So it is conditioned on faith, that it might be in accordance with God's unmerited favor, so that the promise might be in force for all the descendants of Abraham, not only for those who belong to the law party but also for those who belong to the faith group of Abraham. He is the father of us all,

All who sin without having the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Indeed, when heathen people who have no law instinctively do what the law demands, although they have no law, they are a law to themselves,

And shall not the heathen man who is physically uncircumcised, and yet observes the law, condemn you who have the letter of the law and are physically circumcised, and yet break the law?

What are we then to conclude? Is the law sin? Of course not! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I should not have learned what sin was, for I should not have known what an evil desire was, if the law had not said, "You must not have an evil desire."

For merely hearing the law read does not make men upright with God, but men who practice the law will be recognized as upright.

Now circumcision benefits you only if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision is no better than uncircumcision.

Because no human creature can be brought into right standing with God by observing the law. For all the law can do is to make men conscious of sin.

But now God's way of giving men right standing with Himself has come to light; a way without connection with the law, and yet a way to which the law and the prophets testify.

For the law results in wrath alone, but where there is no law, there can be no violation of it.

Certainly sin was in the world before the law was given, but it is not charged to men's account where there is no law.

Do you not know, brothers -- for I speak to those who are acquainted with the law -- that the law can press its claim over a man only so long as he lives?

Thank God! It has been done through Jesus Christ our Lord! So in my higher nature I am a slave to the law of God, but in my lower nature, to the law of sin.

For Moses says of the law-way to right standing with God that whoever can perform the law will live by it.