Sons and Daughters through Christ
Galatians 4But I say that as long as the heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, though he is lord of all. Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by the father. Similarly we also, when we were underage, were held in bondage under the elemental forces of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent ʜɪꜱ Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as children. y’all are children, God sent the Spirit of ʜɪꜱ Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” And because So you are no longer a slave, but a child; and if a child, then an heir through God.
y’all didn’t know God, y’all were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. However at that time, when y’all have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do y’all turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles? Do y’all want to be in bondage all over again? But now that Y’all observe days, months, seasons, and years. y’all, that I might have wasted my labor for y’all. I am afraid for
y’all, siblings, become as I am, for I also have become as y’all are. Y’all did me no wrong, I beg y’all know that it was because of bodily illness that I preached the gospel to y’all the first time. but y’all, y’all didn’t despise nor reject; but y’all received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. And though my illness was a trial to
y’all enjoyed? For I testify to y’all that, if possible, y’all would have plucked out your* eyes and given them to me. Now where is the blessing that y’all’s enemy by telling y’all the truth? Have I now become
y’all but not for good. No, they desire to alienate y’all, that y’all may zealously seek them. Those people are zealously seeking y’all. But it is always good to be zealous for an excellent cause, and not only when I am present with
y’all. My little children, of whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in y’all now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about y’all. But I wish I could be present with
The Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
y’all who want to be under the law, don’t y’all listen to the law? Tell me, For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and one by the free woman. However, the son by the slave was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through the promise. These things are an allegory, for these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children who are to be slaves—this is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, because she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written,
“Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear children. Break out and shout, you who were never in labor. For the desolate women have more children than her who has a husband.” +Isa 54:1y’all, siblings, are children of promise like Isaac. Now At that time, the one who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, and so it is now. +Gen 21:10 However, what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will not share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.” So then, siblings, we are not children of a slave woman, but of the free woman.