Bible verses about "serenity" | AUV

¹ Therefore, none of those who are in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus will be condemned. ² For the Holy Spirit’s law which provides [never ending] life for those in [fellowship with] Christ Jesus has freed me from the law that requires [spiritual] death for sinning. ³ For what the law was not able to do [for mankind], since it was [too] weak [to deliver them from condemnation] because fleshly people [were unable to obey it perfectly], God condemned sin in the flesh [i.e., sin was declared evil and its power over man broken]. God did this by sending His own Son in a body like sinful man’s, and to destroy sin, ⁴ so that the requirements of the law could be [considered] fulfilled in us, who do not live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, but according to [the promptings of] the Holy Spirit. ⁵ For those people who are [controlled] by the flesh think about [i.e., desire] what the flesh wants; but those who are [controlled] by the Holy Spirit [desire] what the Holy Spirit wants. ⁶ For the one whose mind is [controlled] by the flesh will suffer [spiritual] death; but the one whose mind is [controlled] by the Holy Spirit will enjoy [never ending] life and peace. ⁷ This is because the one whose mind is [controlled] by the flesh is an enemy of God; for he is not obedient to God’s law, and in fact, cannot obey it. ⁸ And those people who are living according to the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But if the Spirit of God [truly] lives in your heart, you are not [being controlled] by the flesh, but by the Holy Spirit. But if any person does not have the Spirit of Christ [living in him], he does not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ And if Christ lives in your hearts, even though the body is [doomed to] death because of [Adam’s ?] sin; yet the spirit is [destined to] live [forever] because of being [made] right with God. [Note: Some take “spirit” here to be “Spirit” and make it “The Holy Spirit gives you life.” See next verse]. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of God, who raised up Jesus from the dead, lives in your hearts, [then] that One [i.e., God] who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead, will restore life to your mortal bodies also, through [the power of] God’s Spirit who lives in your hearts. ¹² So then, brothers, we are under obligation, but not to live under [the control of] the flesh, ¹³ for if you people live under [the control of] the flesh, you must die [spiritually]; but if you put to death [i.e., stop practicing] the [sinful] habits of the body by [the power of] the Holy Spirit, you will live [spiritually]. ¹⁴ For all of those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the Holy Spirit, to enslave you again to fear, [Note: Some translators take “Holy Spirit” here to be “spirit,” making the verse say “you did not receive the spirit of slavery”], but you received the Holy Spirit [who produces] sonship, so we can call out, “Abba”, [which means] “Father.” ¹⁶ The Holy Spirit Himself bears testimony [along] with our [human] spirit that we are the children of God. ¹⁷ And if we are [His] children, then we have an inheritance from God [i.e., blessings here and hereafter] and are fellow-sharers with Christ [of such blessings], providing we [are willing to] suffer with Him, so we can also be honored with Him [i.e., in the future life. See verses 18-25]. ¹⁸ For I consider that our present sufferings do not deserve to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to us [i.e., in the future life]. ¹⁹ For [all] creation [Note: “Creation” here refers to the material heavens and earth, and is personified through verse 23] is eagerly waiting for the children of God to be revealed [i.e., in their glorious state]. ²⁰ But God subjected the created world to aimless frustration [i.e., after the fall. See Gen. 3:17-18] --- it did not happen by its own choice. Yet there was hope ²¹ that the created world itself would be freed from its slavery to corrupting influences [i.e., produced by the fall] and receive the glorious freedom which belongs to God’s children. ²² For we know that the entire created world moans in painful anguish [i.e., as a woman in childbirth] until this present moment. ²³ And not just the world, but even we [Christians] ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit [i.e., the first installment of our inheritance from God] also groan within us, eagerly waiting to be adopted as [God’s] children, and receive back our bodies [i.e., in the resurrection]. ²⁴ For in [this] hope we were saved [i.e., we received the hope of future blessings]; but if we [already] see what we hope for, it is not [really] hope. For who hopes for what he [already] sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we cannot see, then we [must] patiently wait for it [to be received]. ²⁶ And in the same way, the Holy Spirit helps [us in] our weakness; for we do not know what we ought to pray for [Note: Some translators understand this as “how to pray”]. But the Holy Spirit goes to God on our behalf with groanings [in our hearts] that are not expressed [in words]. ²⁷ And God, who searches our hearts, knows what the Holy Spirit [has] in mind, because He [i.e., the Holy Spirit] goes to God on behalf of the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] in harmony with God’s will. ²⁸ And we know that God works out everything for the good of those who love Him and are called [to serve Him] in harmony with His purpose [for them]. ²⁹ For [that class of] persons whom God knew beforehand He also predetermined to become conformed to the [spiritual] likeness of His Son, so that He could be the firstborn One among [His] many brothers [i.e., so He could be the preeminent example to all His followers. See Heb. 2:11]. ³⁰ And [that class of] persons whom God [so] predetermined, He also called [through the Gospel. See II Thess. 2:14]. And those He called, He also made right with Himself. And those He made right with Himself, He also [determined to be] honored [i.e., in the future life]. ³¹ What then should we conclude from this? [Just this]: If God is on our side, who can [successfully] oppose us? ³² God did not withhold His own Son [from dying], but offered Him up for all of us. [Since He did that], will He not, along with Jesus, freely give us everything [else] also? ³³ Who will bring an accusation against God’s chosen people? [Certainly not God, for] He makes people right with Himself. ³⁴ Who condemns [us]? Certainly not Jesus, for He is the One who died [i.e., to save us], and what is more, He was raised from the dead and is [now] at the right side of God. He also goes [to God] on our behalf [i.e., as we pray]. ³⁵ Who [i.e., what] can separate us from Christ’s love [for us]? [i.e., what unfortunate circumstance of life might suggest that Christ does not love us?] Would [it be] trouble? Or distress? Or persecution? Or inadequate food? Or inadequate clothing? Or danger? Or [even] death? ³⁶ Just as it is written [Psa. 44:22], “We are [in danger of being] killed all the time. We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷ No, [suffering any one of these things is not proof that Christ does not love us], for in spite of all these things we have a decisive victory [over life’s difficulties] through [the care shown us by] Christ who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor [the trials of] life, nor [evil] angels, nor [evil] rulers, nor present or future [circumstances], nor [evil] powers, ³⁹ nor [things] above, nor [things] below, nor any [other] created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love [for us], revealed through Christ Jesus our Lord [Note: The idea of this passage is “Regardless of what happens to us, God still loves us”].

¹⁶ For God loved the world [of sinners] so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that every person who believes in Him would not [have to] be destroyed, but have never ending life.

⁶ And unless one has faith, it is impossible for him to be pleasing to God, for the person who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

¹⁰ Finally, be [spiritually] strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. ¹¹ You people should put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to withstand the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not [actually] against human beings, but against rulers and authorities and leaders of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [Note: “Heavenly realms” here refers to the struggle against Satanic powers which permeates life around us]. ¹³ Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that you can withstand [the devil, See verse 11] when the evil day comes. And, after you have done everything you can, still remain standing firm [in the faith]. ¹⁴ So, you people should stand firm [in the faith], with the belt of truth firmly buckled around you, and with the “flack jacket” of righteousness on your chest. ¹⁵ And put on your shoes, ready to [go and] spread the Gospel of peace. ¹⁶ And along with everything else, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fire-tipped arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Holy Spirit, which is God’s word. ¹⁸ [Then] offer all kinds of prayers and requests in [harmony with] the Holy Spirit at all times, and be alert constantly in making requests for all the saints [i.e., God’s holy people].