Sons and Heirs

²⁶ For you ^(A)are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For ^(B)as many of you as were baptized into Christ ^(C)have put on Christ. ^28 (D)There is neither Jew nor Greek, ^(E)there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all ^(F)one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And ^(G)if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s ^(H)seed, and ^(I)heirs according to the promise.

Sons and Heirs Through Christ

4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, ² but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. ³ Even so we, when we were children, ^(J)were in bondage under the elements of the world. ⁴ But ^(K)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, ^(L)born^{[a] (M)}of a woman, ^(N)born under the law, ^5 (O)to redeem those who were under the law, ^(P)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth ^(Q)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ^[b]“Abba, Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, ^(R)and if a son, then an heir ^[c]of God ^[d]through Christ.

⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of ^(A)Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, ^(B)He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies ^[a]through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Sonship Through the Spirit

^12 (C)Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For ^(D)if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you ^(E)put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For ^(F)as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For ^(G)you did not receive the spirit of bondage again ^(H)to fear, but you received the ^(I)Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ^(J)“Abba,^[b] Father.” ^16 (K)The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then ^(L)heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, ^(M)if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that ^(N)the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.