I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now), so that I might reap a harvest among you, just as I have among the rest of the gentiles.

Although they know God's just requirement that those who practice such things deserve to die they not only do these things but even applaud others who practice them.

For a person is not a Jew because of his appearance, nor is circumcision something just external and physical.

Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," just as he had been told: "This is how many descendants you will have."

For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, the Messiah died for the ungodly.

Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death resulted from sin, therefore everyone dies, because everyone has sinned.

Consequently, just as one offense resulted in condemnation for everyone, so one act of righteousness results in justification and life for everyone.

For just as through one man's disobedience many people were made sinners, so also through one man's obedience many people will be made righteous.

so that, just as sin ruled by bringing death, so also grace might rule by bringing justification that results in eternal life through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord.

Therefore, through baptism we were buried with him into his death so that, just as the Messiah was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too may live an entirely new life.

I am speaking in simple terms because of the frailty of your human nature. Just as you once offered the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater disobedience, so now, in the same way, you must offer the parts of your body as slaves to righteousness that leads to sanctification.

So then, the Law itself is holy, and the rule is holy, just, and good.

It is just as Isaiah predicted: "If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies had not left us some descendants, we would have become like Sodom and would have been compared to Gomorrah."

For just as you disobeyed God in the past but now have received his mercy because of their disobedience,

Therefore, accept one another, just as the Messiah accepted you, for the glory of God.