Scripture referenced 53 passages
The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.
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Romans 1 recap: the gospel is the power of God for salvation, men are without excuse, men exchanged the truth for a lie
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,
2 which he promised before through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
3 concerning his Son, who was born of the offspring of David according to the flesh,
4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we received grace and apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name’s sake;
6 among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus Christ;
7 to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
9 For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the Good News of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you always in my prayers,
10 requesting, if by any means now at last I may be prospered by the will of God to come to you.
11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;
12 that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.
13 Now I don’t desire to have you unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you, and was hindered so far, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15 So, as much as is in me, I am eager to preach the Good News to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek.
17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.
20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
21 Because, knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves;
25 who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.
28 Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,
30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.
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Keep this verse
Romans 2
recap: no partiality with God, Jews with stubborn hearts will also experience wrath
1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
2 We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;
6 who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”
7 to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation,
9 oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
10 But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified
14 (for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.
17 Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, and rest on the law, and glory in God,
18 and know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.
21 You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?
22 You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery. Do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law?
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
25 For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?
27 Won’t the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;
29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.
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Romans 3
recap: by works of the law no flesh will be justified, the law shows us our sin
1 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.
3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
6 May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8 Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.
10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.
11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”
13 “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”;
14 “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.
17 The way of peace, they haven’t known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
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Romans 3:23
all have sinned and fall short, Jews and Gentiles alike
23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
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Romans 3-4
recap: justification, Christ stood in our place, salvation is by faith
3:1 Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision?
3:2 Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the revelations of God.
3:3 For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God?
3:4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.”
3:5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
3:6 May it never be! For then how will God judge the world?
3:7 For if the truth of God through my lie abounded to his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
3:8 Why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), “Let us do evil, that good may come?” Those who say so are justly condemned.
3:9 What then? Are we better than they? No, in no way. For we previously warned both Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin.
3:10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.
3:11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.
3:12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”
3:13 “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”;
3:14 “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”
3:15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.
3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.
3:17 The way of peace, they haven’t known.”
3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
3:19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
3:20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
3:21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,
3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
3:24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;
3:25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;
3:26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.
3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Isn’t he the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
3:30 since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.
3:31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! No, we establish the law.
4:1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4:4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.
4:5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
4:6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,
4:7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
4:8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”
4:9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
4:10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
4:11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.
4:12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
4:13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
4:14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.
4:15 For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.
4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
4:17 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.
4:18 Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”
4:19 Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
4:20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,
4:21 and being…
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Romans 4
recap: always been by faith, through Abraham's example in the Old Testament
1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh?
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.
3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed.
5 But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,
7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.”
9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them.
12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect.
15 For the law produces wrath, for where there is no law, neither is there disobedience.
16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the offspring, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
17 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were.
18 Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.”
19 Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
20 Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.
22 Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.”
23 Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone,
24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead,
25 who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
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Romans 4:13
the promise to Abraham that he would be heir of the world, through righteousness of faith not the law
13 For the promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he should be heir of the world wasn’t through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
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Romans 5
recap: while we were still sinners Christ died for us, saved from wrath
1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope:
5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die.
8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him.
10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.
11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
12 Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned.
13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.
15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
16 The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification.
17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.
18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life.
19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;
21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Romans 6
recap: baptized into Christ's death, no longer slaves to sin
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;
9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!
10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.
11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Therefore don’t let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
13 Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be!
16 Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were delivered.
18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.
20 For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Romans 7
recap: the law is good and holy but living by it in the flesh leads to failure
1 Or don’t you know, brothers (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives?
2 For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband.
3 So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man.
4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring out fruit to death.
6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting, unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
9 I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 The commandment, which was for life, this I found to be for death;
11 for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.
12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
13 Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, was producing death in me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.
15 For I don’t know what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do.
16 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.
17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good.
19 For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice.
20 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the law, that, to me, while I desire to do good, evil is present.
22 For I delight in God’s law after the inward man,
23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, the sin’s law.
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Romans 8:1
no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
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Romans 8:2
the law of the spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
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Romans 8:3
what the law could not do God did, sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as an offering for sin
3 For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh;
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Romans 8:4
the requirement of the law fulfilled in those who walk according to the spirit
4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
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Romans 8:5-8
those in the flesh set minds on flesh; mindset on flesh is death, on spirit is life and peace
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be.
8 Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.
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Romans 8:9
you are in the spirit if the spirit of God dwells in you; without the spirit of Christ you do not belong to Him
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.
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Romans 8:10
if Christ is in you the body is dead because of sin yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness
10 If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
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Romans 8:11
the spirit who raised Jesus will also give life to your mortal bodies
11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
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Romans 8:12
we are under no obligation to the flesh to live according to the flesh
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
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Romans 8:13
if living according to the flesh you must die; if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live
13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
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Romans 8:14
all who are being led by the spirit of God are sons of God
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
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Romans 8:15
you received the spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out Abba Father, not a spirit of slavery leading to fear
15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
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Romans 8:16
the spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
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Romans 8:17
if children then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if we suffer with Him we will be glorified with Him
17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
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Romans 8:18
sufferings of the present time not worthy to be compared with the glory to be revealed
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.
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Romans 8:19
creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God
19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
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Romans 8:20
creation was subjected to futility not willingly but in hope
20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
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Romans 8:21
creation will be set free from slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God
21 that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
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Romans 8:22
the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
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Romans 8:23
we ourselves groan waiting for our adoption as sons and the redemption of our body
23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
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Romans 8:24-25
in hope we have been saved; hope that is seen is not hope; we wait with perseverance
24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?
25 But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.
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Romans 8:26-27
the spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words according to the will of God
26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.
