Background of the Passage Having spoken of condemnation (due to human sin) and justification (due to Christ’s sacrifice on behalf of sinners), Paul turns next to the vital issues of sanctification (the believer’s ongoing struggle with sin) and glorification(transformation into the image of Christ). In the first seven chapters, God’s Holy Spirit is mentioned only once. Now, in chapter 8, Paul mentions the Spirit almost twenty times. It is the Spirit who frees us from sin and death, enables us to fulfill