Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters^(A)—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? ² For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him.^{(B) 3} So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress.^(C) But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

⁴ So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law^(D) through the body of Christ,^(E) that you might belong to another,^(F) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. ⁵ For when we were in the realm of the flesh,^[a](G) the sinful passions aroused by the law^(H) were at work in us,^(I) so that we bore fruit for death.^{(J) 6} But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law^(K) so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.^(L)

²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;^(A) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.^(B)

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God^(C) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.^{(D) 22} This righteousness^(E) is given through faith^(F) in^[a] Jesus Christ^(G) to all who believe.^(H) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(I) 23} for all have sinned^(J) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(K) freely by his grace^(L) through the redemption^(M) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b](N) through the shedding of his blood^(O)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(P)— 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.

²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.^(A)

¹² Therefore do not let sin reign^(A) in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,^(B) but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.^{(C) 14} For sin shall no longer be your master,^(D) because you are not under the law,^(E) but under grace.^(F)

²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not!^(A) For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.^{(B) 22} But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin,^(C) so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[a] we were held in custody^(D) under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.^{(E) 24} So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(F) that we might be justified by faith.^(G)

²⁵ He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”^{(A) 27} And beginning with Moses^(B) and all the Prophets,^(C) he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.^(D)

³⁹ You study^[a] the Scriptures^(A) diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.^(B) These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,^(C)

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

¹⁵ “If you love me, keep my commands.^(A)

¹⁹ I will give them an undivided heart^(A) and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone^(B) and give them a heart of flesh.^{(C) 20} Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(D) They will be my people,^(E) and I will be their God.^(F)