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To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
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but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
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Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
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All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
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Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
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Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
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For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
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If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.
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Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.
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David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
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Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
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Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
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So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.
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Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
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And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
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For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
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For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.
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So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand:
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not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”
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Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
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And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
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But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
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And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
