Book of Common Prayer

²³ Before one came for us to believe in, the law held us in prison like slaves. We were kept there until the one to believe in should come.

²⁴ The law watched over us, as if we were children, until Christ came. Then God would put us right with himself through faith in Christ.

²⁵ But now that one has come for us to believe in, the law does not watch over us any longer.

²⁶ You are all God's children because you have believed in Christ Jesus.

²⁷ All of you who have been baptised into Christ have taken Christ as your own.

²⁸ There is no longer any difference between a Jew and one who is not a Jew; between a slave and a free man; between a man and a woman. When you are in the body of Christ Jesus, you are all alike.

²⁹ If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's children. And if you are Abraham's children, you will receive the blessing that God has promised.

⁴ But when the right time came, God sent his Son to make us free. He was born by a woman during the time when men had to obey the law.

⁵ God sent him to set the people free who were under the law. God sent him so that we would receive our rights as sons of God.

⁶ Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. The Spirit calls out, `Father!'

⁷ So then, because of what God has done, you are no longer a slave but you are a son. And because you are a son, you will receive what he promised.