What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I would not have known sin, except by the law: for I would not have known lust, unless the law had said, You shall not covet.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but through the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified through the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make those who draw near perfect.
But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, and to the same extent also is he the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Which was a representation of the present time, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him who did the service perfect with respect to the conscience;