Sons and Heirs

26 For you iare all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For jas many of you as were baptized into Christ khave put on Christ. 28 lThere is neither Jew nor Greek, mthere is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all none in Christ Jesus. 29 And oif you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s pseed, and qheirs according to the promise.

4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, awere in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But bwhen the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, cborn 1 dof a woman, eborn under the law, 5 fto redeem those who were under the law, gthat we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth hthe Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 2“Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, iand if a son, then an heir 3of God 4through Christ.

Fears for the Church

8 But then, indeed, jwhen you did not know God, kyou served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now lafter you have known God, or rather are known by God, mhow is it that you turn again to nthe weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 oYou observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, plest I have labored for you in vain.

12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. qYou have not injured me at all. 13 You know that rbecause of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me sas an 5angel of God, teven as Christ Jesus. 15 6What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

17 They uzealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 vMy little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Two Covenants

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: wthe one by a bondwoman, xthe other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman ywas born according to the flesh, zand he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are 7the two covenants: the one from Mount aSinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—26 but the bJerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written:

c“Rejoice, O barren,

You who do not bear!

Break forth and shout,

You who are not in labor!

For the desolate has many more children

Than she who has a husband.”

28 Now dwe, brethren, as Isaac was, are echildren of promise. 29 But, as fhe who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, geven so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does hthe Scripture say? i“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for jthe son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Christian Liberty

5 Stand a 1fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a byoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that cif you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised dthat he is 2a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 eYou have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; fyou have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly gwait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For hin Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ifaith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

7 You jran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 kA little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, lwhy do I still suffer persecution? Then mthe offense of the cross has ceased. 12 nI could wish that those owho trouble you would even 3cut themselves off!

13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only pdo not use liberty as an qopportunity for the flesh, but rthrough love serve one another. 14 For sall the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: t“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Walking in the Spirit

16 I say then: uWalk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For vthe flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, wso that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But xif you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now ythe works of the flesh are evident, which are: 4adultery, 5fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, 6murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that zthose who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But athe fruit of the Spirit is blove, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, cgoodness, dfaithfulness, 23 7gentleness, self-control. eAgainst such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s fhave crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 gIf we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 hLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear and Share the Burdens

6 Brethren, if a man is 1overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of agentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 bBear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill cthe law of Christ. 3 For dif anyone thinks himself to be something, when ehe is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But flet each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and gnot in another. 5 For heach one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

6 iLet him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for jwhatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap keverlasting life. 9 And llet us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap mif we do not lose heart. 10 nTherefore, as we have opportunity, olet us do good to all, pespecially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, qonly that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the rcross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by 2whom the world has been crucified to me, and sI to the world. 15 For tin Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.