¹⁷ As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a](A) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(B) to the dead and calls^(C) into being things that were not.^(D)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(A) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^[a](B)

¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master,^(A) because you are not under the law,^(B) but under grace.^(C)

¹⁷ But thanks be to God^(A) that, though you used to be slaves to sin,^(B) you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching^(C) that has now claimed your allegiance. ¹⁸ You have been set free from sin^(D) and have become slaves to righteousness.^(E)

²² But now that you have been set free from sin^(A) and have become slaves of God,^(B) the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.^(C)

²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?^{(A) 25} Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!^(B)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,^(C) but in my sinful nature^[a] a slave to the law of sin.^(D)

² because through Christ Jesus^(A) the law of the Spirit who gives life^(B) has set you^[a] free^(C) from the law of sin^(D) and death.

²¹ that^[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay^(A) and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.^(B)

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.^(A) Stand firm,^(B) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.^(C)