Study Desk

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness produced by faith.Genesis 17:4; Galatians 3:29;">[xr]

Therefore, the promiseit">[fn] is based on faith, so that it may be a matter of grace and may be guaranteed for all his descendants - not only for those who were given the law,those of the law">[fn] but also for those who share Abraham's faith, who is the father of us all.Isaiah 51:2; Romans 3:24; 9:8; Galatians 3:22;">[xr]

but also for us. Our faith will be regarded in the same way,It will be regarded">[fn] if we believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.Acts 2:24; 13:30;">[xr]

Not only that, but we also boastlet us also boast">[fn] in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,Matthew 5:11-12; Acts 5:41; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 2:17; James 1:2-3,12; 1 Peter 3:14;">[xr]

But God demonstrates his love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.John 15:13; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:16; 4:9-10;">[xr]

Not only that, but we also continue to boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.Romans 2:17; 3:29-30; Galatians 4:9;">[xr]

Certainly sin was in the world before the law was given,was given">[fn] but no record of sin is kept when there is no law.Romans 4:15; 1 John 3:4;">[xr]

But God's free giftthe free gift">[fn] is not like Adam's offense.the offense">[fn] For if many people died as the result of one man's offense, how much more have God's grace and the free gift given through the kindness of one man, Jesus Christ, been showered on many people!Isaiah 53:11; Matthew 20:28; 26:28;">[xr]

Nor can the free gift be compared to what came through the man who sinned.nor is the gift like the man who sinned">[fn] For the sentence that followed one man's offense brought condemnation, but the free gift brought justification, even after many offenses.

Now the law crept in so that the offense would increase. But where sin increased, grace increased even more,Luke 7:47; John 15:22; Romans 3:20; 4:15; 7:8; Galatians 3:19,23; 1 Timothy 1:14;">[xr]

For when he died, he died once and for all as far as sin is concerned. But now that he is alive, he lives for God.Luke 20:38; Hebrews 9:27-28;">[xr]

In the same way, you too must continually consider yourselves dead as far as sin is concerned, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.Christ Jesus our Lord">[fn]Romans 6:2; Galatians 2:19;">[xr]

For sin will not have mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.Romans 7:4,6; 8:2; Galatians 5:18;">[xr]

What, then, does this mean?does this mean">[fn] Should we go on sinning because we are not under law but under grace? Of course not!1 Corinthians 9:21;">[xr]

But thank God that, though you were once slaves of sin, you became obedient from your hearts to that form of teaching with which you were entrusted!2 Timothy 1:13;">[xr]

But now that you have been freed from sin and have become God's slaves, the benefit you reap is sanctification, and the result is eternal life.John 8:32;">[xr]

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.Genesis 2:17; Romans 2:7; James 1:15; 1 Peter 1:4;">[xr]

For a married woman is bound by the law to her husband while he is living, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning her husband.1 Corinthians 7:39;">[xr]

So while her husband is living, she will be called an adulterer even if she lives with another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from this law, so that she is not an adulterer if she marries another man.Matthew 5:32;">[xr]

But now we have been released from the law by dying to what enslaved us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit, not under the old written code.Romans 2:29; 2 Corinthians 3:6;">[xr]