Faith Triumphs

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,^(A) we have peace^[a] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(B) 2} We have also obtained access through him^(C) by faith^[b] into this grace in which we stand,^(D) and we boast^[c] in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that,^(E) but we also boast in our afflictions,^(F) because we know that affliction produces endurance,^{(G) 4} endurance produces proven character,^(H) and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us,^(I) because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts^(J) through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The Justified Are Reconciled

⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time,^(K) 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^(L) his own love for us^(M) 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,^(N) will we be saved through him from wrath.^{(O) 10} For if, while we were enemies,^(P) 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.^{(Q) 11} And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.^(R)

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead^(A) in your trespasses and sins ² in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world,^(B) according to the ruler of the power of the air,^(C) the spirit^(D) now working in the disobedient.^{[a] 3} We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly^(E) desires, carrying out the inclinations^(F) of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath^(G) as the others were also. ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy,^(H) because of his great love^(I) that he had for us,^{[b] 5} made us alive^(J) with Christ even though we were dead^(K) in trespasses. You are saved by grace! ⁶ He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,^{(L) 7} so that in the coming ages^(M) he might display the immeasurable riches^(N) of his grace through his kindness^(O) to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For you are saved by grace^(P) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created^(Q) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(R) for us to do.

⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared,^{(A) 5} he saved us^(B)—not by works of righteousness that we had done,^(C) but according to his mercy^(D)—through the washing of regeneration^(E) and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^{(F) 6} He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly^(G) through Jesus Christ our Savior ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace,^(H) we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.^(I)

Christ’s Resurrection Guarantees Ours

²⁰ But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits^(A) of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death^(B) came through a man,^(C) the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.^{(D) 22} For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.^(E)

²³ But each in his own order:^(F) Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end,^(G) when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father,^(H) when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power.^{(I) 25} For he must reign^(J) until he puts all his enemies under his feet.^{(K) 26} The last enemy to be abolished is death.^{(L) 27} For God has put everything under his feet.^[a](M) Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. ²⁸ When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son^(N) himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.^(O)

Victorious Resurrection

⁵⁰ What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh^(A) and blood^(B) cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.^(C) For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible body must be clothed^(D) with incorruptibility,^(E) and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. ⁵⁴ When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin^(I) is the law.^{(J) 57} But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory^(K) through our Lord Jesus Christ!

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work,^(L) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The Life-Giving Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation^(A) for those in^(B) Christ Jesus,^{[a](C) 2} because the law^[b] of the Spirit of life^(D) in Christ Jesus has set you^[c] free from the law^[d] of sin and death.^{(E) 3} For what the law could not do^(F) since it was weakened by the flesh,^(G) God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh^(H) as a sin offering,^{[e](I) 4} in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled^(J) in us who do not walk according to the flesh^(K) but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh,^(L) 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^(M) is death,^(N) but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mindset of the flesh is hostile^(O) 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^(P) cannot please God. ⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(Q) If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(R) he does not belong to him. ¹⁰ Now if Christ is in you,^(S) the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit^[f] gives life^[g] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(T) lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through^[h] 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,^(U) you will live. ¹⁴ For all those led by God’s Spirit^(V) are God’s sons.^{(W) 15} For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.^(X) Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption,^(Y) by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[i] Father!” ^{(Z) 16} The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit^(AA) that we are God’s children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs^(AB)—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him^(AC) 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^(AD) with the glory^(AE) that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation^(AF) for God’s sons^(AG) to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected^(AH) to futility^(AI)—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it^(AJ)—in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself^(AK) 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^(AL) until now. ²³ Not only that,^(AM) but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits^(AN)—we also groan within ourselves,^(AO) eagerly waiting for adoption,^(AP) the redemption of our bodies.^{(AQ) 24} Now in this hope^(AR) we were saved, but hope^(AS) that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ Now if we hope for what we do not see,^(AT) 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,^(AU) but the Spirit himself intercedes for us^[j](AV) with inexpressible groanings. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(AW) 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^[k] for the good^[l] of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.^{(AX) 29} For those he foreknew he also predestined^(AY) to be conformed to the image of his Son,^(AZ) so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.^{(BA) 30} And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified;^(BB) and those he justified, he also glorified.^(BC)

The Believer’s Triumph

³¹ What, then, are we to say about these things?^(BD) If God is for us, who is against us?^{(BE) 32} He did not even spare his own Son^(BF) but gave him up for us all.^(BG) How will he not also with him grant us everything? ³³ Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?^(BH) God is the one who justifies.^{(BI) 34} Who is the one who condemns?^(BJ) Christ Jesus is the one who died,^(BK) but even more, has been raised;^(BL) he also is at the right hand of God^(BM) and intercedes for us.^{(BN) 35} Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction^(BO) or distress or persecution^(BP) or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

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