Sonship Through the Spirit

12 oTherefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For pif you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you qput to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For ras many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For syou did not receive the spirit of bondage again tto fear, but you received the uSpirit of adoption by whom we cry out, v“Abba, 5Father.” 16 wThe Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then xheirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, yif indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

18 For I consider that zthe sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For athe earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For bthe creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of 6corruption into the glorious cliberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation dgroans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have ethe firstfruits of the Spirit, feven we ourselves groan gwithin ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the hredemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but ihope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For jwe do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but kthe Spirit Himself makes intercession 7for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now lHe who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints maccording to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those nwho are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom oHe foreknew, pHe also predestined qto be conformed to the image of His Son, rthat He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also scalled; whom He called, these He also tjustified; and whom He justified, these He also uglorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

31 What then shall we say to these things? vIf God is for us, who can be against us? 32 wHe who did not spare His own Son, but xdelivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? yIt is God who justifies. 34 zWho is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, awho is even at the right hand of God, bwho also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

c“For Your sake we are killed all day long;

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37 dYet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor eprincipalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.