It was April 17, 1957 at 12:05 a.m. in a hospital in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A baby boy was born to Charles and Betty Nance. He was their first born son. Three years earlier they had a daughter, and five and seven years later they would have two more boys. This is my family.
You know, I had no choice in the matter of who my mom and dad would be. I had no choice over whether I was male or female. My race, nationality, cultural context, date of birth, genetic make up, and a host of other factors that make up my identity were totally outside of my control. In fact, it would be correct to say that all of the main factors determining the greatest part of what made me who I am were beyond my personal power. Even my religious shaping throughout my most formative years was given to me without my direction or consent.
Think about it. How much of your identity is caught up in who is your family. Someone has well said, “Where you came from determines to a large degree where you are going.” Suppose you were born of a slave. Where would you be today? On the other hand, suppose you grew up a slave and a king found you and loved you and decided to adopt you into his family. What impact would that have?
Galatians 4 is all about just these things. It’s about moving from slavery to freedom by birth, adoption and parenthood. Paul even talks about experiencing birth pains with those he addresses until Christ is formed in you.
Let’s look at this chapter in three sections.
1-11 Redeemed, adopted and inspired, vs enslaved.
12-20 A perplexed Paul’s personal plea.
21-31 In Christ, we are born of a free Mother!
Since this entire chapter has one focus, we will spend the most of our time on this first section.
In these verses there is an interesting parallel painted between the Jewish state under the Law and the Gentile state under idolatry. Look at verses 1-3 and 8-9 once more.
Jewish state before Christ: 1 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,
2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.
3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
Gentile state before Christ: 8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?
Notice that when Paul describes the slave master of the Jews and again the master for the Gentiles, he uses the same wording: “Elemental things of the world” and “weak and worthless elemental things.” These weak and worthless elemental things he’s talking about are the Jewish Laws and idolatry! He is not saying that the Old Testament is bad, but that since Jesus Christ has come, returning to it FOR SALVATION is paramount to idolatry! It is slavery under a guardian and manager after the Father has removed its authority and given you the inheritance. It is like abandoning the inheritance and seeking to be under them again.
Between these two parallel statements is a powerful statement in verses 4-7 which reminds them and us of our redemption, adoption and the gift of the Spirit within our hearts.
4 But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,
5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Just look at this and think about the incredible blessings God has given us!
We couldn’t get to him so he came to us! Jesus, the Son of God, born of a woman, born under the Law… Jesus is not a man who somehow became God. Jesus is God who by grace became a man. Jesus is not a King’s Son who lived above the Law. Jesus is the Word of God, the Law giver who came and submitted himself to the Law, living under it faithfully and then paying the price for our breaking it. Jesus redeems us by paying the legal price for us. We receive the adoption as sons of God, Jesus receives the punishment for our sinfulness. As sin offering, Jesus died on the cross. Through his grace, as redeemed, adopted sons of God, we are given the Spirit by which we call on God as “Abba! Father!” Slavery is removed and gone. As sons we are heirs of heaven’s glories through God.
Why would anyone want to return to slavery again?
Simple. Children of God are not welcome guests in this world. We may not be slaves, but we live among those who are. And, get this… There are two extremes to draw us back into slavery. One is a religious legalistic enslavement, the other is an irreligious, godless enslavement. Both are equally enslavement away from God’s grace but one has the form of godliness and the other sees morality as a matter of human choice and opinion. On the irreligious side, look at what is happening in the entertainment, educational and political circles today and you see the darkness of godlessness. This darkness sparkles with sin. Many of those enslaved here don’t want freedom from darkness. In fact, our freedom and sonship in Christ and our confession of his Lordship is an affront to the lives and life-styles of those enslaved in sin. They prefer to comfort themselves in their slavery that brings death than to embrace the grace of God that brings them freedom and eternal life. These who embrace the pleasures of passion and immorality mock and scoff at those of us who are free in Christ and who walk in the Spirit of Christ. It may be tempting to put back on the garments of sinful slavery than to endure the insults of Christ.
The temptation here for the child of God who has been set free from sin is to revert back to a sinful life, one without the law or the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
On the other hand, this sinful lifestyle is not the only slavery. There is the religious legalistic bondage that may actually be more attractive to the Christian looking for boundaries and measures of performance that give self security in self performance. Instead of walking in the Spirit and enjoying the power of God’s grace working within, legalistic righteousness is the fleshly desire to know when I have given enough, served enough, done enough, worshipped enough, etc. How do I compare with so and so? I measure myself by a legal standard that says, “I’ve done my religious duty and I am thereby secure.” In other words, my salvation is no longer about Jesus Christ crucified for my sins, buried and raised from the dead. It is about my performance of the commandments. I know I am saved because I keep the commandments. Not because God in grace adopted me into his family and gave me His Spirit, but because I am doing what I am required to do according to the legal requirements of the church. I am a good person. I keep the Law.
