Study Desk

which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,

the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh

and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers,

Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse;

Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

For he will render to every man according to his works:

and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed in the law,

So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

He is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal. His praise is not from men but from God.

But if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?

For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,

whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins;

Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.

And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not reckon his sin."

The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

That is why 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 us all,