聖經365恩典之旅

羅5:1我們既因信稱義，就藉著我們的主耶穌基督，得與神相和。

羅5:2我們又藉著他，因信得進入現在所站的這恩典中，並且歡歡喜喜盼望神的榮耀。

羅5:3不但如此，就是在患難中，也是歡歡喜喜的，因為知道患難生忍耐。

羅5:4忍耐生老練，老練生盼望。

羅5:5盼望不至於羞恥，因為所賜給我們的聖靈，將神的愛澆灌在我們心裡。

羅5:6因我們還軟弱的時候，基督就按所定的日期為罪人死。

羅5:7為義人死，是少有的，為仁人死，或者有敢作的。

羅5:8惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神的愛就在此向我們顯明了。

羅5:9現在我們既靠著他的血稱義，就更要藉著他免去神的忿怒。

羅5:10因為我們作仇敵的時候，且藉著神兒子的死，得與神和好，既已和好，就更要因他的生得救了。

羅5:11不但如此，我們既藉著我主耶穌基督，得與神和好，也就藉著他，以神為樂。

羅5:12這就如罪是從一人入了世界，死又是從罪來的，於是死就臨到眾人，因為眾人都犯了罪。

羅5:13沒有律法之先，罪已經在世上，但沒有律法，罪也不算罪。

羅5:14然而從亞當到摩西死就作了王，連那些不與亞當犯一樣罪過的，也在他的權下，亞當乃是那以後要來之人的豫像。

羅5:15只是過犯不如恩賜，若因一人的過犯，眾人都死了，何況神的恩典，與那因耶穌基督一人恩典中的賞賜，豈不更加倍的臨到眾人麼。

羅5:16因一人犯罪就定罪，也不如恩賜，原來審判是由一人而定罪，恩賜乃是由許多過犯而稱義。

羅5:17若因一人的過犯，死就因這一人作了王，何況那些受洪恩又蒙所賜之義的，豈不更要因耶穌基督一人在生命中作王麼。

羅5:18如此說來，因一次的過犯，眾人都被定罪，照樣，因一次的義行，眾人也就被稱義得生命了。

羅5:19因一人的悖逆，眾人成為罪人，照樣，因一人的順從，眾人也成為義了。

羅5:20律法本是外添的，叫過犯顯多，只是罪在那裡顯多，恩典就更顯多了。

羅5:21就如罪作王叫人死，照樣，恩典也藉著義作王，叫人因我們的主耶穌基督得永生。

 

羅6:1這樣，怎麼說呢，我們可以仍在罪中，叫恩典顯多麼。

羅6:2斷乎不可，我們在罪上死了的人，豈可仍在罪中活著呢。

羅6:3豈不知我們這受洗歸入基督耶穌的人，是受洗歸入他的死麼。

羅6:4所以我們藉著洗禮歸入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我們一舉一動有新生的樣式，像基督藉著父的榮耀，從死裡復活一樣。

