God’s Free Children in Christ.^* 1I mean that as long as the heir is not of age,^* he is no different from a slave, although he is the owner of everything, 2but he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the date set by his father. 3^a In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world.^* 4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,^b 5to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption.^c 6As proof that you are children,^* God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”^d 7So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.^e