²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came^(A) that we might be justified by faith.^{(B) 25} Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.^(C)

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery^(A) under the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of the world.^{(B) 4} But when the set time had fully come,^(C) God sent his Son,^(D) born of a woman,^(E) born under the law,^{(F) 5} to redeem^(G) those under the law, that we might receive adoption^(H) to sonship.^{[b](I) 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son^(J) into our hearts,^(K) the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[c] Father.”^{(L) 7} So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(M)

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^(A)

³¹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(A) but of the free woman.^(B)

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.^(C) Stand firm,^(D) then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.^(E)

² Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,^(F) Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³ Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.^{(G) 4} You who are trying to be justified by the law^(H) have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^{(I) 5} For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.^{(J) 6} For in Christ Jesus^(K) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(L) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(M)

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.^(A) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[a];^(B) rather, serve one another^(C) humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b](D)

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^(A) with its passions and desires.^(B)

¹⁴ May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(A) through which^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.^{(B) 15} Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^(C) what counts is the new creation.^(D)

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?^(A) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?^{(B) 2} By no means! We are those who have died to sin;^(C) how can we live in it any longer?

⁶ For we know that our old self^(A) was crucified with him^(B) so that the body ruled by sin^(C) might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin^(D)— ⁷ because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.^(E)