Sonship in Christ

4 Now I say, as long as the heir is a ^[a]child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is ^[b]owner of everything, ² but he is under guardians and ^[c]managers until the ^[d]date set by the father. ³ So we too, when we were children, were held ^(A)in bondage under the ^[e](B)elementary principles of the world. ⁴ But when ^(C)the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, ^(D)born of a woman, born ^(E)under ^[f]the Law, ⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^[g]the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(F)sons and daughters. ⁶ Because you are sons, ^(G)God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “^(H)Abba! ^[h]Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(I)if a son, then an heir ^[i]through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(J)when you did not know God, you were ^(K)slaves to ^(L)those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^(M)known by God, ^(N)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^[j](O)elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You ^(P)meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^[k]over you in vain.

¹² I beg of you, ^(Q)brothers and sisters, ^(R)become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; ¹³ but you know that it was because of a ^[l]bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^[m]first time; ¹⁴ and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my ^[n]bodily condition, nor express contempt, but ^(S)you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is ^[o]that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy ^(T)by ^[p]telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not ^[q]in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. ¹⁸ But it is good always to be eagerly sought ^[r]in a commendable way, and ^(U)not only when I am present with you. ^19 (V)My children, with whom ^(W)I am again in labor until ^(X)Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for ^(Y)I am at a loss about you!

Slave and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^(Z)listen to the Law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(AA)one by the slave woman and ^(AB)one by the free woman. ²³ But ^(AC)the son by the slave woman ^[s]was born according to the flesh, and ^(AD)the son by the free woman through the promise. ^24 [t](AE)This is speaking allegorically, for these women are two covenants: one coming from ^(AF)Mount Sinai giving birth to children ^[u]who are to be ^(AG)slaves; ^[v]she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is enslaved with her children. ²⁶ But ^(AH)the Jerusalem above is free; ^[w]she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ And you, brothers and sisters, ^(AJ)like Isaac, are ^(AK)children of promise. ²⁹ But as at that time ^(AL)the son who was born according to the flesh ^(AM)persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AN)so it is even now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say?

³¹ So then, brothers and sisters, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.

Follow the Spirit

5 ^(AQ)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^(AR)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^(AS)yoke of slavery.

² Look! I, ^(AT)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves ^(AU)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I ^(AV)testify again to every man who has himself ^(AW)circumcised, that he is obligated to ^(AX)keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who ^[x]are seeking to be justified by the ^[y]Law; you have ^(AY)fallen from grace. ⁵ For we, ^[z]through the Spirit, ^[aa]by faith, are ^(AZ)waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in ^(BA)Christ Jesus ^(BB)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^(BC)faith working through love.

⁷ You were ^(BD)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from ^(BE)Him who calls you. ^9 (BF)A little ^[ab]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ^10 (BG)I have confidence ^[ac]in you in the Lord, that you ^(BH)will adopt no other view; but the one who is ^(BI)disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. ¹¹ But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^(BJ)persecuted? Then ^(BK)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. ¹² I wish that ^(BL)those who are troubling you would even ^[ad](BM)emasculate themselves.

¹³ For you were called to ^(BN)freedom, brothers and sisters; ^(BO)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but ^(BP)serve one another through love. ¹⁴ For ^(BQ)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^(BR)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(BS)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, ^(BT)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^(BU)the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(BV)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^(BW)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(BX)led by the Spirit, ^(BY)you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^(BZ)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(CA)witchcraft, hostilities, ^(CB)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(CC)selfish ambition, dissensions, ^(CD)factions, ²¹ envy, ^(CE)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^(CF)inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(CG)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(CH)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, ^(CI)self-control; against such things ^(CJ)there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[ae]belong to ^(CK)Christ Jesus ^(CL)crucified the flesh with its passions and ^(CM)desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow ^(CN)the Spirit as well. ²⁶ Let’s not become ^(CO)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 ^(CP)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are ^(CQ)spiritual are to ^(CR)restore such a person ^(CS)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ^2 (CT)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill ^(CU)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(CV)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must ^(CW)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for ^(CX)boasting, but ^[af]to himself alone, and not ^[ag]to another. ⁵ For ^(CY)each one will bear his own load.

^6 (CZ)The one who is taught ^(DA)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. ^7 (DB)Do not be deceived, ^(DC)God is not mocked; for ^(DD)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. ^8 (DE)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap ^(DF)destruction from the flesh, but ^(DG)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ^9 (DH)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we ^(DI)do not become weary. ¹⁰ So then, ^[ah](DJ)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the ^(DK)household of ^(DL)the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you ^(DM)with my own hand! ¹² All who want ^(DN)to make a good showing in the flesh try to ^(DO)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they ^(DP)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who ^[ai]are circumcised do not even ^(DQ)keep ^[aj]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may ^(DR)boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But ^[ak](DS)far be it from me to boast, ^(DT)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(DU)through ^[al]which the world has been crucified to me, and ^(DV)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(DW)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a ^(DX)new ^[am]creation. ¹⁶ And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the ^(DY)Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the ^[an](DZ)marks of Jesus.

^18 (EA)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^(EB)with your spirit, ^(EC)brothers and sisters. Amen.

