"I do not nullifythe graceof God,for ifrighteousness[comes] throughthe Law,thenChristdiedneedlessly."
The LORDnullifiesthe counselof the nations;He frustratesthe plansof the peoples.
But I said,"I have toiledin vain,I have spentMy strengthfor nothingand vanity;Yet surelythe justice[due] to Me is with the LORD,And My rewardwith My God."
"Howcan you say,'We are wise,And the lawof the LORDis with us'? But behold,the lyingpenof the scribesHas made[it] into a lie.
He was alsosayingto them, "You are expertsat setting asidethe commandmentof Godin orderto keepyour tradition.
For not knowingabout God'srighteousnessand seekingto establishtheir own,they did not subjectthemselves to the righteousnessof God.
But ifit is by grace,it is nolongeron the basisof works,otherwisegraceis no longergrace.
[He] whowas deliveredover becauseof our transgressions,and was raisedbecauseof our justification.
Whatthenshall we sayto these things?IfGod[is] for us, who[is] againstus?
and ifChristhas not been raised,thenour preachingis vain,your faithalsois vain.
and ifChristhas not been raised,your faithis worthless;you are stillin your sins.
by whichalsoyou are saved,ifyou hold fastthe wordwhichI preachedto you, unlessyou believedin vain.
neverthelessknowingthat a manis not justifiedby the worksof the Lawbut throughfaithin ChristJesus,evenwe have believedin ChristJesus,sothat we may be justifiedby faithin Christand not by the worksof the Law;sinceby the worksof the Lawnofleshwill be justified.
"For ifI rebuildwhatI have [once] destroyed,I provemyselfto be a transgressor.
Is the Lawthencontraryto the promisesof God?May it neverbe! For ifa lawhad been givenwhich was ableto impart life,then righteousnesswould indeedhave beenbasedon law.
Nowifperfectionwas throughthe Leviticalpriesthood(for on the basisof it the peoplereceived the Law),whatfurtherneed[was there] for anotherpriestto ariseaccordingto the orderof Melchizedek,and not be designatedaccordingto the orderof Aaron?