This all sounds very righteous and holy. Actually, it is a rejection of grace and sonship in Christ and a return to slavery. It may even have the appearance of godliness, but it is not about salvation through God and His work in me, for me, through me, but about salvation by my work for him. Can you see this? This creates pride and self-righteousness instead of humility and servant-hood. It is a slavery that causes strife and competition instead of love and compassion.
Am I saying that you don’t have to do anything to be saved? No, I’m saying that you can’t save yourself. You can’t be good enough. You can’t earn your security in Christ. You can’t adopt yourself into God’s family. You can’t give yourself the Holy Spirit. Your salvation is a gift. Free. You don’t give yourself spiritual birth, God does. You don’t wash off your sins, Jesus blood does. You don’t redeem yourself, Jesus does.
Your job is to hear with faith. Your part in this is to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and receive his grace and redemption and walk by the Spirit as free sons of God.
You say, “What about baptism?” Don’t you have to be baptized to be saved? Look back at chapter 3:27-28. In baptism you do nothing. You submit to something done to you. God does the forgiving, cleansing, and clothing you in Christ and gives you the gift of the Holy Spirit. God seals you with the Spirit and adopts you into His family. God calls you, redeems you, justifies you, sanctifies you, and glorifies you. What do you do? Allow your body to be lowered as in a grave and raised up like Jesus was raised. Jesus does a spiritual operation and washes you in his blood. Just because God does this at baptism doesn’t mean you’ve done anything except receive these blessings. There is no spiritual authority in water. All the authority in heaven and on earth is in Christ. He’s the one who said, “Go make disciples baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.”
When a person is baptized into Christ do we celebrate the baptism or the salvation and new life God graciously given. When a baby is born we don’t celebrate the delivery, we rejoice in the baby! Only God can put a sinner under water and bring up a saint. Only God can take slaves of sin and set us free in Christ. Praise the name of the Lord!
Let’s move along in the text. Listen to the parental appeal of Paul’s plea.
12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;
13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time;
14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness, that if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out, in order that you may seek them.
18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you--
20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
How do you talk to those you love who are turning away from Christ? What do you say? Notice first of all that when Paul first shared the gospel with them he was sick. His sickness was a trial to them. Was he coughing a lot or something? He says that they received him as an angel of God or as Christ Jesus himself! Wow! These are welcoming people! Perhaps that is part of their problem. They have also welcomed these Judaizing teachers.
Verse 15 has an important question. Where is that sense of blessing you had? NIV says, “Where is your joy?” There is no joy in slavery. Perhaps there is fleshly pleasure or prideful self-righteousness, but not joy.
Nothing is as sad and painful as seeing someone you love turn away from the faith and leave their relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul is perplexed!
Interestingly, as a final argument to convince them not to return to the slavery of the law Paul turns to an allegory from the law.
21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?
22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.
24 This is allegorically speaking: for these women are two covenants, one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar.
25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.
26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.
27 For it is written, "REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND."
28 And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.
29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
30 But what does the Scripture say? "CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN."
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
Who’s your mother?
Let’s sum up the chapter with this application:
What were you enslaved to before Jesus set you free? Don’t go back!
God’s children were set free from Egyptian bondage and within a short while they wanted to return to Egypt!
In Jesus Christ, we are set free from bondage to sin and the Law. God gives us forgiveness, freedom, adoption and an eternal glorious heritage in Jesus Christ! While we live among an enslaved society, do not listen to the call to return to slavery! Remember who your mother is! Remember who your Father is! Remember who your Redeemer is! Remain in Him and rejoice in the freedom he gives!
One more thing… As I look at my life I have to ask the question: Why was I so blessed? Why was I born into a faithful household where Christian parents brought me up to love the Lord and enjoy his grace? Why?
Jesus said, “To whom much is given, much will be required.”
God has given me this blessing so that I will go after those who do not have it! Just as Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost, all of us who enjoy the blessing of freedom in Christ are called to seek and save the lost and set the captives free! It is not without purpose or cause that we have been so blessed. May we also be faithful to the call and cause of Christ and go forth proclaiming the freedom of the Lord that is available to all.
You may not have chosen the blessings you enjoy, but you do have a choice about how you will use them.
Don’t go back to slavery. Share the freedom Jesus brings!
