it cannot. Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God.

But you, you do not identify with your old nature but with the Spirit — provided the Spirit of God is living inside you, for anyone who doesn’t have the Spirit of the Messiah doesn’t belong to him. 10 However, if the Messiah is in you, then, on the one hand, the body is dead because of sin; but, on the other hand, the Spirit is giving life because God considers you righteous. 11 And if the Spirit of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead is living in you, then the One who raised the Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

12 So then, brothers, we don’t owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature. 13 For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.

14 All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God; 17 and if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Messiah — provided we are suffering with him in order also to be glorified with him.

18 I don’t think the sufferings we are going through now are even worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us in the future. 19 The creation waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed; 20 for the creation was made subject to frustration — not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it. But it was given a reliable hope 21 that it too would be set free from its bondage to decay and would enjoy the freedom accompanying the glory that God’s children will have. 22 We know that until now, the whole creation has been groaning as with the pains of childbirth; 23 and not only it, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we continue waiting eagerly to be made sons — that is, to have our whole bodies redeemed and set free. 24 It was in this hope that we were saved. But if we see what we hope for, it isn’t hope — after all, who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we continue hoping for something we don’t see, then we still wait eagerly for it, with perseverance.

26 Similarly, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we don’t know how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit himself pleads on our behalf with groanings too deep for words; 27 and the one who searches hearts knows exactly what the Spirit is thinking, because his pleadings for God’s people accord with God’s will. 28 Furthermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose; 29 because those whom he knew in advance, he also determined in advance would be conformed to the pattern of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers; 30 and those whom he thus determined in advance, he also called; and those whom he called, he also caused to be considered righteous; and those whom he caused to be considered righteous he also glorified!

31 What, then, are we to say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all — is it possible that, having given us his Son, he would not give us everything else too? 33 So who will bring a charge against God’s chosen people? Certainly not God — he is the one who causes them to be considered righteous! 34 Who punishes them? Certainly not the Messiah Yeshua, who died and — more than that — has been raised, is at the right hand of God and is actually pleading on our behalf! 35 Who will separate us from the love of the Messiah? Trouble? Hardship? Persecution? Hunger? Poverty? Danger? War? 36 As the Tanakh puts it,

“For your sake we are being put to death all day long,
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered.”[a]

37 No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, 39 neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Yeshua, our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:36 Psalm 44:23(22)