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Romans 4-7
New King James Version

Abraham Justified by Faith(A)

4 What then shall we say that (B)Abraham our (C)father[a] has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was (D)justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? (E)“Abraham believed God, and it was [b]accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now (F)to him who works, the wages are not counted [c]as grace but as debt.

David Celebrates the Same Truth

5 But to him who (G)does not work but believes on Him who justifies (H)the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also (I)describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed(J) are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Abraham Justified Before Circumcision

9 Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. 11 And (K)he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that (L)he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father (M)Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

The Promise Granted Through Faith

13 For the promise that he would be the (N)heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For (O)if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because (P)the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be (Q)according to grace, (R)so that the promise might be [d]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, (S)who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, (T)“I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, (U)who gives life to the dead and calls those (V)things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, (W)“So shall your descendants be.” 19 And not being weak in faith, (X)he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), (Y)and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised (Z)He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore (AA)“it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

23 Now (AB)it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe (AC)in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 (AD)who was delivered up because of our offenses, and (AE)was raised because of our justification.

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 Therefore, (AF)having been justified by faith, [e]we have (AG)peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 (AH)through whom also we have access by faith into this grace (AI)in which we stand, and (AJ)rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but (AK)we also glory in tribulations, (AL)knowing that tribulation produces [f]perseverance; 4 (AM)and perseverance, [g]character; and character, hope. 5 (AN)Now hope does not disappoint, (AO)because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Christ in Our Place

6 For when we were still without strength, [h]in due time (AP)Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But (AQ)God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified (AR)by His blood, we shall be saved (AS)from wrath through Him. 10 For (AT)if when we were enemies (AU)we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved (AV)by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also (AW)rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ(AX)

12 Therefore, just as (AY)through one man sin entered the world, and (AZ)death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but (BA)sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, (BB)who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the [i]offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded (BC)to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many [j]offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s [k]offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore, as through [l]one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through (BD)one[m] Man’s righteous act the free gift came (BE)to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by (BF)one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

20 Moreover (BG)the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace (BH)abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? (BI)Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who (BJ)died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that (BK)as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus (BL)were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were (BM)buried with Him through baptism into death, that (BN)just as Christ was raised from the dead by (BO)the glory of the Father, (BP)even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 (BQ)For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that (BR)our old man was crucified with Him, that (BS)the body of sin might be [n]done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For (BT)he who has died has been [o]freed from sin. 8 Now (BU)if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that (BV)Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, (BW)He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, (BX)He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, [p]reckon yourselves to be (BY)dead indeed to sin, but (BZ)alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 (CA)Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your (CB)members as [q]instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but (CC)present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For (CD)sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God

15 What then? Shall we sin (CE)because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that (CF)to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart (CG)that form of doctrine to which you were [r]delivered. 18 And (CH)having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness [s]for holiness.

20 For when you were (CI)slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 (CJ)What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For (CK)the end of those things is death. 22 But now (CL)having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit [t]to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For (CM)the wages of sin is death, but (CN)the [u]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Freed from the Law

7 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law [v]has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For (CO)the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then (CP)if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become (CQ)dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should (CR)bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law (CS)were at work in our members (CT)to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve (CU)in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Sin’s Advantage in the Law

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, (CV)I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, (CW)“You shall not covet.” 8 But (CX)sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For (CY)apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, (CZ)which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore (DA)the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Law Cannot Save from Sin

13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, (DB)sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. (DC)For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that (DD)in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I (DE)delight in the law of God according to (DF)the inward man. 23 But (DG)I see another law in (DH)my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me (DI)from this body of death? 25 (DJ)I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:1 Or (fore)father according to the flesh has found?
  2. Romans 4:3 imputed, credited, reckoned, counted
  3. Romans 4:4 according to
  4. Romans 4:16 certain
  5. Romans 5:1 Some ancient mss. let us have
  6. Romans 5:3 endurance
  7. Romans 5:4 approved character
  8. Romans 5:6 at the right time
  9. Romans 5:15 trespass or false step
  10. Romans 5:16 trespasses
  11. Romans 5:17 trespass
  12. Romans 5:18 Or one trespass
  13. Romans 5:18 Or one righteous act
  14. Romans 6:6 rendered inoperative
  15. Romans 6:7 cleared
  16. Romans 6:11 consider
  17. Romans 6:13 Or weapons
  18. Romans 6:17 entrusted
  19. Romans 6:19 unto sanctification
  20. Romans 6:22 unto sanctification
  21. Romans 6:23 free gift
  22. Romans 7:1 rules
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Romans 4-7
New International Version

