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Escape from Bondage

¹ Therefore there is now no ^(C1)condemnation no guilty verdict, no punishment for those who are ^(C2)in ^(C3)Christ Jesus who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior. ^(VR1)2 For ^(C1)the law of the Spirit of life which is in ^(C2)Christ Jesus the law of our new being ^(C3)has set you free from the law of sin and of death.³ For ^(C1)what the Law could not do that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power ^(C2)being weakened by the flesh man's nature without the Holy Spirit, God did: He sent His own Son in ^(C3)the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son, ^(VR1)4 so that the righteous and just ^(C1)requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who ^(C2)do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh guided by worldliness and our sinful nature, but live our lives in the ways of the Spirit guided by His power.⁵ For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on ^(C1)the things of the flesh which gratify the body, but those who are living according to the Spirit, set their minds on ^(C2)the things of the Spirit His will and purpose.^6 (C1)Now the mind of the flesh is ^(C2)death both now and forever—because it pursues sin; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever;⁷ the mind of the flesh with its sinful pursuits is actively ^(C1)hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God's law, since it cannot,⁸ and those who are ^(C1)in the flesh living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses cannot please God.

⁹ However, you are not living ^(C1)in the flesh controlled by the sinful nature but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God ^(C2)lives in you directing and guiding you. But ^(C3)if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him and is not a child of God. ^{(VR1)10 (C1)}If Christ lives in you, though your natural body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness which He provides.¹¹ And if the Spirit of Him who ^(C1)raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, ^(C2)He who raised ^(C3)Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

¹² So then, ^(F1)brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity, to live according to the impulses of the flesh our nature without the Holy Spirit—¹³ for ^(C1)if you are living according to the impulses of the flesh, you are going to die. But if you are living by the power of the Holy Spirit you are habitually ^(C2)putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will really live forever.¹⁴ For all who are allowing themselves to ^(C1)be led by the Spirit of God are ^(C2)sons of God.¹⁵ For you ^(C1)have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear of God's judgment, but you ^(C2)have received the Spirit of adoption as sons the Spirit producing sonship by which we joyfully cry, "^(F1)(C3)Abba! Father!"¹⁶ The Spirit Himself ^(C1)testifies and confirms together with our spirit assuring us that we believers are ^(C2)children of God.¹⁷ And if we are His children, then we are His ^(C1)heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance, ^(C2)if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory. ^(VR1)

¹⁸ For I consider from the standpoint of faith that the sufferings of the present life ^(C1)are not worthy to be compared with the ^(C2)glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!¹⁹ For even the whole creation all nature ^(C1)waits eagerly for the ^(C2)children of God to be ^(C3)revealed.²⁰ For the creation ^(C1)was subjected to ^(C2)frustration and futility, not willingly because of some intentional fault on its part, but ^(C3)by the will of Him who subjected it, in hope ^(VR1)21 that ^(C1)the creation itself will also be freed from its bondage to decay and gain entrance into the glorious freedom of the children of God.²² For we know that the whole creation has been ^(C1)moaning together as in the pains of childbirth until now. ^{(VR1)23 (C1)}And not only this, but we too, who have ^(C2)the first fruits of the Spirit a joyful indication of the blessings to come, even we ^(C3)groan inwardly, as we wait ^(C4)eagerly for the sign of our adoption as sons—^(C5)the redemption and transformation of our body at the resurrection. ^(VR1)24 For ^(C1)in this hope we were saved by faith. But ^(C2)hope the object of which is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he already sees?²⁵ But ^(C1)if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with patience and composure.

Our Victory in Christ

²⁶ In the same way the Spirit comes to us and helps us in our weakness. ^(C1)We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but ^(C2)the Spirit Himself knows our need and at the right time intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words.²⁷ And ^(C1)He who searches the hearts knows what ^(C2)the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit ^(C3)intercedes before God on behalf of ^(F1)God's people in accordance with God's will. ^(VR1)

²⁸ And we know with great confidence that God who is deeply concerned about us causes ^(C1)all things to work together as a plan for good for those who love God, to those who are ^(C2)called according to His plan and purpose.²⁹ For those whom He ^(C1)foreknew and loved and chose beforehand, He also ^(C2)predestined to be ^(C3)conformed to the image of His Son and ultimately share in His complete sanctification, so that He would be the ^(C4)firstborn the most beloved and honored among many believers.³⁰ And those whom He ^(C1)predestined, He also ^(C2)called; and those whom He called, He also ^(C3)justified declared free of the guilt of sin; and those whom He justified, He also ^(C4)glorified raising them to a heavenly dignity.

^31 (C1)What then shall we say to all these things? ^(C2)If God is for us, who can be successful against us? ^(VR1)32 He who ^(C1)did not spare even His own Son, but ^(C2)gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?³³ Who will bring any charge against ^(C1)God's elect (His chosen ones)? ^(C2)It is God who justifies us declaring us blameless and putting us in a right relationship with Himself.³⁴ Who is the one who ^(C1)condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who ^(C2)died to pay our penalty, and more than that, who was ^(C3)raised from the dead, and who is ^(C4)at the right hand of God ^(C5)interceding with the Father for us.³⁵ Who shall ever separate us from ^(C1)the love of ^(F1)Christ? Will ^(C2)tribulation, or distress, or ^(C3)persecution, or ^(C3)famine, or ^(C3)nakedness, or ^(C3)danger, or sword?³⁶ Just as it is written and forever remains written,

"^(C1)FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE ARE REGARDED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER." ^(VR1)