Deliverance from Bondage

8 Therefore there is now no ^(A)condemnation at all for those who are ^(B)in ^(C)Christ Jesus. ² For ^(D)the law of the Spirit of life ^[a]in ^(E)Christ Jesus ^(F)has set you free from the law of sin and of death. ³ For ^(G)what the Law could not do, ^[b](H)weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in ^(I)the likeness of ^[c]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ so that the ^(J)requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who ^(K)do not walk ^[d]according to the flesh but ^[e]according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on ^(L)the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, ^(M)the things of the Spirit. ^6 (N)For the mind ^[f]set on the flesh is ^(O)death, but the mind ^[g]set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷ because the mind ^[h]set on the flesh is ^(P)hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸ and those who are ^(Q)in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ However, you are not ^(R)in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God ^(S)dwells in you. But ^(T)if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. ^10 (U)If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is ^[i]alive because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who ^(V)raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ^(W)He who raised ^(X)Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies ^[j]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— ¹³ for ^(Y)if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are ^(Z)putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are ^(AA)being led by the Spirit of God, these are ^(AB)sons and daughters of God. ¹⁵ For you ^(AC)have not received a spirit of slavery ^[k]leading to fear again, but you ^(AD)have received ^[l]a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “^(AE)Abba! ^[m]Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself ^(AF)testifies with our spirit that we are ^(AG)children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, ^(AH)heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, ^(AI)if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time ^(AJ)are not worthy to be compared with the ^(AK)glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the ^(AL)eagerly awaiting creation waits for ^(AM)the revealing of the ^(AN)sons and daughters of God. ²⁰ For the creation ^(AO)was subjected to ^(AP)futility, not willingly, but ^(AQ)because of Him who subjected it, ^[n]in hope ²¹ that ^(AR)the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation ^(AS)groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ^23 (AT)And not only that, but also we ourselves, having ^(AU)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ^(AV)groan within ourselves, ^(AW)waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, ^(AX)the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For ^(AY)in hope we have been saved, but ^(AZ)hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But ^(BA)if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Our Victory in Christ

²⁶ Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for ^(BB)we do not know what to pray for as we should, but ^(BC)the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with ^[o]groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and ^(BD)He who searches the hearts knows what ^(BE)the mind of the Spirit is, because He ^(BF)intercedes for the ^[p]saints according to the will of God.

Follow the Spirit

5 ^(A)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^(B)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^(C)yoke of slavery.

² Look! I, ^(D)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves ^(E)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I ^(F)testify again to every man who has himself ^(G)circumcised, that he is obligated to ^(H)keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who ^[a]are seeking to be justified by the ^[b]Law; you have ^(I)fallen from grace. ⁵ For we, ^[c]through the Spirit, ^[d]by faith, are ^(J)waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in ^(K)Christ Jesus ^(L)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^(M)faith working through love.

⁷ You were ^(N)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from ^(O)Him who calls you. ^9 (P)A little ^[e]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ^10 (Q)I have confidence ^[f]in you in the Lord, that you ^(R)will adopt no other view; but the one who is ^(S)disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. ¹¹ But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^(T)persecuted? Then ^(U)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. ¹² I wish that ^(V)those who are troubling you would even ^[g](W)emasculate themselves.

¹³ For you were called to ^(X)freedom, brothers and sisters; ^(Y)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but ^(Z)serve one another through love. ¹⁴ For ^(AA)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^(AB)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(AC)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, ^(AD)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^(AE)the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(AF)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^(AG)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(AH)led by the Spirit, ^(AI)you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^(AJ)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(AK)witchcraft, hostilities, ^(AL)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(AM)selfish ambition, dissensions, ^(AN)factions, ²¹ envy, ^(AO)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^(AP)inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(AQ)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(AR)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, ^(AS)self-control; against such things ^(AT)there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[h]belong to ^(AU)Christ Jesus ^(AV)crucified the flesh with its passions and ^(AW)desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow ^(AX)the Spirit as well. ²⁶ Let’s not become ^(AY)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.