It was for freedomthat Christset us free;thereforekeep standing firmand do not be subjectagainto a yokeof slavery.
Restoreto me the joyof Your salvationAnd sustainme with a willingspirit.
Buytruth,and do not sell[it], [Get] wisdomand instructionand understanding.
The Spiritof the LordGODis upon me, Becausethe LORDhas anointedme To bringgood newsto the afflicted;He has sentme to bindup the brokenhearted,To proclaimlibertyto captivesAnd freedomto prisoners;
"They tieup heavyburdensand laythem on men'sshoulders,but they themselvesare unwillingto movethem with [so much as] a finger.
"But newwinemust be putinto freshwineskins.
"Nowthereforewhydo you putGodto the testby placingupon the neckof the disciplesa yokewhichneitherour fathersnorwe have been ableto bear?
For sinshall not be master overyou, for you are not underlawbut undergrace.
and having been freedfrom sin,you became slavesof righteousness.
So then,ifwhile her husbandis livingshe is joinedto anotherman,she shall be calledan adulteress;but ifher husbanddies,she is freefrom the law,so that she is not an adulteressthough she is joinedto anotherman.
But nowwe have been releasedfrom the Law,having diedto that by whichwe were bound,sothat we servein newnessof the Spiritand not in oldnessof the letter.
For you have not receiveda spiritof slaveryleadingto fearagain,but you have receiveda spiritof adoption as sonsby whichwe cryout, "Abba!Father!"
For the lawof the Spiritof lifein ChristJesushas set you freefrom the lawof sinand of death.
Therefore,my belovedbrethren,be steadfast,immovable,alwaysaboundingin the workof the Lord,knowingthat your toilis not [in] vainin the Lord.
Be on the alert,stand firmin the faith,act like men,be strong.
For he who was calledin the Lordwhile a slave,is the Lord'sfreedman;likewisehe who was calledwhile free,is Christ'sslave.
For you tolerateit ifanyoneenslavesyou, anyonedevoursyou, anyonetakesadvantage of you, anyoneexaltshimself, anyonehitsyou in the face.
Nowthe Lordis the Spirit,and wherethe Spiritof the Lordis, [there] is liberty.
But [it was] becauseof the false brethrensecretly brought in, who had sneakedin to spyout our libertywhichwe havein ChristJesus,in orderto bring us into bondage.
But nowthat faithhas come,we are no longerundera tutor.
But the Jerusalemaboveis free;she is our mother.
So then,brethren,we are not childrenof a bondwoman,but of the free woman.
But nowthat you have come to knowGod,orratherto be knownby God,howis it that you turn backagainto the weakand worthlesselemental things,to whichyou desireto be enslavedall overagain?
For you were calledto freedom,brethren;only[do] not [turn] your freedominto an opportunityfor the flesh,but throughloveserveone another.
Stand firmtherefore,HAVING GIRDEDYOUR LOINSWITH TRUTH,and HAVING PUTON THE BREASTPLATEOF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Onlyconductyourselves in a manner worthyof the gospelof Christ,sothat whetherI comeand seeyou orremain absent,I will hearof you that you are standing firmin onespirit,with onemindstriving togetherfor the faithof the gospel;
for nowwe [really] live,ifyou stand firmin the Lord.
So then,brethren,stand firmand holdto the traditionswhichyou were taught,whetherby word[of mouth] orby letterfrom us.
Let us hold fastthe confessionof our hopewithout wavering,for He who promisedis faithful;
For we have becomepartakersof Christ,ifwe hold fastthe beginningof our assurancefirmuntilthe end,
but Christ[was faithful] as a SonoverHis house--whosehousewe are, ifwe hold fastour confidenceand the boastof our hopefirmuntilthe end.
Therefore,since we havea greathigh priestwhohas passed throughthe heavens,Jesusthe Sonof God,let us hold fastour confession.
[Act] as free men,and do not useyour freedomas a coveringfor evil,but [use it] as bondslavesof God.
promisingthem freedomwhile they themselvesare slavesof corruption;for by whata manis overcome,by thishe is enslaved.
Beloved,while I was makingeveryeffortto writeyou aboutour commonsalvation,I feltthe necessityto writeto you appealingthat you contend earnestlyfor the faithwhich was once for allhanded downto the saints.
Neverthelesswhatyou have,hold fastuntilI come.
Sorememberwhatyou have receivedand heard;and keep[it], and repent.Thereforeifyou do not wakeup, I will comelikea thief,and you will not knowat whathourI will cometo you.
