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, ^(A)were in bondage under the elements of the world. ⁴ But ^(B)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, ^(C)born^{[a] (D)}of a woman, ^(E)born under the law, ^5 (F)to redeem those who were under the law, ^(G)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

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

Fears for the Church

⁸ But then, indeed, ^(J)when you did not know God, ^(K)you served those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now ^(L)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, ^(M)how is it that you turn again to ^(N)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ^10 (O)You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, ^(P)lest I have labored for you in vain.

The Law Brings a Curse

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ^(A)“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

^13 (A)Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ^(B)“Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

²² But the Scripture has confined ^(A)all under sin, ^(B)that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, ^[a]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore ^(C)the law was our ^[b]tutor to bring us to Christ, ^(D)that we might be justified by faith.

Christian Liberty

5 ^(A)Stand^[a] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a ^(B)yoke of bondage.

⁸ Beware lest anyone ^[a]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to ^(A)the tradition of men, according to the ^(B)basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

^20 [a]Therefore, if you ^(A)died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, ^(B)why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— ^21 (C)“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” ²² which all concern things which perish with the using—^(D)according to the commandments and doctrines of men?