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

圣灵使人脱离罪的律得自由

所以现在,那些在耶稣基督里的人就不被定罪了; 因为生命之灵的律在基督耶稣里使我自由,脱离了罪和死的律。 律法是因肉体而软弱无力,所作不到的, 神作到了:他差遣自己的儿子成为罪身的样式,为了除掉罪,就在肉体中把罪判决了, 使律法所要求的义,可以在我们这些不随从肉体而随从圣灵去行的人身上实现出来。 随从肉体的人,以肉体的事为念;随从圣灵的人,以圣灵的事为念。 以肉体为念就是死,以圣灵为念就是生命、平安; 因为以肉体为念就是与 神为仇,既不服从 神的律法,也的确不能够服从; 属肉体的人不能得 神的喜悦。  神的灵既然住在你们里面,你们就不是属于肉体,而是属于圣灵的了。如果人没有基督的灵,就不是属于基督的。 10 基督若在你们里面,你们的身体因着罪的缘故是死的,而圣灵却因着义的缘故赐给你们生命。 11 如果那使耶稣从死人中复活者的灵住在你们里面,那使基督从死人中复活的,也必借着住在你们里面的圣灵,使你们必死的身体活过来。

与基督同作 神的后嗣

12 弟兄们,可见我们并不是欠肉体的债,随着肉体而活。 13 如果随着肉体而活,你们必定死;如果靠着圣灵治死身体的恶行,你们就必活着。 14 因为蒙 神的灵引导的,都是 神的儿子。 15 你们接受的,不是奴仆的灵,使你们仍旧惧怕;你们接受的,是使人成为嗣子的灵,使我们呼叫“阿爸、父”。 16 圣灵亲自和我们的灵一同证明我们是 神的儿女。 17 既然是儿女,就是后嗣;是 神的后嗣,也和基督一同作后嗣。我们既然和他一同受苦,就必和他一同得荣耀。

耐心期待将来的荣耀

18 我看现在的苦难,与将要向我们显出的荣耀,是无法相比的。 19 被造的万物都热切渴望 神的众子显现出来。 20 因为被造的万物服在虚空之下,不是自己愿意这样,而是由于使它屈服的那一位; 21 被造的万物盼望自己得着释放,脱离败坏的奴役,得着 神儿女荣耀的自由。 22 我们知道被造的万物直到现在都一同在痛苦呻吟。 23 不但这样,连我们这些有圣灵作为初熟果子的人,自己也在内心叹息,热切期待成为嗣子,就是我们的身体得赎。 24 我们得救时就存着这盼望;但是看得见的盼望不是盼望,因为谁会盼望自己看见了的呢? 25 但如果我们盼望没有看见的,就会耐心地热切期待。

26 照样,圣灵也在我们的软弱上帮助我们。原来我们不晓得应当怎样祷告,但圣灵亲自用不可言喻的叹息,替我们祈求。 27 那鉴察人心的,晓得圣灵的心意,因为圣灵照着 神的旨意替圣徒祈求。 28 我们知道,为了爱 神的人,就是按他旨意蒙召的人的益处,万事都一同效力。 29 因为 神预先知道的人,他就预先命定他们和他儿子的形象一模一样,使他的儿子在许多弟兄中作长子, 30 他预先命定的人,又呼召他们;所召来的人,又称他们为义;所称为义的人,又使他们得荣耀。

靠主就得胜有余

31 既是这样,我们对这一切还有甚么话说呢? 神若这样为我们,谁能敌对我们呢? 32 他连自己的儿子都舍得,为我们众人把他交出来,难道不也把万有和他一同白白地赐给我们吗? 33 谁能控告 神拣选的人呢?有 神称我们为义了。 34 谁能定我们的罪呢?有基督耶稣死了,而且复活了,现今在 神的右边,也替我们祈求。 35 谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢?是患难吗?是困苦吗?是迫害吗?是饥饿吗?是赤身露体吗?是危险吗?是刀剑吗? 36 正如经上所记:

“为你的缘故,我们终日面对死亡,

人看我们像待宰的羊。”

37 但靠着爱我们的那一位,我们在这一切事上就得胜有余了。 38 因为我深信:无论是死、是生,是天使、是掌权的,是现在的事,是将来的事,是有能力的, 39 是高天的、是深渊的,或是任何别的被造之物,都不能叫我们与 神的爱隔绝,这爱是在我们的主耶稣基督里的。