1. This is what I am saying: When young children inherit all that their father owned, they are still no different from his slaves. It doesn’t matter that they own everything.
2. While they are children, they must obey those who are chosen to care for them. But when they reach the age the father set, they are free.
3. It is the same for us. We were once like children, slaves to the useless rules of this world.
4. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, who was born from a woman and lived under the law.
5. God did this so that he could buy the freedom of those who were under the law. God’s purpose was to make us his children.
6. Since you are now God’s children, he has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. The Spirit cries out, “Abba, Father.”
7. Now you are not slaves like before. You are God’s children, and you will receive everything he promised his children.
8. In the past you did not know God. You were slaves to gods that were not real.
9. But now you know the true God. Really, though, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to the same kind of weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again?
10-11. It worries me that you follow teachings about special days, months, seasons, and years. I fear that my work for you has been wasted.
12. Brothers and sisters, I became like you. So please become like me. You were very good to me before.
13. You know that I came to you the first time because I was sick. That was when I told the Good News to you.
14. My sickness was a burden to you, but you did not stop showing me respect or make me leave. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel from God. You accepted me as if I were Jesus Christ himself!
15. You were very happy then. Where is that joy now? I can say without a doubt that you would have done anything to help me. If it had been possible, you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me.
16. Am I now your enemy because I tell you the truth?