newness of life in the new order of existence, in the power of the new life given by God. In this one verse Paul has described several aspects of the redemption wrought by Christ: its cause (“for our sins,” that is, because of them), its means (Christ “sacrificed himself”), its purpose and effect (“for our sins,” that is, for their expiation; “to rescue us”), and its origin (“the will of our God and Father”). Thereby Paul has in fact touched on the chief argument of the letter, and succinctly announced