appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did serve unto them which by nature are no gods (pagan gods). But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain".

The word "elements" is translated from the Greek word "stoicheo", and it means: something orderly in arrangement, consistent (Strong's Exhaustive Bible Concordance dictionary). This refers to the laws of animal sacrifice that were done routinely in a prescribed manner and day.

Just as a child in his parents' home, while he is yet a child, is guided, disciplined and taught to observe (serve) various rules and customs, to prepare him for life as a grownup, even so, before Christ came into the world the nation of Israel was given to serve various rituals and ordinances of sacrifice which were until the coming of Christ! These were sacrificial laws performed at specific times and seasons, in a specific manner. These were a substitute until God's appointed time for the arrival of Christ Jesus (Gal 4: 1 - 4). But after Christ came and redeemed us from the curse of the law, the Holy Spirit was then made available to the truly repentant sinner (John 7: 38, 39. John 14: 26), after being called by God (John 6: 44, Gal. 1: 6. Acts 2: 39). Through the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit we are "begotten again" (1Pet. 1: 3). Naturally, we were begotten the first time by our human father, the second time being by God Himself! By the Holy Spirit in us we are now sons (begotten sons) of God (Rom. 8: 9 -11, 14-15). Today, we are no longer required to serve these ritual laws. We are now sons and heirs of God through Christ (Gal4: 4-7).

Notice an important fact in verse eight (Gal. 4: 8)! It states: "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service (service to false gods) unto them which by nature are no gods". In that verse (Gal. 4: 8) Paul addresses the fact that these Gentiles, at one time, before they knew the true God, served pagan gods and engaged in pagan practices!