17 What I mean is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator does not represent just one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given which could impart life, then righteousness would indeed have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture has bound everyone under sin, so that that what was promised by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were bound under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with 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 offspring, heirs according to promise. 4 1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of all the estate; 2 but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth 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 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things? Do you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain. 12 Brethren, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 13 you know it was because of an illness in the flesh that I preached the gospel to you at first; 14 and though my fleshly condition was a trial to you, you did not despise or scorn me, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus himself.