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

¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs^(A)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings^(B) in order that we may also share in his glory.^(C)

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)

⁸ In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,^(A) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.^(B)

¹⁵ so that you may become blameless^(A) and pure, “children of God^(B) without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[a](C) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky