Researching your family tree can be a fun and rewarding hobby. For one Minnesota man, it was a life-changing experience.
Marty Johnson knew he was the product of two young college students who had a brief affair. Neither parent was prepared to deal with raising a child, so Johnson was given up for adoption and grew up in a loving home in Minnesota. Years later as an adult, he started digging through past records and got in contact with his birth-mother.
Then a letter arrived one day that said, “Welcome to the Ogike dynasty! You come from a noble and prestigious family.” The letter went on to explain that Johnson was next in line to inherit the position of village chief from his biological father, John Ogike, the current chief of Aboh village in Nigeria.
Johnson flew to Nigeria to meet his new family. He went from having no knowledge about any blood relatives to a noisy celebration in the village. There he was united with brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, and of course, his father.
In a similar way, Jesus is God’s wonderful surprise letter declaring that we are his children, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The beginning of a new year means many of us are setting goals. We call them resolutions; we resolve to do in the year ahead that which we neglected to do in the year past.
A. Some resolve to quit smoking, lose weight, spend more time with family, or save money. Others set career, education or love-interest goals. Each requires a change of condition that leads to a change of conduct.
B. The believers in Galatia need such resolve. Paul writes to remind them that God, through the process of adoption, receives them as his own children. This adoption brings a change of condition that demands a change of conduct.
2. Some Galatian believers are confused. They claim Christ’s atonement, yet continue to live as though they must earn God’s favor by their own righteousness. This is particularly true of the Jewish believers, who hold onto the OT Law as if it is their hope of salvation.
3. Paul writes to disprove the myths that trouble the Galatian believers. He reminds them they are now adopted children of God—this change of condition demands a change of conduct. OYBT Galatians 4.)
[The Risen Christ empowers us to change. The change of condition demands a change of conduct.]
II. A CHANGE OF CONDITION (4:1-6)
1. Redemption: Paul reminds his friends that until Christ came, they were slaves to the principles of the world. Gentiles (Romans & Greeks) understand these principles as laws of the universe (acceptable moral standards), and Jews understand them as the OT Law.
A. Despite our best efforts, humanity is hopelessly corrupt in God’s sight. Therefore, to free humans from the bondage of failure (sin), he sent a Redeemer—Christ.
B. In ancient Rome, a father adopted a child by paying for him. Christ paid the price for believers in full on the cross at Calvary leaving no debt unpaid. Adoptees forfeit all rights to their former life in exchange for the rights and privileges of the new family.
C. When a father adopts a child there follows a ceremony called a vindicatio, from which we get our word vindicate. The adoptive father goes to the Roman magistrate and presents a legal case for transference of the one to be adopted into his own household. After the vindicatio ceremony the adoption is complete.
D. Such is the case for the Galatian believers; they are redeemed (paid-for) and adopted (vindicated) before God. Freed from sin and its resulting slavery, they forfeit that life for the rights bestowed by their new father—God!
2. Acceptance: God accepts his adopted ones immediately on their vindication (what the church calls justification). For this reason, the second consequence of adoption is acceptance.
A. The proof of his acceptance is the gift of the Holy Spirit, what some have referred to as the “deposit on our future inheritance”. Look at verse 6: Because you are now sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out Abba, Father.
(i) Abba is Aramaic for father. The reason for this lone Aramaic word is it’s affectionate diminutive form; i.e., the most personal, intimate name for father, demonstrating a fondness and trust usually found only in a little child.
(ii) The noun Abba is exclusive to Jesus and so powerful it transfers directly into the Greek text without change, however its Greek translation (oJ path/r) always follows it.
B. Paul’s thought and use of this word is deliberate; he writes to an audience that instantly recognizes the significance of Abba in understanding their acceptance as adopted children.
[The Risen Christ empowers us to change. Our change of condition demands a change of conduct. (v. 8ff)]
III. A CHANGE OF CONDUCT (4:7-11)
1. Paul begins by rebuking them. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves (v. 8); but now . . .(v. 9). He reminds them their change of condition demands a change of conduct.
A. Despite their status as children of God, they revert to what they were to forfeit, trading the rights and privileges of their new life for the bondage of their old life!
B. Paul asks, “Why would you do that? Do you wish to be a slave all over again? I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”
2. He then softens his tone, reminding them of their new status:
A. You are no longer a slave. . .Christ defeated the very sin to which you are reverting. Why insist on living as a slave to unrighteousness, when it is no longer your master?
B. You are a son. . .When Christ redeemed you, God adopted you; Christ vindicated (justified) you before him, declaring you blameless with no debt unpaid. You are a full child, with all the privileges of a child.
C. God has made you an heir. . . a joint heir with Christ, who inherits all things.
(i) It is this promise in particular that should govern your behavior. As joint heirs with Christ, you share in that which is the Father’s.
(ii) The proof of this acceptance is the Holy Spirit, given by the Father as assurance of your inheritance!
(The consequences of this adoption call for a change in one’s conduct.)
IV. APPLICATION: As adopted children of God, we too must change our conduct. It’s time for a new kind of New Year’s resolution. One that will change our lives more significantly than any we could ever imagine. The kind of resolution that boldly acknowledges our status as adopted children.
1. We must live as children of God. Our words, actions and commitments must reflect our family line. We cannot be adopted children of the Most Holy God and live as though we were orphans without any regard for our Father’s wishes.
2. We must live as ones liberated from sin. The incarnate Christ defeated sin on our behalf; therefore, we have an obligation to turn away from the temptations that lead us back to that master. We are no longer slaves.
3. We must prepare to receive our inheritance. Live each day of 2006 as though it was the day Christ would return. Be ready to receive your inheritance; don’t be caught serving the master of your former life when the King of Kings returns.
4. Begin your resolve at the Lord’s Table. We celebrate Holy Communion next Sunday, don’t come as an orphan—come as a child of God. Use this sacrament as an opportunity to state your resolve to the Lord in 2018.
[The Risen Christ empowers us to change. Our change of condition demands a change of conduct. (v. 8ff)]
