The Law and Sin

⁷ What shall we say, then?^(A) Is the law sinful? Certainly not!^(B) Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.^(C) For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”^{[a](D) 8} But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(E) produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead.^{(F) 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^(G) actually brought death. ¹¹ For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,^(H) deceived me,^(I) and through the commandment put me to death. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.^(J)

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^(K) to bring about my death,^(L) so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,^(M) sold^(N) as a slave to sin.^{(O) 15} I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.^{(P) 16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.^{(Q) 17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.^{(R) 18} For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[b](S) 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.^{(T) 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.^(U)

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

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,^(AC) but in my sinful nature^[c] a slave to the law of sin.^(AD)

Life Through the Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation^(AE) for those who are in Christ Jesus,^{(AF) 2} because through Christ Jesus^(AG) the law of the Spirit who gives life^(AH) has set you^[d] free^(AI) from the law of sin^(AJ) and death. ³ For what the law was powerless^(AK) to do because it was weakened by the flesh,^[e](AL) God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh^(AM) to be a sin offering.^[f](AN) And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement^(AO) of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.^(AP)

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

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh^(AW) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(AX) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(AY) they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you,^(AZ) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[g] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(BA) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies^(BB) because of^[h] 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.^{(BC) 13} For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;^(BD) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,^(BE) you will live.^(BF)

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God^(BG) are the children of God.^{(BH) 15} The Spirit^(BI) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;^(BJ) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[i] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[j] Father.”^{(BK) 16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(BL) that we are God’s children.^{(BM) 17} Now if we are children, then we are heirs^(BN)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings^(BO) in order that we may also share in his glory.^(BP)