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Romans 7:13-8:39
New King James Version

Law Cannot Save from Sin

13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, (A)sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. (B)For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that (C)in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I (D)delight in the law of God according to (E)the inward man. 23 But (F)I see another law in (G)my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me (H)from this body of death? 25 (I)I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Free from Indwelling Sin

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, (J)who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For (K)the law of (L)the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from (M)the law of sin and death. 3 For (N)what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, (O)God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who (P)do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For (Q)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, (R)the things of the Spirit. 6 For (S)to be [b]carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because (T)the [c]carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, (U)nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 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 (V)Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, (W)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 (X)Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For (Y)if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you (Z)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For (AA)as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For (AB)you did not receive the spirit of bondage again (AC)to fear, but you received the (AD)Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, (AE)“Abba,[e] Father.” 16 (AF)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then (AG)heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, (AH)if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

18 For I consider that (AI)the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For (AJ)the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For (AK)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 (AL)liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation (AM)groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have (AN)the firstfruits of the Spirit, (AO)even we ourselves groan (AP)within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the (AQ)redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but (AR)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 (AS)we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but (AT)the Spirit Himself makes intercession [g]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now (AU)He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints (AV)according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those (AW)who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom (AX)He foreknew, (AY)He also predestined (AZ)to be conformed to the image of His Son, (BA)that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also (BB)called; whom He called, these He also (BC)justified; and whom He justified, these He also (BD)glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? (BE)If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 (BF)He who did not spare His own Son, but (BG)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? (BH)It is God who justifies. 34 (BI)Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, (BJ)who is even at the right hand of God, (BK)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:

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

37 (BM)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 (BN)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
Listen to Romans 7:13-8:39
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Romans 7:13-8:39
English Standard Version

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, (A)sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For (B)I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with (C)the law, that it is good. 17 So now (D)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells (E)in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 (F)For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, (G)it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For (H)I delight in the law of God, (I)in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members (J)another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from (K)this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Life in the Spirit

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of (L)the Spirit of life (M)has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For (N)God has done what the law, (O)weakened by the flesh, (P)could not do. (Q)By sending his own Son (R)in the likeness of sinful flesh and (S)for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that (T)the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, (U)who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For (V)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on (W)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on (X)the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set (Y)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is (Z)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; (AA)indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact (AB)the Spirit of God dwells in you. (AC)Anyone who does not have (AD)the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of (AE)him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies (AF)through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers,[e] we are debtors, (AG)not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you (AH)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are (AI)led by the Spirit of God are (AJ)sons[f] of God. 15 For (AK)you did not receive (AL)the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of (AM)adoption as sons, by whom we cry, (AN)“Abba! Father!” 16 (AO)The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then (AP)heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, (AQ)provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (AR)are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for (AS)the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation (AT)was subjected to futility, not willingly, but (AU)because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that (AV)the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that (AW)the whole creation (AX)has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have (AY)the firstfruits of the Spirit, (AZ)groan inwardly as (BA)we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, (BB)the redemption of our bodies. 24 For (BC)in this hope we were saved. Now (BD)hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we (BE)wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For (BF)we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but (BG)the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And (BH)he who searches hearts knows what is (BI)the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit (BJ)intercedes for the saints (BK)according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together (BL)for good,[h] for (BM)those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he (BN)foreknew he also (BO)predestined (BP)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be (BQ)the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also (BR)justified, and those whom he justified he also (BS)glorified.

God's Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? (BT)If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 32 (BU)He who did not spare his own Son but (BV)gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? (BW)It is God who justifies. 34 (BX)Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—(BY)who is at the right hand of God, (BZ)who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

(CA)“For your sake (CB)we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than (CC)conquerors through (CD)him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
  2. Romans 8:2 Some manuscripts me
  3. Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering
  4. Romans 8:11 Some manuscripts lack Jesus
  5. Romans 8:12 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29
  6. Romans 8:14 See discussion on “sons” in the Preface
  7. Romans 8:27 Or that
  8. Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good
  9. Romans 8:31 Or who is
  10. Romans 8:34 Or Is it Christ Jesus who died… for us?
Close NLT

Romans 7:13-8:39
New Living Translation

13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

Struggling with Sin

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power[b] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

Life in the Spirit

8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power[c] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you[d] from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.[e] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life[f] because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,[g] you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,[h] you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[i] of God.

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.[j] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”[k] 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

The Future Glory

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,[l] including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope[m] for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[n] in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[o] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn[p] among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[q]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[r] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 7:18 Greek my flesh; also in 7:25.
  2. 7:23 Greek law; also in 7:23b.
  3. 8:2a Greek the law; also in 8:2b.
  4. 8:2b Some manuscripts read me.
  5. 8:3 Greek our flesh; similarly in 8:4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12.
  6. 8:10 Or your spirit is alive.
  7. 8:12 Greek brothers; also in 8:29.
  8. 8:13 Greek deeds of the body.
  9. 8:14 Greek sons; also in 8:19.
  10. 8:15a Greek you received a spirit of sonship.
  11. 8:15b Abba is an Aramaic term for “father.”
  12. 8:23 Greek wait anxiously for sonship.
  13. 8:24 Some manuscripts read wait.
  14. 8:27 Greek for God’s holy people.
  15. 8:28 Some manuscripts read And we know that everything works together.
  16. 8:29 Or would be supreme.
  17. 8:36 Ps 44:22.
  18. 8:38 Greek nor rulers.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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