Study Desk

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.

Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone,

but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.

But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.

And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.

Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.

For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

For whoever has died is freed from sin.

The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only during that person's lifetime?