06/10/2007
Growing Up (Gal 4:1-11)
How do you know when you have Grown UP?
I know what you are thinking – some of us never have
But really – how do you know?
Something kind of missing in our culture nowadays is a rite of passage, some ceremony that shows everyone that you have come of age.
It is a big deal in some other cultures
Barabaig culture in Tanzania, E. Africa
In their rite of passage for boys who are becoming men, their heads are shaved and they are cut down to the bone on their forehead with three cuts, from ear to ear
Among the Luiseño Indians boys are made to lay on top of red ant mounds being bitten by the ants without crying out for their initiation rite into manhood
It sounds strange and even a little cruel to us, but after they go through this ceremony, they are considered an adult. Or at least a young adult.
There is a clear line in time separating their childhood and their adulthood.
After they have crossed over that line, they are expected to act differently, more like an adult and less like a child. They gain new freedom, but they are also expected to take on new responsibilities, duties.
We do have some similar traditions in our culture.
There are milestones that mark the way, let you know that you are getting closer to being an adult.
I remember the first time I was allowed to drive a tractor on the farm, all by myself, all the way down the road to get a big bail of hay and take it to the field to feed the cows.
There was new trust, new freedom, but it came with new responsibility – I had to look out for where I was going, I was responsible for caring for the tractor while driving it, I was the one who had to remember to close all of the gates, check the fuel and oil on the tractor, look over the cows as they came to eat, look for anything unusual.
It was a big deal for me. If a kid is ready for it, the more you expect out of them, the more adult they try to be.
Then I remember getting my drivers license and my car. My mom got a newer car and I was allowed to drive the 1977 chevy impala. A dark day for the streets and sidewalks of Harrisonville. I got my first ticket for speeding before I even had the actual plastic license. I still had a paper printout waiting for the real one in the mail (not like now when you get it right away.) Testimony to the fact that kids don’t always step up and shoulder their new responsibility in a very adult like manner.
I drove my date to my first Prom when I was a Softmore in HS. It was close call whether I got to or not because I took a practice drive with my Mom and cut someone off on the freeway, almost got us both killed. After she got her heart started again, she decided to let me go ahead and drive anyway.
With a new car, I had a lot of new freedom – and my poor mother had a lot of new worries. I really feel sorry for her when I think back on my years growing up.
New freedom, new possibilities, I could get a job and start making money (another milestone) so I could pay for gas, buy some of my own clothes. Along with that freedom came new responsibilities. I was expected to begin acting more like an adult and less like a child.
Graduation ceremonies: from HS or College.
That ceremony is a milestone in the life of a person. Sometimes these events will come with a serious talk with one of your parents, as they impart some hard earned wisdom that only comes from experience, which the son or daughter normally lets go in one ear and out the other. Parents have an opportunity at these times to express their pride in their children, how they are maturing, the men and women they are turning into. It marks a time when more is going to be expected of you. You will be expected to begin supporting yourself, making decisions about your life, acting more like and adult, less like a Kid.
Move out of parents house. That can happen after HS, college,
Now again you have new freedom, :
No one to tell you when to go to bed, when to get up When to clean your room.
But you also have your own bills, your own job, you have to start acting like an adult,
YOU HAVE TO GROW UP
You have a new status, and there are new expectations
In our passage today Paul is looking at this idea of crossing over from being a child, being immature, living under a lot of rules to keep you in line, kind of like a slave, crossing over from that to a mature adult, coming of age, given the rights and inheritence that belongs to a child of God and an heir – it comes with new freedom, and new responsibilities.
Gal 4: 1-11 (NIV) 1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
PRAY
I. 1rst – Understand the comparison (what we are compared to)
1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
In order to fully appreciate this passage, we need to know the cultural background for what Paul is talking about. We need to step back in time so we can hear the words in the same context the Galatians heard them.
In biblical times, they made a bigger deal out of growing up.
In Jewish culture, on the first Sabbath after a boy’s 12th birthday, his Father would take him to the Synagogue for a ceremony. The father would rejoice in the transfer of responsibility for religious learning passing from the father to the son himself. He would say “Blessed be thou, O God, who has taken from me the responsibility for this boy.” Then the boy would say his prayer, “O my God and God of my fathers, On this solemn and sacred day, which marks my passage from boyhood to manhood, I humbly raise my eyes unto thee, and declare with sincerity and truth, that henceforth I will keep thy commandments, and undertake and bear the responsibility of my actions towards thee.”
There was a clear dividing line in the life of the young man. There was no confusion over his new freedom, responsibilities and his accountability
In Greek culture, there was a ceremony for basically the same purpose, though it was pagan. A boy was in the care of his father until he was seventeen, then he was a cadet, under the direction of the state for 2 years, then at a festival called the Apatouria, he was received into one of 10 Athenian clans. During a ceremony, his long hair was cut off and offered to the gods. Once again a clear division between childhood and manhood, living under the rules and direction of others, then freedom and responsibility and accountability.
