There is no condemnation to them that, being justified by Christ, walk
not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. Their strong
hope and love of God.
8:1. There is now therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ
Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh.
8:2. For the law of the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, hath delivered
me from the law of sin and of death.
8:3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the
flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and of
sin, hath condemned sin in the flesh.
8:4. That the justification of the law might be fulfilled in us who
walk not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit.
8:5. For they that are according to the flesh mind the things that are
of the flesh: but they that are according to the spirit mind the things
that are of the spirit.
8:6. For the wisdom of the flesh is death: but the wisdom of the spirit
is life and peace.
8:7. Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God. For it is not
subject to the law of God: neither can it be.
8:8. And they who are in the flesh cannot please God.
8:9. But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of
Christ, he is none of his.
8:10. And if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead, because of sin:
but the spirit liveth, because of justification.
8:11. And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell
in you; he that raised up Jesus Christ, from the dead shall quicken
also your mortal bodies, because of his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
8:12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live
according to the flesh.
8:13. For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by
the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.
8:14. For whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God.
8:15. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear:
but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry:
Abba (Father).
8:16. For the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are
the sons of God.
The Spirit himself, etc.... By the inward motions of divine love, and
the peace of conscience, which the children of God experience, they
have a kind of testimony of God’s favour; by which they are much
strengthened in their hope of their justification and salvation; but
yet not so as to pretend to an absolute assurance: which is not usually
granted in this mortal life: during which we are taught to work out our
salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2.12. And that he that
thinketh himself to stand, must take heed lest he fall. 1 Cor. 10.12.
See also, Rom. 11.20, 21, 22.
8:17. And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with
Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified
with him.
8:18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us.
8:19. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of
the sons of God.
The expectation of the creature, etc.... He speaks of the corporeal
creation, made for the use and service of man; and, by occasion of his
sin, made subject to vanity, that is, to a perpetual instability,
tending to corruption and other defects; so that by a figure of speech
it is here said to groan and be in labour, and to long for its
deliverance, which is then to come, when sin shall reign no more; and
God shall raise the bodies and unite them to their souls never more to
separate, and to be in everlasting happiness in heaven.
8:20. For the creature was made subject to vanity: not willingly, but
by reason of him that made it subject, in hope.
8:21. Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the
servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children
of God.
8:22. For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain,
even till now.
8:23. And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of
the Spirit: even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the
adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.
8:24. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. For
what a man seeth, why doth he hope for?
8:25. But if we hope for that which we see not, we wait for it with
patience.
8:26. Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For, we know not
what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit himself asketh for
us with unspeakable groanings,
Asketh for us.... The Spirit is said to ask, and desire for the saints,
and to pray in us; inasmuch as he inspireth prayer, and teacheth us to
pray.
8:27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what the Spirit
desireth: because he asketh for the saints according to God.
8:28. And we know that to them that love God all things work together
unto good: to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be
saints.
8:29. For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made
conformable to the image of his Son: that he might be the Firstborn
amongst many brethren.
He also predestinated, etc.... That is, God hath preordained that all
his elect should be conformable to the image of his Son. We must not
here offer to pry into the secrets of God’s eternal election; only
firmly believe that all our good, in time and eternity, flows
originally from God’s free goodness; and all our evil from man’s free
will.
8:30. And whom he predestinated, them he also called. And whom he
called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
8:31. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who is
against us?
8:32. He that spared not even his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all, how hath he not also, with him, given us all things?
8:33. Who shall accuse against the elect of God? God is he that
justifieth:
8:34. Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus that died: yea that is
risen also again, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us.
8:35. Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation? Or distress? Or famine? Or nakedness? Or danger? Or
persecution? Or the sword?
8:36. (As it is written: For thy sake, we are put to death all the day
long. We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.)
8:37. But in all these things we overcome, because of him that hath
loved us.
8:38. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
might,
I am sure.... That is, I am persuaded; as it is in the Greek,
pepeismai.
8:39. Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.