羅6:5我們若在他死的形狀上與他聯合，也要在他復活的形狀上與他聯合。

羅6:6因為知道我們的舊人，和他同釘十字架，使罪身滅絕，叫我們不再作罪的奴僕。

羅6:7因為已死的人，是脫離了罪。

羅6:8我們若是與基督同死，就信必與他同活。

羅6:9因為知道基督既從死裡復活，就不再死，死也不再作他的主了。

羅6:10他死是向罪死了，只有一次，他活是向神活著。

羅6:11這樣，你們向罪也當看自己是死的，向神在基督耶穌裡，卻當看自己是活的。

羅6:12所以不要容罪在你們必死的身上作王，使你門順從身子的私慾。

羅6:13也不要將你們的肢體獻給罪作不義的器具，倒要像從死裡復活的人，將自己獻給神，並將肢體作義的器具獻給神。

羅6:14罪必不能作你們的主，因你們不在律法之下，乃在恩典之下。

羅6:15這卻怎麼樣呢，我們在恩典之下，不在律法之下，就可以犯罪麼，斷乎不可。

羅6:16豈不曉得你們獻上自己作奴僕，順從誰，就作誰的奴僕麼，或作罪的奴僕，以至於死，或作順命的奴僕，以至成義。

羅6:17感謝神，因為你們從前雖然作罪的奴僕，現今卻從心裡順服了所傳給你們道理的模範。

羅6:18你們既從罪裡得了釋放，就作了義的奴僕。

羅6:19我因你們肉體的軟弱，就照人的常話對你們說：你們從前怎樣將肢體獻給不潔不法作奴僕，以至於不法，現今也要照樣將肢體獻給義作奴僕，以至於成聖。

羅6:20因為你們作罪之奴僕的時候，就不被義約束了。

羅6:21你們現今所看為羞恥的事，當日有甚麼果子呢，那些事的結局就是死。

羅6:22但現今你們既從罪裡得了釋放，作了神的奴僕，就有成聖的果子，那結局就是永生。

羅6:23因為罪的工價乃是死，惟有神的恩賜，在我們的主基督耶穌裡，乃是永生。

 

羅7:1弟兄們，我現在對明白律法的人說：你們豈不曉得律法管人是在活著的時候麼。

羅7:2就如女人有了丈夫，丈夫還活著，就被律法約束，丈夫若死了，就脫離了丈夫的律法。

羅7:3所以丈夫活著，他若歸於別人，便叫淫婦，丈夫若死了，他就脫離了丈夫的律法，雖然歸於別人，也不是淫婦。

羅7:4我的弟兄們，這樣說來，你們藉著基督的身體，在律法上也是死了，叫你們歸於別人，就是歸於那從死裡復活的，叫我們結果子給神。

羅7:5因為我們屬肉體的時候，那因律法而生的惡慾，就在我們肢體中發動，以致結成死亡的果子。

羅7:6但我們既然在捆我們的律法上死了，現今就脫離了律法，叫我們服事主，要按著心靈的新樣，不按著儀文的舊樣。〔心靈或作聖靈〕

羅7:7這樣，我們可說甚麼呢，律法是罪麼，斷乎不是，只是非因律法，我就不知何為罪，非律法說：『不可起貪心。』我就不知何為貪心。

羅7:8然而罪趁著機會，就藉著誡命叫諸般的貪心在我裡頭發動，因為沒有律法罪是死的。

羅7:9我以前沒有律法是活著的，但是誡命來到，罪又活了，我就死了。

羅7:10那本來叫人活的誡命，反倒叫我死。

羅7:11因為罪趁著機會，就藉著誡命引誘我，並且殺了我。

羅7:12這樣看來，律法是聖潔的，誡命也是聖潔，公義，良善的。

羅7:13既然如此，那良善的是叫我死麼，斷乎不是，叫我死的乃是罪。但罪藉著那良善的叫我死，就顯出真是罪，叫罪因著誡命更顯出是惡極了。

羅7:14我們原曉得律法是屬乎靈的，但我是屬乎肉體的，是已經賣給罪了。

羅7:15因為我所作的，我自己不明白，我所願意的，我並不作，我所恨惡的，我倒去作。

羅7:16若我所作的，是我所不願意的，我就應承律法是善的。

羅7:17既是這樣，就不是我作的，乃是住在我裡頭的罪作的。

羅7:18我也知道，在我裡頭，就是我肉體之中，沒有良善，因為立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我。

羅7:19故此，我所願意的善，我反不作，我所不願意的惡，我倒去作。

羅7:20若我去作所不願意作的，就不是我作的，乃是住在我裡頭的罪作的。

羅7:21我覺得有個律，就是我願意為善的時候，便有惡與我同在。

羅7:22因為按著我裡面的意思。〔原文作人〕我是喜歡神的律。

羅7:23但我覺得肢體中另有個律，和我心中的律交戰，把我擄去叫我附從那肢體中犯罪的律。

羅7:24我真是苦阿，誰能救我脫離這取死的身體呢。

羅7:25感謝神，靠著我們的主耶穌基督就能脫離了。這樣看來，我以內心順服神的律，我肉體卻順服罪的律了。

 

