See Verse / Commentary

Romans

So then there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Jesus, because the law of the spirit of life in Messiah Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the Law could not do because it was weak due to human nature, God did. By commissioning His own Son in the likeness of sinful human nature, and for sin, He condemned sin in human nature so that the requirement of the Law may be fulfilled in us, who live not following human nature but following the spirit. For those who live according to human nature have their mindset shaped by human nature, but those who live according to the spirit have their mindset shaped by the spirit. The mindset of human nature results in death, but the mindset of the spirit results in life and peace. For the mindset of human nature is hostile to God because it does not and cannot submit to the law of God. Those who are under human nature cannot please God. But you are not controlled by human nature, but by the spirit, if indeed that spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the spirit of Messiah, that person does not belong to him. But if Messiah is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of being and doing right. And if the spirit of the One who resurrected Jesus from the dead lives in you, the One who resurrected Messiah Jesus from the dead will also raise your mortal bodies through His spirit living in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we are not under obligation to human nature, to live by its standard. For if you live by such a standard, you are going to die. But if by the spirit you are putting to death the actions of your lower nature, you will live. For all who are being led by the spirit of God are the children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery, leading you back to fear, but you received a spirit of sonship, by which we cry, “Abba, dear Father!” The spirit itself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. And since we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with the Messiah — if we suffer with him so that we may share in the glory with him. For I am convinced that the sufferings of this present time are not even worth comparing with the coming glory which is going to be revealed in us. For the creation is eagerly waiting for the public revealing of the children of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own accord but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay and share the freedom of the glory of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation is groaning and suffering birth pains together until now. Not only creation, but we ourselves also, who have the first fruits, namely the spirit, groan within ourselves as we wait for God to give us sonship, the redemption of our whole selves. For we were saved in hope. Yet hope which is seen is not hope at all, because who hopes for what they already see? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it and persevere. In the same way, the spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we should pray, but the spirit itself intercedes for us with groans that cannot be uttered. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the spirit, because the spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know God works for good in all things for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that the Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also made right; and those He made right, He also glorified. So then what should we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Since God did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for all of us, how will He not also, along with him, freely give us everything? Who will bring any charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who makes us right, so who will condemn us? It is Messiah Jesus who died — even more, who was resurrected — who is now at the right hand of God, interceding for us. Who will separate us from the love of Messiah? Will oppression, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or violence? Just as it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are completely victorious through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor demons, nor the present, nor the future, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Messiah Jesus our lord.

Romans