Read the Bible

Sonship in Christ

¹ Now I say, as long as the heir is a ^(F1)child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is ^(F2)owner of everything,² but he is under guardians and ^(F1)managers until the date set by the father.³ So also we, while we were children, were held ^(C1)in bondage under the ^(F1)(C2)elemental things of the world.⁴ But when ^(C1)the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, ^(C2)born of a woman, born ^(C3)under ^(F1)the Law,⁵ so that He might redeem those who were under ^(F1)the Law, that we might receive the adoption as ^(C1)sons.⁶ Because you are sons, ^(C1)God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "^(C2)Abba! Father!"⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and ^(C1)if a son, then an heir ^(F1)through God.

⁸ However at that time, ^(C1)when you did not know God, you were ^(C2)slaves to ^(C3)those which by nature are no gods.⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be ^(C1)known by God, ^(C2)how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless ^(F1)(C3)elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?¹⁰ You ^(C1)observe days and months and seasons and years.¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored ^(F1)over you in vain.

¹² I beg of you, ^(C1)brethren, ^(C2)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 ^(F1)bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the ^(F2)first time;¹⁴ and that which was a ^(F1)trial to you in my ^(F2)bodily condition you did not despise or ^(F3)loathe, but ^(C1)you received me as an angel of God, as ^(C2)Christ Jesus Himself.¹⁵ Where then is ^(F1)that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.¹⁶ So have I become your enemy ^(C1)by ^(F1)telling you the truth?¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.¹⁸ But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable ^(F1)manner, and ^(C1)not only when I am present with you.^19 (C1)My children, with whom ^(C2)I am again in labor until ^(C3)Christ is formed in you--²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for ^(C1)I am perplexed about you.

Bond and Free

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not ^(C1)listen to the law?²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(C1)one by the bondwoman and ^(C2)one by the free woman.²³ But ^(C1)the son by the bondwoman ^(F1)was born according to the flesh, and ^(C2)the son by the free woman through the promise.^24 (F1)(C1)This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from ^(C2)Mount Sinai bearing children ^(F2)who are to be ^(C3)slaves; ^(F3)she is Hagar.²⁵ Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.²⁶ But ^(C1)the Jerusalem above is free; ^(F1)she is our mother.²⁷ For it is written,

"^(C1)REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;
BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."