羅8:1如今那些在基督耶穌裡的，就不定罪了。

羅8:2因為賜生命聖靈的律，在基督耶穌裡釋放了我，使我脫離罪和死的律了。

羅8:3律法既因肉體軟弱，有所不能行的，神就差遣自己的兒子，成為罪身的形狀，作了贖罪祭，在肉體中定了罪案。

羅8:4使律法的義，成就在我們這不隨從肉體，只隨從聖靈的人身上。

羅8:5因為隨從肉體的人，體貼肉體的事，隨從聖靈的人，體貼聖靈的事。

羅8:6體貼肉體的就是死，體貼聖靈的乃是生命平安。

羅8:7原來體貼肉體，就是與神為仇，因為不服神的律法，也是不能服。

羅8:8而且屬肉體的人，不能得神的喜歡。

羅8:9如果神的靈住在你們心裡，你們就不屬肉體，乃屬聖靈了，人若沒有基督的靈，就不是屬基督的。

羅8:10基督若在你們心裡，身體就因罪而死，心靈卻因義而活。

羅8:11然而叫耶穌從死裡復活者的靈，若住在你們心裡，那叫基督耶穌從死裡復活的，也必藉著住在你們心裡的聖靈，使你們必死的身體又活過來。

羅8:12弟兄們，這樣看來，我們並不是欠肉體的債，去順從肉體活著。

羅8:13你們若順從肉體活著必要死，若靠著聖靈治死身體的惡行必要活著。

羅8:14因為凡被神的靈引導的，都是神的兒子。

羅8:15你們所受的不是奴僕的心，仍舊害怕，所受的乃是兒子心，因此我們呼叫阿爸，父。

羅8:16聖靈與我們的心同證我們是神的兒女。

羅8:17既是兒女，便是後嗣，就是神的後嗣，和基督同作後嗣，如果我們和他一同受苦，也必和他一同得榮耀。

羅8:18我想現在的苦楚，若比起將來要顯於我們的榮耀，就不足介意了。

羅8:19受造之物，切望等候神的眾子顯出來。

羅8:20因為受造之物服在虛空之下，不是自己願意，乃是因那叫他如此的。

羅8:21但受造之物仍然指望脫離敗壞的轄制，得享神兒女自由的榮耀。〔享原文作入〕

羅8:22我們知道一切受造之物，一同歎息勞苦，直到如今。

羅8:23不但如此，就是我們這有聖靈初結果子的，也是自己心裡歎息，等候得著兒子的名分，乃是我們的身體得贖。

羅8:24我們得救是在乎盼望，只是所見的盼望不是盼望，誰還盼望他所看的呢。〔有古卷作人所看見的何必再盼望呢〕

羅8:25但我們若盼望那所不見的，就必忍耐等候。

羅8:26況且我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助，我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告，只是聖靈親自用說不出來的歎息，替我們禱告。

羅8:27鑒察人心的，曉得聖靈的意思，因為聖靈照著神的旨意替聖徒祈求。

羅8:28我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。

羅8:29因為他豫先所知道的人，就豫先定下效法他兒子的模樣使他兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。

羅8:30豫先所定下的人又召他們來，所召來的人，又稱他們為義，所稱為義的人，又叫他們得榮耀。

羅8:31既是這樣，還有甚麼說的呢，神若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們呢。

羅8:32神既不愛惜自己的兒子為我們眾人捨了，豈不也把萬物和他一同白白的賜給我們麼。

羅8:33誰能控告神所揀選的人呢，有神稱他們為義了。〔或作是稱他們為義的神麼〕

羅8:34誰能定他們的罪呢，有基督耶穌已經死了，而且從死裡復活，現今在神的右邊，也替我們祈求。〔有基督云云或作是已經死了而且從死裡復活現今在神的右邊也替我們祈求的基督耶穌麼〕

羅8:35誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢，難道是患難麼，是困苦麼，是逼迫麼，是飢餓麼，是赤身露體麼，是危險麼，是刀劍麼。

羅8:36如經上所記，『我們為你的緣故，終日被殺，人看我們如將宰的羊。』

羅8:37然而靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上，已經得勝有餘了。

羅8:38因為我深信無論是死，是生，是天使，是掌權的，是有能的，是現在的事，是將來的事，

羅8:39是高處的，是低處的，是別的受造之物，都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕，這愛是在我們的主基督耶穌裡的。

