5 God did this so that he could buy freedom for those who were under the law. His purpose was to make us his children.
6 And you are God’s children. That is why God sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. The Spirit cries out, “Father, dear Father.”
7 So now you are not a slave; you are God’s child, and God will give you what he promised, because you are his child.
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, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to those weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again?
10 You still follow teachings about special days, months, seasons, and years.
11 I am afraid for you. I fear that my work for you has been wasted.