The Blessings of Redemption

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^[a](C)by the will of God,

To the ^[b](D)saints who are ^[c]at ^(E)Ephesus and ^(F)are faithful in ^(G)Christ Jesus: ^2 (H)Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

^3 (I)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in ^(J)the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as ^(K)He chose us in Him before ^(L)the foundation of the world, that we would be ^(M)holy and blameless before ^[d]Him. ^(N)In love ^5 [e]He ^(O)predestined us to ^(P)adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, ^(Q)according to the good pleasure of His will, ^6 (R)to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in ^(S)the Beloved. ^7 (T)In ^[f]Him we have ^(U)redemption ^(V)through His blood, the ^(W)forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to ^(X)the riches of His grace ⁸ which He ^[g]lavished on ^[h]us. In all wisdom and insight ⁹ He ^[i](Y)made known to us the mystery of His will, ^(Z)according to His good pleasure which He ^(AA)set forth in Him, ¹⁰ regarding His plan of ^(AB)the fullness of the times, ^(AC)to bring all things together in Christ, things ^[j]in the heavens and things on the earth. ^11 [k]In Him we also ^(AD)have obtained an inheritance, having been ^(AE)predestined ^(AF)according to the purpose of Him who works all things ^(AG)in accordance with the plan of His will, ¹² to the end that ^[l]we who were the first to hope in the ^[m]Christ would be ^(AH)to the praise of His glory. ¹³ In ^[n]Him, ^[o]you also, after listening to ^(AI)the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also ^[p]believed, you were ^(AJ)sealed in ^[q]Him with ^(AK)the Holy Spirit of the promise, ¹⁴ who is a ^(AL)first installment of ^(AM)our inheritance, in regard to the ^(AN)redemption of ^(AO)God’s own possession, ^(AP)to the praise of His glory.

¹⁵ For this reason I too, ^(AQ)having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and ^[r]your love for ^(AR)all the ^[s]saints, ^16 (AS)do not cease giving thanks for you, ^(AT)while making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ that the ^(AU)God of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(AV)the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of ^(AW)wisdom and of ^(AX)revelation in the ^[t]knowledge of Him. ¹⁸ I pray that ^(AY)the eyes of your heart ^[u]may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the ^(AZ)hope of His ^(BA)calling, what are ^(BB)the riches of the glory of ^(BC)His inheritance in ^(BD)the ^[v]saints, ¹⁹ and what is the ^[w]boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. ^(BE)These are in accordance with the working of the ^(BF)strength of His might ²⁰ which He brought about in Christ, when He ^(BG)raised Him from the dead and ^(BH)seated Him at His right hand in ^(BI)the heavenly places, ²¹ far above ^(BJ)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every ^(BK)name that is named, not only in ^(BL)this age but also in the one to come. ²² And He ^(BM)put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him ^(BN)head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His ^(BO)body, the ^(BP)fullness of Him who ^(BQ)fills ^(BR)all in all.

Made Alive in Christ

2 And ^[x]you ^[y]were ^(BS)dead ^[z]in your offenses and sins, ² in which you ^(BT)previously walked according to the ^[aa]course of ^(BU)this world, according to ^(BV)the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in ^(BW)the ^[ab]sons of disobedience. ³ Among them ^[ac]we too all ^(BX)previously lived in ^(BY)the lusts of our flesh, ^[ad]indulging the desires of the flesh and of the ^[ae]mind, and were ^(BZ)by nature ^(CA)children of wrath, ^(CB)just as the rest. ⁴ But God, being ^(CC)rich in mercy, because of ^(CD)His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were ^(CE)dead ^[af]in our wrongdoings, made us alive together ^[ag]with Christ (^(CF)by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and ^(CG)raised us up with Him, and ^(CH)seated us with Him in ^(CI)the heavenly places in ^(CJ)Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the ^[ah]boundless ^(CK)riches of His grace in ^(CL)kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For ^(CM)by grace you have been saved ^(CN)through faith; and ^[ai]this is not of yourselves, it is ^(CO)the gift of God; ^9 (CP)not a result of works, so that ^(CQ)no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, ^(CR)created in ^(CS)Christ Jesus for ^(CT)good works, which God ^(CU)prepared beforehand so that we would ^(CV)walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that ^(CW)previously ^(CX)you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “^(CY)Uncircumcision” by the so-called “^(CZ)Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, ^[aj](DA)excluded from ^[ak]the people of Israel, and strangers to ^(DB)the covenants of the promise, having ^(DC)no hope and ^(DD)without God in the world. ¹³ But now in ^(DE)Christ Jesus you who ^(DF)previously were ^(DG)far away ^[al]have ^(DH)been brought near ^[am](DI)by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is ^(DJ)our peace, ^(DK)who made both groups into one and broke down the ^[an]barrier of the dividing wall, ^15 [ao]by ^(DL)abolishing ^[ap]in His flesh the hostility, which is ^(DM)the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might ^[aq](DN)make the two ^(DO)one new person, in this way establishing ^(DP)peace; ¹⁶ and that He might ^(DQ)reconcile them both in ^(DR)one body to God through the cross, ^[ar]by it having ^(DS)put to death the hostility. ¹⁷ And ^(DT)He came and preached ^(DU)peace to you who were ^(DV)far away, and peace to those who were ^(DW)near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have ^(DX)our access in ^(DY)one Spirit to ^(DZ)the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer ^(EA)strangers and foreigners, but you are ^(EB)fellow citizens with the ^[as]saints, and are of ^(EC)God’s household, ²⁰ having been ^(ED)built on ^(EE)the foundation of ^(EF)the apostles and prophets, ^(EG)Christ Jesus Himself being the ^(EH)cornerstone, ^21 (EI)in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into ^(EJ)a holy ^[at]temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being ^(EK)built together into a ^(EL)dwelling of God in the Spirit.