This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them

Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.

And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.

This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all

We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

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.

So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me.

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

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?

For this is the statement of the promise: At this time I will come, and Sarah will have a son.

For the Scripture tells Pharaoh:

I raised you up for this reason
so that I may display My power in you
and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.

But who are you, a mere man, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you make me like this?”

And what if He did this to make known the riches of His glory on objects of mercy that He prepared beforehand for glory—

But the righteousness that comes from faith speaks like this: Do not say in your heart, “Who will go up to heaven?” that is, to bring Christ down

On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim:

as it is written:

God gave them a spirit of insensitivity,
eyes that cannot see
and ears that cannot hear,
to this day.

So that you will not be conceited, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery: A partial hardening has come to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

The Liberator will come from Zion;
He will turn away godlessness from Jacob.

And this will be My covenant with them
when I take away their sins.

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s public servants, continually attending to these tasks.

The commandments:

Do not commit adultery;
do not murder;
do not steal;
do not covet;

and whatever other commandment—all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

Christ died and came to life for this: that He might rule over both the dead and the living.

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

So when I have finished this and safely delivered the funds to them, I will visit you on the way to Spain.

I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.