Exhortations for Christian Living

121 I call upon you, therefore, brethren, through the compassions of God, to present your bodies a sacrifice—living, sanctified, acceptable to God—your intelligent service; 2 and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what 'is' the will of God—the good, and acceptable, and perfect. 3 For I say, through the grace that was given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think above what it behoveth to think; but to think so as to think wisely, as to each God did deal a measure of faith, 4 for as in one body we have many members, and all the members have not the same office, 5 so we, the many, one body are in Christ, and members each one of one another. 6 And having gifts, different according to the grace that was given to us; whether prophecy—'According to the proportion of faith!' 7 or ministration—'In the ministration!' or he who is teaching—'In the teaching!' 8 or he who is exhorting—'In the exhortation!' he who is sharing—'In simplicity!' he who is leading—'In diligence?' he who is doing kindness—'In cheerfulness.' 9 The love unfeigned: abhorring the evil; cleaving to the good; 10 in the love of brethren, to one another kindly affectioned: in the honour going before one another; 11 in the diligence not slothful; in the spirit fervent; the Lord serving; 12 in the hope rejoicing; in the tribulation enduring; in the prayer persevering; 13 to the necessities of the saints communicating; the hospitality pursuing. 14 Bless those persecuting you; bless, and curse not; 15 to rejoice with the rejoicing, and to weep with the weeping, 16 of the same mind one toward another, not minding the high things, but with the lowly going along; become not wise in your own conceit; 17 giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men. 18 If possible—so far as in you—with all men being in peace; 19 not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, 'Vengeance 'is' Mine, 20 I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head; 21 Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.

31 What, then, 'is' the superiority of the Jew? or what the profit of the circumcision? 2 much in every way; for first, indeed, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God; 3 for what, if certain were faithless? shall their faithlessness the faithfulness of god make useless? 4 let it not be! and let God become true, and every man false, according as it hath been written, 'That Thou mayest be declared righteous in Thy words, and mayest overcome in Thy being judged.' 5 And, if our unrighteousness God's righteousness doth establish, what shall we say? is God unrighteous who is inflicting the wrath? (after the manner of a man I speak) 6 let it not be! since how shall God judge the world? 7 for if the truth of God in my falsehood did more abound to His glory, why yet am I also as a sinner judged? 8 and not, as we are evil spoken of, and as certain affirm us to say—'We may do the evil things, that the good ones may come?' whose judgment is righteous.

There Is None Righteous

9 What, then? are we better? not at all! for we did before charge both Jews and Greeks with being all under sin, 10 according as it hath been written—'There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who is understanding, there is none who is seeking after God. 12 All did go out of the way, together they became unprofitable, there is none doing good, there is not even one. 13 A sepulchre opened 'is' their throat; with their tongues they used deceit; poison of asps 'is' under their lips. 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Swift 'are' their feet to shed blood. 16 Ruin and misery 'are' in their ways. 17 And a way of peace they did not know. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.'

19 And we have known that as many things as the law saith, to those in the law it doth speak, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may come under judgment to God; 20 wherefore by works of law shall no flesh be declared righteous before Him, for through law is a knowledge of sin.

Righteousness through Faith

21 And now apart from law hath the righteousness of God been manifested, testified to by the law and the prophets, 22 and the righteousness of God 'is' through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing,—for there is no difference, 23 for all did sin, and are come short of the glory of God— 24 being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that 'is' in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God did set forth a mercy seat, through the faith in his blood, for the shewing forth of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the bygone sins in the forbearance of God— 26 for the shewing forth of His righteousness in the present time, for His being righteous, and declaring him righteous who 'is' of the faith of Jesus. 27 Where then 'is' the boasting? it was excluded; by what law? of works? no, but by a law of faith: 28 therefore do we reckon a man to be declared righteous by faith, apart from works of law. 29 The God of Jews only 'is He', and not also of nations? 30 yes, also of nations; since one 'is' God who shall declare righteous the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through the faith. 31 Law then do we make useless through the faith? let it not be! yea, we do establish law.