羅9:1我在基督裡說真話，並不謊言，有我良心被聖靈感動，給我作見證。

羅9:2我是大有憂愁，心裡時常傷痛。

羅9:3為我弟兄，我骨肉之親，就是自己被咒詛，與基督分離，我也願意。

羅9:4他們是以色列人，那兒子的名分，榮耀，諸約，律法，禮儀，應許，都是他們的。

羅9:5列祖就是他們的祖宗，按肉體說：基督也是從他們出來的，他是在萬有之上，永遠可稱頌的神。阿們。

羅9:6這不是說神的話落了空，因為從以色列生的，不都是以色列人。

羅9:7也不因為是亞伯拉罕的後裔，就都作他的兒女，惟獨『從以撒生的，才要稱為你的後裔。』

羅9:8這就是說：肉身所生的兒女，不是神的兒女，惟獨那應許的兒女，才算是後裔。

羅9:9因為所應許的話是這樣說：『到明年這時候我要來，撒拉必生一個兒子。』

羅9:10不但如此，還有利百加，既從一個人，就是從我們的祖宗以撒懷了孕。

羅9:11（雙子還沒有生下來，善惡還沒有作出來，只因要顯明神揀選人的旨意，不在乎人的行為，乃在乎召人的主）

羅9:12神就對利百加說：『將來大的要服事小的。』

羅9:13正如經上所記，『雅各是我所愛的，以掃是我所惡的。』

羅9:14這樣，我們可說甚麼呢，難道神有甚麼不公平麼，斷乎沒有。

羅9:15因他對摩西說：『我要憐憫誰，就憐憫誰，要恩待誰，就恩待誰。』

羅9:16據此看來，這不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎發憐憫的神。

羅9:17因為經上有話向法老說：『我將你興起來，特要在你身上彰顯我的權能，並要使我的名傳遍天下。』

羅9:18如此看來，神要憐憫誰，就憐憫誰，要叫誰剛硬，就叫誰剛硬。

羅9:19這樣，你必對我說：他為甚麼還指責人呢，有誰抗拒他的旨意呢。

羅9:20你這個人哪，你是誰，竟敢向神強嘴呢，受造之物豈能對造他的說：你為甚麼這樣造我呢。

羅9:21窯匠難道沒有權柄，從一團泥裡拿一塊作成貴重的器皿，又拿一塊作成卑賤的器皿麼。

羅9:22倘若神要顯明他的忿怒，彰顯他的權能，就多多忍耐寬容那可怒豫備遭毀滅的器皿。

羅9:23又要將他豐盛的榮耀，彰顯在那蒙憐憫早豫備得榮耀的器皿上。

羅9:24這器皿就是我們被神所召的，不但是從猶太人中，也是從外邦人中，這有甚麼不可呢。

羅9:25就像神在何西阿書上說：『那本來不是我子民的，我要稱為我的子民，本來不是蒙愛的，我要稱為蒙愛的。

羅9:26從前在甚麼地方對他們說：你們不是我的子民，將來就在那裡稱他們為永生神的兒子。』

羅9:27以賽亞指著以色列人喊著說：『以色列人雖多如海沙，得救的不過是剩下的餘數。

羅9:28因為主要在世上施行他的話，叫他的話都成全，速速的完結。』

羅9:29又如以賽亞先前說過，『若不是萬軍之主給我們存留餘種，我們早已像所多瑪，蛾摩拉的樣子了。』

羅9:30這樣，我們可說甚麼呢，那本來不追求義的外邦人，反得了義，就是因信而得的義。

羅9:31但以色列人追求律法的義，反得不著律法的義。

羅9:32這是甚麼緣故呢，是因為他們不憑著信心求，只憑著行為求，他們正跌在那絆腳石上。

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

 

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

 

13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

 

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

 

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

 

6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

 

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

 

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

 

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign 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, 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. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

 

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

 

7 Do you not know, brothers and sisters—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. 3 So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. 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 through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, 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] the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

 

The Law and Sin

7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[b] 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

 

13 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.

 

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 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. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

 

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

 

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

 

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

 

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

 

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

 

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

 

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

 

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

 

“For your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised![a] Amen.

 

God’s Sovereign Choice

6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[c]

 

10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[d] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[e]

 

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,

 

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,

    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”[f]

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”[g] 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

 

19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[h] 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

 

22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:

 

“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;

    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”[i]

26 and,

 

“In the very place where it was said to them,

    ‘You are not my people,’

    there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”[j]

27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

 

“Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,

    only the remnant will be saved.

28 For the Lord will carry out

    his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”[k]

29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:

 

“Unless the Lord Almighty

    had left us descendants,

we would have become like Sodom,

    we would have been like Gomorrah.”[l]

Israel’s Unbelief

30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:

 

“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble

    and a rock that makes them fall,