that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision?

A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision.

On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God.

For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works:

How joyful is the man
the Lord will never charge with sin!

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ.

And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.

Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

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

So then, if she gives herself to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she gives herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body?

But what was God’s reply to him? I have left 7,000 men for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal.

For if their rejection brings reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Whoever serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong for a man to cause stumbling by what he eats.

Do you have a conviction? Keep it to yourself before God. The man who does not condemn himself by what he approves is blessed.

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother—and mine.