The Holy Spirit’s Ministries

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, ¹³ because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,^(A) you will live. ¹⁴ For all those led by God’s Spirit^(B) are God’s sons.^{(C) 15} For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.^(D) Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption,^(E) by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[a] Father!” ^{(F) 16} The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit^(G) that we are God’s children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs^(H)—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him^(I) so that we may also be glorified with him.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.^{(A) 4} For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^{[a](B) 5} He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace^(C) that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.^(D)

⁷ In him we have redemption^(E) through his blood, the forgiveness^(F) of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^{[b] 9} He made known to us the mystery of his will,^(G) according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ^{(H) 10} as a plan for the right time^[c]—to bring everything together in Christ,^(I) both things in heaven and things on earth^(J) in him.^(K)

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[d] because we were predestined^(L) according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope^(M) in Christ might bring praise to his glory.^(N)

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit^(O) when you heard the word of truth,^(P) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment^(Q) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

⁸ For you are saved by grace^(A) through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created^(B) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time^(C) for us to do.

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,”^(D) which is done in the flesh by human hands.^{(E) 12} At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise,^(F) without hope^(G) and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(H) of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both groups one^(I) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, ¹⁵ he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create^(J) in himself one^(K) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body^(L) through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.^{[a] 17} He came and proclaimed the good news^(M) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(N) 18} For through him we both have access^(O) in one Spirit to the Father.^{(P) 19} So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(Q) with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building, being put together,^(R) grows into a holy temple in the Lord.^{(S) 22} In him you are also being built together^(T) for God’s dwelling^(U) in the Spirit.

⁴ John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace^(A) to you from^[a] the one who is, who was, and who is to come,^(B) and from the seven spirits^[b](C) before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,^(D) the firstborn from the dead^(E) and the ruler of the kings of the earth.^(F)

To him who loves us and has set us free^[c] from our sins by his blood,^{(G) 6} and made us a kingdom,^[d] priests^[e](H) to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.^(I)

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

5 Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals.^{(A) 2} I also saw a mighty angel^(B) proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open^[a] the scroll or even to look in it. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah,^(C) the Root of David,^(D) has conquered^(E) so that he is able to open the scroll and^[b] its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb^(F) standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God^(G) sent into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.

The Lamb Is Worthy

⁸ When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp^(H) and golden bowls^(I) filled with incense,^(J) which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ And they sang a new song:^(K)