But now faith in Christ has come. So the law is no longer in charge of us.

但这因信得救的理既然来到，我们从此就不在师傅的手下了。

但这“信”既然来到，我们从此就不在启蒙教师的手下了。

但这“信”既然来到，我们从此就不在启蒙教师的手下了。

现在信耶稣的时代已经来临，我们不再受律法监管。

但信的道理既然来到，我们就不再在启蒙教师之下了。

不过，这信仰既然已经临到，我们就不在导师之下了，

但這因信得救的理既然來到，我們從此就不在師傅的手下了。

但這「信」既然來到，我們從此就不在啟蒙教師的手下了。

但這「信」既然來到，我們從此就不在啟蒙教師的手下了。

現在信耶穌的時代已經來臨，我們不再受律法監管。

但信的道理既然來到，我們就不再在啟蒙教師之下了。

今「信」既已來到，我們就不再在童年導師之下了。

不過，這信仰既然已經臨到，我們就不在導師之下了，

但信既著、不復在塾師之下矣、

以信稱義之道既著、不復師之矣、

信之道既顯著、我儕不復在蒙師之下、

然信德既至、則吾人不復受蒙師之監督；

Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor.

But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sin will no longer control you like a master. That’s because the law does not rule you. God’s grace has set you free.

The Holy Spirit also speaks to us about this. First he says,“ This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws on their minds.”( Jeremiah 31:33)Then he adds,“ I will not remember their sins anymore. I will not remember the evil things they have done.”( Jeremiah 31:34)Where these sins have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer necessary.

My brothers and sisters, when Christ died you also died as far as the law is concerned. Then it became possible for you to belong to him. He was raised from the dead. Now our lives can be useful to God.

The law that was given to the people called for the priestly system. That system began with Levi. Suppose the priestly system could have made people perfect. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn’t he from Aaron’s family line?A change of the priestly system requires a change of law.We are talking about a priest who is from a different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.It is clear that our Lord came from the family line of Judah. Moses said nothing about priests who were from the tribe of Judah.But suppose another priest like Melchizedek appears. Then what we have said is even more clear.He has not become a priest because of a rule about his family line. He has become a priest because of his powerful life. His life can never be destroyed.Scripture says,“ You are a priest forever, just like Melchizedek.”( Psalm 110:4)The old rule is set aside. It was weak and useless.The law didn’t make anything perfect. Now a better hope has been given to us. That hope brings us near to God.

Every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. So this priest also had to have something to offer.What if he were on earth? Then he would not be a priest. There are already priests who offer the gifts required by the law.They serve at a sacred tent. But it is only a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. That’s why God warned Moses when he was about to build the holy tent. God said,“ Be sure to make everything just like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.”( Exodus 25:40)But Jesus has been given a greater work to do for God. He is the go- between for the new covenant. This covenant is better than the old one. The new covenant is based on better promises.Suppose nothing had been wrong with that first covenant. Then no one would have looked for another covenant.But God found fault with the people. He said,“ The days are coming, announces the Lord. I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel. I will also make it with the people of Judah.It will not be like the covenant I made with their people of long ago. That was when I took them by the hand. I led them out of Egypt. My new covenant will be different because they didn’t remain faithful to my old covenant. So I turned away from them, announces the Lord.This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds. I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people.People will not teach their neighbor anymore. They will not say to one another,‘ Know the Lord.’ That’s because everyone will know me. From the least important to the most important, all of them will know me.I will forgive their evil ways. I will not remember their sins anymore.”( Jeremiah 31:31–34)God called this covenant“ new.” So he has done away with the first one. And what is out of date and has been done away with will soon disappear.

Here is what I have been saying. As long as your own children are young, they are no different from slaves in your house. They are no different, even though they will own all the property.People are in charge of the property. And other people are in charge of the children. The children remain under their care until they become adults. At that time their fathers give them the property.It is the same with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the basic spiritual powers of the world.But then the chosen time came. God sent his Son. A woman gave birth to him. He was born under the authority of the law.He came to set free those who were under the authority of the law. He wanted us to be adopted as children with all the rights children have.Because you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. He is the Holy Spirit. By his power we call God Abba. Abba means Father.