The Year of the Lord’s Favor

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.^(A)

¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”^(A)

¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(A) that we are God’s children.^(B)

¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God^(A) but considers them foolishness,^(B) and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(A) into our hearts,^(B) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[a] Father.”^(C)

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)