27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.
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Romans 8:28
God causes all things to work together for good for those called according to His purpose
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
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Romans 8:29
those foreknown are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son
29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
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Romans 8:30
those justified will also be glorified; none will slip through
30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
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Romans 8:31-33
if God is for us who can be against us; who will bring a charge against God's elect
31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
33 Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
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Romans 8:34
Christ died, was raised, is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
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Romans 8:35
nothing, tribulation distress persecution famine nakedness peril or sword, can separate us from the love of Christ
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
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Romans 8:36
we are considered sheep to be slaughtered all day long
36 Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
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Romans 8:37
we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us
37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
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Romans 8:38-39
nothing, death life angels principalities things present or to come powers height or depth, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Romans 10:17
faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of Christ
17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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Romans 1:17
the just shall live by faith
17 For in it is revealed God’s righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, “But the righteous shall live by faith.”
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Ezekiel 36:26-27
God promises a new heart and new spirit, removing the heart of stone, causing His people to walk in His statutes; prophesied the new covenant
26 I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.
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Hebrews 2:17
Christ had to be made like man in every way to become a merciful high priest and make atonement for sins
17 Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.
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Ephesians 6:16-17
the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, is how we put sin to death
16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
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Hebrews 13:5-6
be free from love of money, content with what you have, God will never desert or forsake you, the Lord is my helper
5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
6 So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
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Matthew 13:43
the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father when glorified
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
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2 Corinthians 4:17
momentary light affliction is producing an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
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Mark 13:8
nation rising against nation and earthquakes and famines are the beginning of birth pains, connected to creation's groaning
8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines and troubles. These things are the beginning of birth pains.
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Genesis 50:20
Joseph tells his brothers they meant evil but God meant it for good to preserve many people alive
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive.
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John 8:36
if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed
36 If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
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Song of Solomon 1:4
draw me after you and let us run together, illustrating the love relationship with Christ
4 Take me away with you. Let us hurry. The king has brought me into his rooms. Friends We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will praise your love more than wine! Beloved They are right to love you.
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Recap
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
Romans 8 was the focus this week, with the message tracing how believers move from the condemnation and struggle described in earlier chapters into the freedom that comes from walking by the Holy Spirit. The teaching worked through the whole chapter, showing how the Spirit's presence in a believer's life changes everything, from how we fight sin to how we understand suffering. It was a personal message, with Amy sharing openly that working through this chapter had been sharpening and convicting for her as well.
What was said
To make sense of Romans 8, Amy quickly walked back through the previous chapters. Romans 1 through 7 move from humanity's guilt and the futility of the law, to justification by faith, to the promise of being dead to sin. But many believers feel stuck, either in the chapter 6 mistake of thinking grace is a license to live however they want, or in the chapter 7 trap of grinding away in their own effort to be good Christians. Romans 8 is where Paul says we are not stuck in either of those places.
The opening declaration, "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," sets the foundation. The law could never save, only show sin. What the law could not do, God did by sending His Son in human flesh. Now, through the Spirit, the requirement of the law is fulfilled in those who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Amy pointed to Ezekiel 36 as the Old Testament picture of this, where God promised to remove hearts of stone and cause His people to walk in His statutes by putting His Spirit within them.
The distinction between flesh and Spirit runs through the middle of the chapter. Those who set their minds on the flesh are heading toward death; those who set their minds on the Spirit find life and peace. Amy was struck by the way Paul frames verse 12: instead of saying we are obligated to the Spirit the way we might expect, he simply says we owe the flesh nothing. The flesh only ever defeated and killed us. We do not owe it our obedience.
From there the message turned to how believers actually put sin to death. Amy quoted the Puritan theologian John Owen: "Be killing sin or it will be killing you." The weapon for that fight, drawn from Ephesians 6, is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. When temptation comes, we bring a specific promise from Scripture and trust it. She referenced a verse-card set Deborah uses, giving Hebrews 13:5-6 as a worked example of how to meet the temptation toward covetousness with God's word and say, "I trust you."
The adoption section of the chapter was described as something that kept getting better. Believers have not received a spirit of slavery and fear, but the spirit of adoption, by which we cry out "Abba, Father." Amy said the word "cry out" mattered to her, because it is not a scripted religion but a real need. From there, being children means being heirs, fellow heirs with Christ of everything God owns.
On suffering, Amy said Paul does not let readers use Romans 8:28 as a prosperity promise. The chapter itself makes clear that both creation and believers are groaning right now. The image of birth pains from Mark 13 was brought in to show that the groaning has a direction and an end: just as labor leads to new life, creation's suffering is leading toward the freedom and glory of the children of God. Present sufferings are real, but Paul calls them momentary and light in comparison with the eternal weight of glory they are producing.
The chapter closes with two layers of intercession, the Spirit praying God's will for us and Jesus at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, and then the great cascade of verses 29 through 39. If God justified us, He will glorify us. Nothing, not tribulation, famine, death, or any created thing, can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Amy closed by saying she wanted to be clear that Jesus is not just a mechanism for getting to heaven. He is a person who loves us, someone to be treasured, and being with Him is the point of the eternity we are waiting for.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
- The teacher described two ditches people fall into: treating God's grace as a license to keep sinning, or grinding away trying to live the Christian life in your own strength. Which of those two ditches do you find yourself closer to, and what does that look like in your day-to-day life?
- Romans 8:13 says if by the spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. John Owen's line was quoted: 'Be killing sin or it will be killing you.' What does it actually look like, in a practical sense, to fight your own sin rather than being preoccupied with the sin you see in the world around you?
and 3 more questions in the guide
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