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say(A) that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh,(B) discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.(C) 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a](D)

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift(E) but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.(F) 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b](G)

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised?(H) We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.(I) 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(J) So then, he is the father(K) of all who believe(L) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(M) that he would be heir of the world,(N) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(O) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(P) 15 because the law brings wrath.(Q) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(R)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(S) and may be guaranteed(T) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.(U) 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c](V) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life(W) to the dead and calls(X) into being things that were not.(Y)

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,(Z) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d](AA) 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead(AB)—since he was about a hundred years old(AC)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.(AD) 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened(AE) in his faith and gave glory to God,(AF) 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.(AG) 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”(AH) 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us,(AI) to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him(AJ) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(AK) 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins(AL) and was raised to life for our justification.(AM)

Peace and Hope

5 Therefore, since we have been justified(AN) through faith,(AO) we[e] have peace(AP) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(AQ) 2 through whom we have gained access(AR) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.(AS) And we[f] boast in the hope(AT) of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[g] also glory in our sufferings,(AU) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(AV) 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope(AW) does not put us to shame, because God’s love(AX) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,(AY) who has been given to us.

6 You see, at just the right time,(AZ) when we were still powerless,(BA) Christ died for the ungodly.(BB) 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.(BC)

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

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

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

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.(BN) 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,(BO) who is a pattern of the one to come.(BP)

15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man,(BQ) how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ,(BR) 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(BS) 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(BT) through the one man, Jesus Christ!

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

20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.(CA) But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,(CB) 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death,(CC) so also grace(CD) might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life(CE) through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

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

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.(CM) 6 For we know that our old self(CN) was crucified with him(CO) so that the body ruled by sin(CP) might be done away with,[h] that we should no longer be slaves to sin(CQ)— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.(CR)

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

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

Slaves to Righteousness

15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?(DE) 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(DF)—whether you are slaves to sin,(DG) which leads to death,(DH) or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God(DI) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,(DJ) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching(DK) that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin(DL) and have become slaves to righteousness.(DM)

19 I am using an example from everyday life(DN) because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness(DO) leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin,(DP) you were free from the control of righteousness.(DQ) 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!(DR) 22 But now that you have been set free from sin(DS) and have become slaves of God,(DT) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.(DU) 23 For the wages of sin is death,(DV) but the gift of God is eternal life(DW) in[i] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Released From the Law, Bound to Christ

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

The Law and Sin

7 What shall we say, then?(EJ) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!(EK) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.(EL) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”[k](EM) 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(EN) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.(EO) 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(EP) actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,(EQ) deceived me,(ER) and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.(ES)

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(ET) to bring about my death,(EU) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,(EV) sold(EW) as a slave to sin.(EX) 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.(EY) 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.(EZ) 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.(FA) 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[l](FB) 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.(FC) 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.(FD)

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

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,(FL) but in my sinful nature[m] a slave to the law of sin.(FM)

Footnotes

  1. Romans 4:3 Gen. 15:6; also in verse 22
  2. Romans 4:8 Psalm 32:1,2
  3. Romans 4:17 Gen. 17:5
  4. Romans 4:18 Gen. 15:5
  5. Romans 5:1 Many manuscripts let us
  6. Romans 5:2 Or let us
  7. Romans 5:3 Or let us
  8. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless
  9. Romans 6:23 Or through
  10. Romans 7:5 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
  11. Romans 7:7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21
  12. Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
  13. Romans 7:25 Or in the flesh
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