We have made it through the first half of the Book of Galatians! Now, we turn to the second half. Paul continues his argument in Galatians 4:1-7:
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul begins this section with an illustration. In his illustration there was a man (assumed to be rich) who had a child. Although the child would receive an inheritance from his father one day, he hadn’t received it yet because his father set a particular date for him to receive his inheritance. So, the child had some guardians and managers to look over him. However, Paul makes the point that, at the present time, the child was no different than a slave. Even though the child was really the owner of everything that his father has, he had not received his inheritance yet. The father had to support the child and the slave at this time. Everything they received came from the father.
Paul uses this illustration and compares it to himself and the rest of the believers: “So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Although Paul was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin (cf. Philippians 3:5), a member of God’s chosen race, he was in the same category as the child from the above illustration – no better than a slave! How can that be? Remember, only those who have faith in Christ are really sons of Abraham (cf. 3:7). So, how did God remedy this problem? “God sent forth His Son!” Read that verse again “God sent forth His Son!” How many of you are thankful that “God sent forth His Son!” Maybe you should take a few minutes and thank God for sending forth His Son.
What was the purpose of God sending His Son? “So that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Recall that the Law is like a mirror that proves our guilt. The Law was the Jews’ judge, and it spoke guilt to Paul and his companions. But God redeemed Paul (and us) from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us! Not only did God redeem us because of Christ’s work on the cross, but we also received adoption into His family as sons. All those who have faith in Christ are sons of God. I know we have talked about this numerous times, but let that fact marinate in your hearts all the more. As believers in Jesus Christ, you are a son or daughter of God! WOW! You are no longer a slave, so stop living like one! Christ came to earth to die, so that you can have life and have it abundantly! If this doesn’t blow your mind, look what else God did for you “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” God put His Spirit in your hearts. Where ever you go, God goes! He is with you – no matter what you are facing today. We can call him Abba! Dr. Constable, one of my seminary professors, says in his commentary on Galatians: “Our relationship with God can be intimate rather than formal. We can call Him ‘Daddy.’ ‘Abba’ means that (daddy) in Aramaic” (parenthesis mine). Look how Paul wraps this up: “Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” You are no longer a slave as a believer in Jesus Christ. You are now a son and an heir! And all God’s people said Amen! See you next week!