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1 Now I say that so long as an heir is a child, he in no respect differs from a slave, although he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under the control of guardians and trustees until the time his father has appointed. 3 So we also, when spiritually we were children, were subject to the world's rudimentary notions, and were enslaved. 4 But, when the time was fully come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born subject to Law, 5 in order to purchase the freedom of all who were subject to Law, so that we might receive recognition as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent out the Spirit of His Son to enter your hearts and cry "Abba! our Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir also through God's own act. 8 But at one time, you Gentiles, having no knowledge of God, were slaves to gods which in reality do not exist. 9 Now, however, having come to know God--or rather to be known by Him--how is it you are again turning back to weak and worthless rudimentary notions to which you are once more willing to be enslaved? Galatians 4:1-9, Weymouth New Testament. Public domain.
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