²³ For the wages of sin is death,^(A) but the gift of God is eternal life^(B) in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹¹ “I am^(A) the good shepherd.^(B) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.^(C)

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) who has blessed us in the heavenly realms^(B) with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us^(C) in him before the creation of the world^(D) to be holy and blameless^(E) in his sight. In love^{(F) 5} he^[a] predestined^(G) us for adoption to sonship^[b](H) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure^(I) and will—

¹³ And you also were included in Christ^(A) when you heard the message of truth,^(B) the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal,^(C) the promised Holy Spirit,^{(D) 14} who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance^(E) until the redemption^(F) of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.^(G)

¹⁵ The Spirit^(A) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;^(B) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[b] Father.”^{(C) 16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(D) that we are God’s children.^(E)

¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed^(A) in his name,^(B) he gave the right to become children of God^(C)—