Sonship in Christ

1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a 1child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is 2owner of everything,

2 but he is under guardians and 1managers until the date set by the father.

3 So also we, while we were children, were held ain bondage under the 1belemental things of the world.

4 But when athe fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, bborn of a woman, born cunder 1the Law,

5 so that He might redeem those who were under 1the Law, that we might receive the adoption as asons.

6 Because you are sons, aGod has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “bAbba! Father!”

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and aif a son, then an heir 1through God.

8 However at that time, awhen you did not know God, you were bslaves to cthose which by nature are no gods.

9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be aknown by God, bhow is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless 1celemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

10 You aobserve days and months and seasons and years.

11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored 1over you in vain.