Romans 8:1-26

Life in the Spirit

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 1 2 For the law of h the Spirit of life i has set you 2 free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For j God has done what the law, k weakened by the flesh, l could not do. m By sending his own Son n in the likeness of sinful flesh and o for sin, 3 he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that p the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, q who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For r those who live according to the flesh set their minds on s the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on t the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set u the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is v hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; w indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact x the Spirit of God dwells in you. y Anyone who does not have z the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of a him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies b through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12 So then, brothers, 4 we are debtors, c not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you d put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are e led by the Spirit of God are f sons 5 of God. 15 For g you did not receive h the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of i adoption as sons, by whom we cry, j "Abba! Father!" 16 k The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then l heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, m provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Future Glory

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time n are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for o the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation p was subjected to futility, not willingly, but q because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that r the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that s the whole creation t has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have u the firstfruits of the Spirit, v groan inwardly as w we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, x the redemption of our bodies. 24 For y in this hope we were saved. Now z hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we a wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For b we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but c the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 15:45
    Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
    2 Corinthians 3:6
    Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 8:12
    So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
    Romans 6:14
    For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
    Romans 6:18
    And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
    Romans 7:4
    Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
  3. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:1 - 2
    For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
    Hebrews 10:10
    And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
    Hebrews 10:14
    For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
    Acts 13:39
    And by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
  4. Cross References
    Galatians 4:9
    But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
    Hebrews 7:18
    For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness
  5. Cross References
    Hebrews 10:6
    In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
    Hebrews 10:8
    When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law).
  6. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:21
    For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  7. Cross References
    Philippians 2:7
    But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
    John 1:14
    And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
  8. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:5
    And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
    Hebrews 10:6
    In burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
    Hebrews 10:8
    When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law).
    Hebrews 13:11
    For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.
  9. Cross References
    Romans 1:32
    Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
    Romans 2:26
    So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
  10. Cross References
    Galatians 5:16
    But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
    Galatians 5:25
    If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
  11. Cross References
    Galatians 6:8
    For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
  12. Cross References
    Galatians 5:19 - 21
    Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality.
  13. Cross References
    Galatians 5:22 - 23
    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
    Galatians 5:25
    If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
  14. Cross References
    Romans 8:13
    For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
    Colossians 2:18
    Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind.
    Romans 6:21
    But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
  15. Cross References
    James 4:4
    You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:14
    The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 8:11
    If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
    1 Corinthians 3:16
    Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
    1 Corinthians 6:19
    Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.
    2 Corinthians 6:16
    What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    2 Timothy 1:14
    By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
  18. Cross References
    Jude 1:19
    It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
    John 14:17
    Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
  19. Cross References
    Acts 16:7
    And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
  20. Cross References
    Acts 2:24
    God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
  21. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 3:6
    Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
  22. Cross References
    Romans 8:2
    For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
  23. Cross References
    Colossians 3:5
    Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
  24. Cross References
    Galatians 5:18
    But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
  25. Cross References
    Romans 8:16
    The Spirit himself bears witness with our spiri...
    Romans 8:19
    For the creation waits with eager longing for t...
    Romans 9:8
    This means that it is not the children of the f...
    Romans 9:26
    "And in the very place where it was said to the...
    Deuteronomy 14:1
    You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shal...
    Hosea 1:10
    Yet the number of the children of Israel shall ...
    John 1:12
    But to all who did receive him, who believed in...
  26. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:12
    Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
  27. Cross References
    2 Timothy 1:7
    For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
    Galatians 2:4
    Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in - who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery -
    Hebrews 2:15
    And deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
    1 John 4:18
    There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
  28. Cross References
    Romans 8:23
    And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
    Galatians 4:5
    To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
    Romans 9:4
    They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
    Isaiah 56:5
    I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
    Jeremiah 31:9
    With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
  29. Cross References
    Galatians 4:6
    And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!
    Mark 14:36
    And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
  30. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:22
    And who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
    2 Corinthians 5:5
    He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
    Ephesians 1:13 - 14
    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
    1 John 3:24
    Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
  31. Cross References
    Galatians 3:29
    And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
    Galatians 4:7
    So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
    Titus 3:7
    So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
  32. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 1:7
    Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
    2 Timothy 2:12
    If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.
    Acts 14:22
    Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
  33. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:17
    For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
    1 Peter 1:5 - 6
    Who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
  34. Cross References
    1 Peter 4:13
    But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
    1 Peter 5:1
    So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
    1 John 3:2
    Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
    Romans 2:7
    To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 3:18 - 19
    Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
    Ecclesiastes 1:2
    Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
  36. Cross References
    Genesis 3:17
    And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life.
  37. Cross References
    Acts 3:21
    Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
  38. Cross References
    Mark 16:15
    And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
  39. Cross References
    Jeremiah 12:4
    How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, "He will not see our latter end.
    Jeremiah 12:11
    They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart.
  40. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:5
    He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
    James 1:18
    Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
  41. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:2
    For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.
    2 Corinthians 5:4
    For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
  42. Cross References
    Romans 8:19
    For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
    Romans 8:25
    But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
    Isaiah 25:9
    It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord ; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
    Galatians 5:5
    For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
  43. Cross References
    Romans 7:24
    Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
    Luke 21:28
    Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
  44. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 5:8
    But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
  45. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:18
    As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
    Hebrews 11:1
    Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
  46. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 1:3
    Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 5:8
    But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
  47. Cross References
    Matthew 20:22
    Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able.
    James 4:3
    You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
  48. Cross References
    Zechariah 12:10
    And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
    Ephesians 6:18
    Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
    John 14:16
    And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.