¹⁸ For, ^(A)speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely ^(B)escaping from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them ^(C)freedom, ^(D)but they themselves are slaves^[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

The Truth Will Set You Free

³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ^(A)“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will ^(B)know the truth, and the truth ^(C)will set you free.” ³³ They answered him, ^(D)“We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(E)everyone who practices sin is a slave^[a] to sin. ^35 (F)The slave does not remain in the house forever; ^(G)the son remains forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Slaves to Righteousness

¹⁵ What then? ^(A)Are we to sin ^(B)because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves ^(C)to anyone as obedient slaves,^[a] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But ^(D)thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the ^(E)standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, ^(F)having been set free from sin, ^(G)have become slaves of righteousness.

¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for ^(A)the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation ^(B)was subjected to futility, not willingly, but ^(C)because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that ^(D)the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that ^(E)the whole creation ^(F)has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have ^(G)the firstfruits of the Spirit, ^(H)groan inwardly as ^(I)we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, ^(J)the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For ^(K)in this hope we were saved. Now ^(L)hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?

¹³ But ^(A)exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by ^(B)the deceitfulness of sin.