and the way of peace they have not known.”

there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.

just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one,

All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.”

but as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, I would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, “Do not covet.”

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him.

How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?

But again I ask, didn’t Israel understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.”

But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either.

But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham’s sake,

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!

but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.

For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised!

for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law.