In Roman culture, somewhere between the ages of 14 – 17, there was a sacred festival called the Liberalia. The boy would take off his Toga praetexta, which had a purple hem and marked his as a child, and he put on the toga virilis, which was a plain white toga worn by adults. So once again, a clear dividing line, which after crossed, meant you were treated as an adult, and you were expected to begin acting like one. New freedom, responsibility, and accountability.
As a child, before he crossed over into adulthood through one of these ceremonies, a boy was a minor in the eyes of the law, and he was not able to make legal decisions. He might be the future owner of a large estate, but he was not in control of his own life. Everything about his life was done and directed for him. Remember when we were back in chapter 3 we talked about the pedagogue, a slave that was in charge of the child, supervising him, making sure he got his education, disciplining him. Even though the child was heir to his father’s inheritance, he had no more freedom than if he were a slave.
Paul told us that the law was like our supervisor, our pedagogue, leading us to Christ, so that when we put our faith in HIM, He will set us free
So with that background, lets look at how this applies to the two kinds of people in this world.
Last week we identified those 2 kinds of people by their Spiritual Father. There are 2 spiritual families in this world, you are either a child of God, or a child of the Father of lies Satan.
We can also identify the 2 kinds of people by their status of Slave or Free
Jesus told us in our John 8 passage from last week,
Jn 8: 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin”
II. Comparison applied to the lost
A. From Slavery to Freedom
3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
So without a personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ, a person is a slave to sin, and a prisoner of the law.
Back in 3:23, Paul told us that “Before this faith came, we were held prisoner by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.”
Here in 4:3, he compares a lost person to a child, in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
The word Paul uses for basic principles means putting things in a line, like the alphabet, most literally, he is saying we are slaves to the rudimentary ABC’s of the law.
The law reveals our guilt, and because we can do nothing about it, we are imprisoned by the law, slaves to our sin, our choice and ongoing choice to rebel against God and dis-obey his commands.
It is a hopeless condition because the prison is unbreakable. We have no way of escaping. We lack the ability to live up to God’s standard of Holiness and perfection.
But God loves you and he made a way. He sent his son on a mission. A mission of Redemption, a mission of love, of suffering, of victory and glory, a rescue mission.
I love stories about someone on a mission. The mission is always a grand adventure, there is danger at every turn, and the bravery of our hero shines through as he slays the dragon, foils the villain and rescues the damsel in distress.
But the grandest story the human mind can come up with can’t begin to touch the reality of the mission of Jesus.
He came to rescue all of humanity. The villain of the story is the most evil creature that has ever existed, a fallen angel, the father of murder and lies - Satan.
4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Our hero is none other than God himself. He came and dwelt among us, taking on the nature of a man, born of a woman, born under the law
B. God’s perfect timing (v4)
His mission involved doing things that you and I could never do.
He lived a sinless life. So even though he was born under the law, the bars of that prison could never close in around him, there was no guilt, no sin to shackle and bind him
Jesus was no slave. He was the only completely and truly free man to ever walk the earth. But he willingly submitted himself to the will of the Father.
And, according to God’s plan of Redemption for man, Jesus allowed himself to be arrested, convicted and sentenced to die as a criminal, death on the cross– Jesus the only innocent person who ever lived.
It was necessary for Jesus to suffer the punishment of the cross in order to pay the price that is owed by all of those who are slaves to sin but cannot pay what they owe.
Jesus laid down his life so that they could gain true life. Abundant life and freedom from the slavery of sin.
Jesus accomplished His mission like only He could. He faced His suffering and death with incredible courage, even asking for forgiveness for those who mocked him and nailed Him to the cross.
Then he gained victory over death through His resurrection. After 3 days he walked out of the Tomb, alive, proving His claims that he was indeed the Son of God, God in human form, and he crushed Satan in defeat. Victory over sin, over death, over Satan.
And the victory of Jesus is the key to our release from prison and slavery.
If you will recognize your condition, as a slave to sin, imprisoned by the law.
And you turn away from your sin and turn to Jesus, that’s called repentance.
And you believe on Jesus as the son of God, asking Him to forgive your sins and rule your heart and your life. You put your faith, your trust wholly and completely in Him
Then the victory of Jesus belongs to you as well. You are vindicated in the Eyes of God, and you are adopted into the family of God.
5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
In ancient Rome, when a father wanted to adopt a son, he paid a price for him. There was a ceremony called vindicatio. It’s where we get our word vindication.
When a child was adopted, they transferred from one family to another.
Everything that was associated with the formed family is gone, whatever inheritance they had in that former family is wiped out. Whatever debt was owed, whatever blame or suspicion, everything is wiped clean, and the adopted child is seen a truly a new son of his adopted father. A son with full rights, a full claim to his new inheritance just like any other son.
In the same way, when you are an adopted child of God, your slate is wiped clean. Your inheritance was once eternal death in Hell. You were once under condemnation for your sin, for breaking the commandments of God, sentenced to eternity apart from God.
But that is all wiped out, and as a child of God, you are a new person, with a new future, a new inheritance. A son of God with full rights, and an heir.
