Christ set us free [from condemnation under the law of Moses], so we could stay free! Remain where you are then, and do not get tangled up again in the enslaving harness [of the law of Moses].

As servants of God, you should live as free people, but do not use this freedom to cover up your wrongdoing.

They themselves

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

So, do not allow [the practice of] sin to rule your mortal bodies, so that you obey its desires.

For we [Christians] were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various kinds of [evil] desires and [sinful] pleasures. [We used to] live in malice and envy, hating people and being hated by them.

Overcome

For if people who have escaped from the defiling practices of the world by coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, become tangled up in them again, and are overcome by them, these people are worse off than before they were converted.

and that they will come to their senses and escape from being trapped by the devil, who had captured them to do what he wanted.

General references

saying, 'This man began to build [a tower] but was not able to finish it.'

Remember [what happened to] Lot's wife!