Even so ye my brethren, ye also are made dead as concerning the law by the body of Christ, that ye should be coupled to another (I mean to him that is risen again from death) that we should bring forth fruit unto God. When we were in the flesh, the lusts of sin which were stirred up by the law, reigned in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death. But now are we delivered from the law, and dead from it, whereunto we were in bondage, that we should serve in a new conversation of the spirit, and not in the old conversation of the letter.
What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid: but I knew not what sin meant but by the law. For I had not known what lust had meant, except the law had said, thou shalt not lust. But sin took an occasion by the means of the commandment, and wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For verily without the law sin was dead. I once lived without law: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I was dead. And the very same commandment which was ordained unto life, was found to be unto me an occasion of death. For sin took occasion by the means of the commandment and so deceived me, and by the self commandment slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good.
Was that then which is good made death unto me? God forbid. Nay sin was death unto me, that it might appear how that sin by the means of that which is good, had wrought death in me: that sin which is under the commandment, might be out of measure sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin: because I wot not what I do. For what I would, that do I not: but what I hate, that do I. If I do now that which I would not, I grant to the law that it is good. So then now it is not I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is to say in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing. To will is present with me: but I find no means to perform that which is good. For I do not that good thing which I would: but that evil do I, which I would not. Finally, if I do that I would not, then is it not I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me doeth it. I find then by the law that when I would do good, evil is present with me. I delight in the law of God, as concerning the inner man. But I see another law in my members rebelling against the law of my mind, and subduing me unto the law of sin, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am: who shall deliver me from this body of death? I thank God by Iesus Christ our lord: So then I myself in my mind serve the law of God, and in my flesh the law of sin.
The .viij. Chapter.
There is then no damnation to them which are in Christ Iesu, which walk not after the flesh: but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit, wherein is life thorow Iesus Christ hath delivered me from the law of sin, and death. For what the law could not do in as much as it was weak because of the flesh: that performed God, and sent his son in the similitude of sinful flesh, and by sin damned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness required of the law, might be fulfilled in us, which walk not after the flesh: but after the spirit.
For they that are carnal, are carnally minded. and they that are spiritual are ghostly minded. To be carnally minded is death. and to be spiritually minded is life, and peace: because that the fleshly mind is emnity against God: For it is not obedient to the law of God, neither can be. So then they that are given to the flesh, cannot please God.
But ye are not given to the flesh, But to the spirit: If so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. If there be any man that hath not the spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin: But the spirit is life for righteousness' sake. Wherefore if the spirit of him that raised up Iesus from death, dwell in you: even he that raised up Christ from death, shall quicken your mortal bodies, because that his spirit dwelleth in you.
Therefore brethren we are now debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: For if ye live after the flesh, ye must die. But if ye mortify the deeds of the body, by the help of the spirit, ye shall live, for as many as are led by the spirit of God, are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage to fear any more, but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father. The same spirit certifieth our spirit that we are the sons of God. If we be sons, we are also heirs (the heirs I mean of God) and heirs annexed with Christ, if so be that we suffer together, that we may be glorified together.
For I suppose that the afflictions of this life, are not worthy of the glory which shall be shewed upon us. Also the fervent desire of the creatures abideth looking when the sons of God shall appear because the creatures are subdued to vanity against their will: but for his will which subdued them in hope. For the very creatures shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. For we know that every creature groaneth with us also, and travaileth in pain even unto this time.
Not they only, but even we also which have the first fruits of the spirit mourn in ourselves and wait for the adoption, and look for the deliverance of our bodies. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is no hope. For how can a man hope for that which he seeth? but and if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience abide for it.