12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.e 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;f but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,g you will live.h

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of Godi are the children of God.j 15 The Spiritk you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;l rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.f And by him we cry, “Abba,g Father.”m 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spiritn that we are God’s children.o 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirsp—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferingsq in order that we may also share in his glory.r

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.s 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of Godt to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,u in hope 21 thath the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decayv and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.w

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaningx as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,y groanz inwardly as we wait eagerlya for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.b 24 For in this hope we were saved.c But hope that is seen is no hope at all.d Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.e

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spiritf himself intercedes for usg through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our heartsh knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedesi for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28 And we know that in all things God works for the goodj of those who love him, whoi have been calledk according to his purpose.l 29 For those God foreknewm he also predestinedn to be conformed to the image of his Son,o that he might be the firstbornp among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined,q he also called;r those he called, he also justified;s those he justified, he also glorified.t