Galatians 4:1-7

                                                                             Galatians 4:1-7

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.  In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.  But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

 

Adoption into the family of God is one of the most precious truths of salvation.  To be saved from sin is a blessing beyond measure.  To be adopted as sons and daughters of God is grace upon grace.  This passage shows that each member of the Trinity was involved in this blessed reality.  What we have in adoption is far greater than anything that could be obtained by adherence to the Law.

 

THE FATHER DETERMINED THE TIME OF ADOPTION: Paul’s argument is that there is very little difference between a slave and a son as long as the son is a child.  The child is under the authority of the father just as the slave and even under the authority of those who are entrusted with the child’s care.  Even though the son will be the heir of everything, as long as he is a child, he does not have the privileges of the heir.  This parallels the experience of those who are under the tutelage of the law.  They are, like children, enslaved to the law. However, whey the Father decided the time for adoption was right, He took the steps to promote His people from the status of slave to son.  This gracious plan of redemption and adoption is glorious and astounding.

 

THE SON FULFILLED THE MEANS OF ADOPTION: The means by which adoption as sons could occur was the death of Christ on the cross.  We were enslaved to sin and our freedom had to be purchased.  The price of liberation was death.  It would have been impossible for mankind to be adopted while still enslaved to sin.  The law was powerless to free mankind from sin.  All the law could do was demonstrate the reality of our enslavement.  The work of Christ changed that.  He purchased our freedom with His blood.

 

THE SPIRIT PROVIDED THE ASSURACE OF ADOPTION: All who believe in Christ are saved from sin, freed from sin and filled with the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and fills our hearts with the assurance that we have become sons and daughters of God.  He fills us with a love for the Lord and a desire to live in fellowship with our Father.  We are no longer under the bondage of sin and slavery and we have been given the status of adult sons and heirs of the promises of God.  He is our inheritance.  Living in fellowship with Him is the promise of the Gospel.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t be fooled into thinking that we can earn acceptance by God through legalistic practices that only leave us enslaved to sin.  Be thankful to the Lord Jesus for His gracious and glorious gift of salvation.  Enjoy the fellowship we have through the gift of the Spirit.

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