Not only a son and an heir, now the Holy Spirit lives in your heart, and calls out “Abba, Father.” The most intimate term a child uses for their Father. The closest word we have today is “Daddy”. He lives in us, we live for Him, and God is our Daddy.
III. Comparison applied to a child of God
So as a believer, you are now not compared to the child, but to one who has “Grown UP”
We even have a ceremony that can be seen as a rite of passage.
After we have placed our trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savoir, we take our first big step of obedience as a believer by being Baptized.
The baptism ceremony is a clear dividing line in the life of a believer. It shows that a significant change has taken place. We are buried with Christ in death, our old sin self crucified with Jesus on the Cross, we are reborn as a new person with new life, sharing in the Resurrection life of Jesus.
Our baptism is an outward sign of these things that have taken place in our hearts.
And after that, we have a different status, new freedom, and new responsibilities
We have been set free by Jesus. We share in his victory over Satan, sin and death. We are no longer a slave to our sin, we submit ourselves to Jesus as our Master.
We are free to follow God’s will in our life, We are free to live our life for the glory of God. We are still have our sinful nature, we still stumble, we still fail, we still sin, but we have God’s spirit living in us, changing us, making us more and more like Jesus.
We are expected to act less like children, more like mature believers. More like Jesus
If we were to chart our progress of “growing up” spiritually, of becoming more mature as a Christian, more obedient, more Christ-like, it would not be a straight line.
It would be more like this, up and down, with periods of incredible growth, and periods of stagnation, and even some periods with a downward trend.
Once you are saved by God, you can never lose your status as His child, but you can slide so far back into acting like a slave that you become ineffective, unusable as a tool in God’s hand. You can become someone whose testimony has a negative effect on people in the world. “That’s a Christian?” I’m better off where I am.
This is what Paul is warning against in 8-11
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Turning back to weak and miserable principles: when we are growing as a Christian, and we are focused on our relationship with Jesus and doing the will of God, we are submitting ourselves to his leadership and we are operating on His principles, the ideal situation.
But there are times when it is tempting for us to try to run back into our cages, back to our old ways, those weak and miserable principles.
Paul is upset that the Galatians are observing special days and months and seasons and years. The Galatians are being pulled back to a form of legalism by the false Jewish teachers, who were still observing Sabbath day laws, new moon festivals, and yearly festivals like Passover.
These were all mere types and shadows, things that were pointing to the messiah. They were fulfilled in Jesus and no longer needed.
With a personal relationship with Jesus, you no longer need those things.
When I used to go on business trips, I would have a picture of Sally and Alex and Katie in my wallet. When I missed them terribly I would take out the picture and look at them, it reminded me that I would see them again soon.
Now after I get home, I don’t sit across from them in the living room staring at their picture, I don’t need the picture anymore, it was a mere shadow, pointing me home to where my family is. I put down the picture and I pick up my kids, I kiss my wife. I have the real thing.
We don’t need special days, and festivals to make us think of Jesus, we have the real thing, Jesus living in our hearts. Every day we can talk to Him, sit in his lap, feel his presence, have a real relationship with Him.
Legalism is only one form of sliding back into slavery. There are many others.
The judaisers were addicted to the law, they acted like slaves to it.
Some people are addicted to others things, and they let their addiction turn them into slaves.
Some are slaves to a substance, others to a behavior.
There are addictions to drugs and alcohol that can rob a person of their ability to think clearly and be sober minded. It can destroy entire lives and families.
Other addictions are more subtle, but can be just as destructive.
Addiction to pornography is at an all time high, it is all too easy to access by internet and it is a killer of marriages and families. It is one of the most insidious tools used by Satan to drive a wedge between people who love each other, and between a person and their relationship with God.
Addiction to work is dangerous, because on the surface, we tend to see it as noble. We admire a person who works hard. But there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed. God loves hard work too, but he doesn’t condone neglect of one’s family and he certainly doesn’t condone neglect of one’s relationship with Him.
Anything that builds itself up and becomes somehow more important and a higher priority than God and family is NOT from God, and must be resisted.
Even service to the church can be overdone. Satan loves to see a burnt out Christian
Satan is a master at whispering in our ear and tempting us to shift our priorities away from God’s ideal “just temporarily” in order to “get things done”
I must admit that I have come under conviction this week. I have allowed my schedule be somewhat undisciplined, and as a result I am working 7 days /week and not giving Sally and Alex and Katie enough of my time. And it is unnecessary.
I am building a more structured schedule, so I can make better use of my time, and it will include one day of the week dedicated completely to my family.
Maybe you need to do something similar. Maybe you need to ask for help.
This week, as you plan your schedule, study each item. Ask the question. “Is this necessary?” “Does this bring glory to God” “Is this part of God’s plan for me and my family”
If we will ask these questions in prayer, and accept the answers God gives, we can have a life schedule that pleases God. He wants you to make time to work, to play, and to serve Him.
Let God show you this morning. If you feel a twinge this morning, you may already know what area you need to let God work on in you. The first step is to admit to God what he already knows, then submit to the Holy Spirit and let Him go to work in your heart.
Lets Pray
