Slaves and Sons

21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, truly righteousness would have come through the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ came, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants and heirs according to the promise.

4 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the master of all. 2 But he is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by his father. 3 In the same way also, when we were children, we were enslaved to the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into [fn]your hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” 7 So yoʋ are no longer a slave, but a son. And if yoʋ are a son, yoʋ are also an heir [fn]of God through Christ.