…together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. 

But if we are to share his glory, 

we must also share his suffering.

Yet what we suffer now 

is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day 

when God will reveal who his children really are. 

Against its will, 

all creation was subjected to God’s curse. 

But with eager hope, 

the creation looks forward to the day 

when it will join God’s children 

in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Romans 8:17-21

So you have not received a spirit 

that makes you fearful slaves. 

Instead, 

you received God’s Spirit 

when he adopted you as his own children.

Now we call him, 

“Abba, Father.”

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm

that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:15-16

The Spirit of God, 

who raised Jesus from the dead, 

lives in you. 

And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, 

he will give life to your mortal bodies 

by this same Spirit living within you.

Romans 8:11

…letting the Spirit control your mind 

leads to life and peace.

…You are controlled by the Spirit 

if you have the Spirit of God living in you…

And Christ lives within you, 

so even though your body will die because of sin, 

the Spirit gives you life 

because you have been made right with God.

Romans 8:6, 9, 10

(British Columbia, photo credit: Joshua Rhodes)

So now there is no condemnation 

for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 

And because you belong to him, 

the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you 

from the power of sin that leads to death. 

The law of Moses was unable to save us 

because of the weakness of our sinful nature. 

So God did what the law could not do. 

He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. 

And in that body 

God declared an end to sin’s control over us 

by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

Romans 8:1-3

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ 

so that sin might lose its power in our lives. 

We are no longer slaves to sin. 

For when we died with Christ 

we were set free from the power of sin. 

And since we died with Christ, 

we know we will also live with him. 

We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, 

and he will never die again. 

Death no longer has any power over him.

Romans 6:6-9

When we were utterly helpless, 

Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 

…God showed his great love for us 

by sending Christ to die for us 

while we were still sinners. 

And since we have been made right in God’s sight 

by the blood of Christ, 

he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 

So now we can rejoice 

in our wonderful new relationship with God 

because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Romans 5:6, 8, 9, 11

We can rejoice, 

too, 

when we run into problems and trials, 

for we know that they help us develop endurance. 

And endurance develops strength of character, 

and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. 

For we know how dearly God loves us, 

because he has given us the Holy Spirit 

to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3-5

When people work, 

their wages are not a gift, 

but something they have earned. 

But people are counted as righteous, 

not because of their work, 

but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners

“Oh, 

what joy for those

whose disobedience is forgiven,

whose sins are put out of sight.

Yes, 

what joy for those
    
whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

Romans 4:4-5, 7-8

Even when there was no reason for hope, 

Abraham kept hoping—

believing…

…In fact, 

his faith grew stronger, 

and in this he brought glory to God. 

He was fully convinced that God is able 

to do whatever he promises. 

And because of Abraham’s faith, 

God counted him as righteous. 

…God will also count us as righteous 

if we believe in him, 

the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 

Romans 4:18, 20-22, 24