concerning his Son, who was born of David's offspring by natural descent

For this cause, God gave them up unto dishonourable passions; for, even their females, exchanged away the natural use into that which is against nature, -

In like manner also, even the males, leaving the natural use of the female, flamed out in their eager desire one for another, males with males, the indecency, effecting, - and, the necessary recompence of their error, within themselves, duly receiving; -

Without discernment, regardless of covenants, without natural affection, unmerciful: -

For when the Gentiles without the law have a natural desire to do the things in the law, they are a law to themselves;

And the man of natural uncircumcision who fulfills the law, will judge thee, a transgressor of law through a document and circumcision.

But if so, what can we say about Abraham, our forefather by natural descent?

(I allude to civil affairs, because of your unacquaintedness with spiritual matters:) as then you made your natural faculties subservient to impurity, and all manner of vice; make them now subservient to virtue and holiness.

When we were living in the flesh [trapped by sin], the sinful passions, which were awakened by [that which] the Law [identifies as sin], were at work in our body to bear fruit for death [since the willingness to sin led to death and separation from God].

For we know that the law of Moses is spiritual [i.e., from the Holy Spirit in origin and character], but I am fleshly, sold as a slave to sin. [Note: "Flesh" throughout this section refers to a person's natural inclinations to sin].

If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides].

for I could wish myself accursed, even cut off from Christ, for the sake of my brothers, my natural kinsmen.

the patriarchs, and from them by natural descent the Christ has come, who is exalted over all, God blessed forever. Amen!

they are not all children of Abraham because they are descended from Abraham. No, it is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned ??8 meaning that instead of God's children being the children born to him by natural descent, it is the children of the Promise who are reckoned as his true offspring.

that is, the children by natural descent are not thereby the children of God: but the children of the promise are alone considered as his posterity.

you must not be boasting against the natural branches. And if you do, just consider, you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

For, if, God, hath not spared, the natural branches, neither, thee, will he spare!

For, if, thou, out of the naturally wild olive was cut out, and, beyond nature, hast been engrafted into the good olive, how much rather, shall these, the natural branches be engrafted into their own olive tree?