How does Paul connect life in the Spirit, patient hope and God’s love?

Paul declares no condemnation for those in Christ who do not walk according to the flesh. The Spirit’s law of life in Christ has delivered him from the law of sin and death. God accomplished what the law could not through fleshly weakness, sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and of sin and condemning sin in flesh, so the law’s justification might be fulfilled in those walking according to spirit. Those of the flesh mind flesh, whose wisdom is death and hostility toward God; the spirit’s wisdom is life and peace. Those in flesh cannot please God. The readers are in spirit if God’s Spirit dwells in them, while one without Christ’s Spirit does not belong to him. If Christ is in them, the body is dead because of sin but the spirit lives because of justification. The Spirit of the one who raised Jesus will quicken their mortal bodies if he dwells in them.

The brethren owe no debt to live according to flesh. Such living leads to death, but mortifying fleshly deeds through the Spirit leads to life. Those led by God’s Spirit are his sons. They received the Spirit of adoption rather than bondage in fear and cry Abba, Father; the Spirit bears testimony to their spirit. The annotation describes inward motions of divine love and peace of conscience as testimony strengthening hope of justification and salvation, expressly without absolute assurance, usually not granted in mortal life. It cites working salvation with fear and trembling, guarding against falling, and Romans 11:20–22. Being heirs and Christ’s coheirs is qualified by suffering with him to be glorified with him.

Present sufferings cannot compare with coming glory. The creature awaits the revelation of God’s sons. The annotation identifies corporeal creation for human use, subjected through human sin to instability tending toward corruption and defects. Its groaning and labour are figurative; deliverance comes when sin no longer reigns and God raises bodies and unites them with souls never again to separate in heavenly happiness. Subject unwillingly to vanity in hope, the creature will be delivered from corruption into the children’s glorious liberty. All creation groans, and those possessing the Spirit’s firstfruits also groan, awaiting adoption and bodily redemption. They are saved by hope: what is seen is no longer hoped for, while the unseen is patiently awaited.

The Spirit helps their infirmity. They do not know how to pray as they ought, and he asks with unspeakable groanings. The annotation explains this as inspiring and teaching prayer in the saints. The searcher of hearts knows the Spirit’s desire, asking for saints according to God. All things work for good to those loving God and called according to his purpose. Those foreknown are predestinated to the Son’s image, the firstborn among many brethren. The annotation warns against prying into eternal election’s secrets: all good flows from God’s free goodness and all evil from man’s free will. Paul links predestination, calling, justification and glorification.

If God is for them, who is against? He did not spare his Son but delivered him for all, and with him gives all things. Who accuses God’s elect when God justifies, or condemns when Christ died, rose, sits at God’s right hand and intercedes? Can tribulation, distress, famine, nakedness, danger, persecution or sword separate them? Paul cites being put to death all day and accounted sheep for slaughter. In these things they overcome through the one who loved them. He is sure that death, life, angels, principalities, powers, present, future, might, height, depth and any creature cannot separate them from God’s love in Jesus. The linguistic annotation explains I am sure as I am persuaded, giving the Greek pepeismai.