The Life-Giving Spirit
1Therefore, no condemnation Rm 5:16; 8:34 now exists for those in Rm 8:9-10 Christ Jesus, Other mss add who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit Rm 8:11,39; 16:3
2because the Spirit’s law of life 1Co 15:45 in Christ Jesus has set you Other mss read me free from the law of sin and of death. Jn 8:32,36; Rm 6:14,18; 7:4
3What the law could not do Ac 13:39; Heb 10:1-2 since it was limited Or weak by the flesh, Rm 7:18; Heb 7:18 God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours Php 2:7; Heb 2:14,17; 4:15 under sin’s domain, Lit in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, Lv 5:6-7,11; 14:31; Is 53:10
4in order that the law’s requirement would be accomplished Lk 1:6; Rm 2:26 in us who do not walk according to the flesh Gl 5:16 but according to the Spirit.
5For those who live Or those who are according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, Gl 5:19-25 but those who live Or those who are according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit.
6For the mind-set of the flesh Gl 6:8 is death, Rm 6:21 but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.
7For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile Jms 4:4 to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so.
8Those who are in the flesh Rm 7:5 cannot please God.
9You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, since Or provided that the Spirit of God lives in you. Jn 14:23; 1Co 3:16; 6:19; 2Co 6:16; 2Tm 1:14 But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, Jn 14:17; Gl 4:6; Php 1:19; 1Jn 4:13 he does not belong to Him.
10Now if Christ is in you, Jn 17:23; Gl 2:20; Eph 3:17; Col 1:27 the body is dead Or the body will die because of sin, but the Spirit Or spirit is life because of righteousness.
11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead Ac 2:24; Rm 6:4 lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through Other mss read because of His Spirit who lives in you.
The Holy Spirit’s Ministries
12So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh,
13for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, Col 3:5 you will live.
14All those led by God’s Spirit Gl 5:18 are God’s sons. Hs 1:10; Mt 5:9; Jn 1:12; Rm 9:8,26; 2Co 6:18; Gl 3:26; 1Jn 3:1; Rv 21:7
15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, 2Tm 1:7; Heb 2:15 but you received the Spirit of adoption, Gl 4:5 by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father! ” Mk 14:36; Gl 4:6
16The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit Ac 5:32 that we are God’s children,
17and if children, also heirs Ac 20:32; Gl 3:29; 4:7; Eph 3:6; Ti 3:7; Heb 1:14; Rv 21:7 — heirs of God and coheirs with Christ — seeing that Or provided that we suffer with Him 2Co 1:5,7; Php 3:10; Col 1:24; 2Tm 2:12 so that we may also be glorified with Him.
From Groans to Glory
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing 2Co 4:17; 1Pt 4:13 with the glory Rm 1:5; Col 3:4; Ti 2:13; 1Pt 5:1 that is going to be revealed to us.
19For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation Php 1:20 for God’s sons 1Co 1:7; Col 3:4; 1Pt 1:7,13; 1Jn 3:2 to be revealed.
20For the creation was subjected Gn 3:17-19 to futility Ps 39:5; Ec 1:2 — not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it Gn 3:17; 5:29 — in the hope
21that the creation itself Ac 3:21; 2Pt 3:13; Rv 21:1 will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children.
22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains Jr 12:4,11 until now.
23And not only that, Rm 5:3 but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits Nm 15:17-21; 1Co 16:15; 2Co 1:22 — we also groan within ourselves, 2Co 5:2,4 eagerly waiting for adoption, Gl 5:5 the redemption of our bodies. Rm 7:24
24Now in this hope 1Th 5:8; Ti 3:7 we were saved, yet hope Rm 4:18; 2Co 5:7; Heb 11:1 that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?
25But if we hope for what we do not see, 1Th 1:3 we eagerly wait for it with patience.
26In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, Mt 20:22; 2Co 12:8 but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us Some mss omit for us Jn 14:16; Rm 8:15-16; Eph 6:18 with unspoken groanings.
27And He who searches the hearts Ps 139:1-5; Lk 16:15; Ac 1:24; Rv 2:23 knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28We know that all things work together Other mss read that God works together in all things for the good The ultimate good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. Rm 9:24; 11:29; 1Co 1:9; Gl 1:6,15; 5:8; Eph 1:11; 3:11; 2Th 2:14; Heb 9:15; 1Pt 2:9; 3:9
29For those He foreknew He also predestined Rm 9:23; 1Co 2:7; Eph 1:5,11 to be conformed to the image of His Son, 1Co 15:49; Php 3:21; Col 3:10; 1Jn 3:2 so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. Col 1:18; Heb 1:6
30And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; 1Co 6:11 and those He justified, He also glorified. Jn 17:22; Rm 9:23; 1Co 2:7
The Believer’s Triumph
31What then are we to say about these things? Rm 3:5; 4:1
If God is for us, who is against us? Ps 118:6; Mt 1:23
32He did not even spare His own Son Jn 3:16; Rm 5:8
but offered Him up for us all; Rm 4:25
how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
33Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? Lk 18:7
God is the One who justifies. Is 50:8-9
34Who is the one who condemns? Rm 8:1
Christ Jesus is the One who died, Rm 5:6-8
but even more, has been raised; Ac 2:24
He also is at the right hand of God Mk 16:19
and intercedes for us. Heb 7:25; 9:24; 1Jn 2:1
35Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction Rm 2:9; 2Co 4:8 or anguish or persecution 1Co 4:11; 2Co 11:26-27
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36As it is written:
Because of You
we are being put to death all day long; Ac 20:24; 1Co 4:9; 15:30-31; 2Co 1:9; 6:9; 11:23
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. Is 53:7; Zch 11:4,7 Ps 44:22
37No, in all these things we are more than victorious Jn 16:33; 1Co 15:57
through Him who loved us. Gl 2:20; Eph 5:2; Rv 1:5
38For I am persuaded that not even death or life, 1Co 3:22
angels or rulers, 1Co 15:24; Eph 1:21; 1Pt 3:22
things present or things to come, 1Co 3:22 hostile powers,
39height or depth, or any other created thing
will have the power to separate us
from the love of God Rm 5:8 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Rm 8:1
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