The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 4:1-7 - Message 11 – The Transformation – Slaves; Sons; Heirs; Joint Heirs With Christ Series

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 4:1-7 - MESSAGE 11 – THE TRANSFORMATION – SLAVES; SONS; HEIRS; JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST

Just to recap briefly. Paul had to write to the Galatians, quite annoyed that the Christians there had been deceived by false teachers claiming that the keeping of the Law must be added to their faith. In this letter Paul was developing reasons why it by faith alone that one stands in Christ. He has been explaining the promises given to Abraham and the superiority of those over the Law.

Now we look at that from a different angle as Paul develops this position of justification through faith alone and not though Law.

[A]. THE HEIR IN WAITING

{{Galatians 4:1 “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,”}}

Until the set or declared day, there is no difference between the heir and slave. The kids may play together, the heir and the slave, on the estate just like a group of children until such a time when the positions are defined. The royal prince and the royal kitchen hand just to give an example. When the day comes all will change. In the ancient world there were no schools as we know them but guardians and teachers, even one on one for certain life cultures. The Greeks and Romans had pedagogues for their children’ instruction. Under the Law up until the cross the keepers of the Law were like children bound by world simplicities.

[B]. HELD IN BONDAGE BY THE WORLD

{{Galatians 4:2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father,

Galatians 4:3 so also we, while we were children, were HELD IN BONDAGE under the elemental things of the world,”}}

We are speaking about the heir here as a child. His time has not yet come so as verse 1 says, there is no difference in all the kids together. However there are watchful eyes over the child making sure the son is safe and progressing towards maturity.

In a special sense that is how we are now in the world. We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ but each of us has a date set by the Father when we come into our inheritance. It may be through the door of death when the person is instantly translated from this earthly existence into the presence of the Son of God in glory – {{2Corinthians 5:7-8 “for we walk by faith, not by sight - we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND TO BE AT HOME WITH THE LORD.”}} OR it will come in the Rapture – {{1Corinthians 15:54 but when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.”}}

What a glorious inheritance we have, set by God, actually redeemed by God through the cross. No matter what pain you might be going through, the physical suffering and endurance, you have a royal inheritance with the King of glory and when He calls you home He will be there to welcome you into His glorious presence – {{Titus 3:5-7 “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace WE MIGHT BE MADE HEIRS according to the hope of eternal life.”}}

In Galatians 4:3 Paul says we were held in bondage by the world and this means the world had an unbreakable hold on us (while unsaved). When we look at the faces of people in the street or in a gathering who are unsaved we can think, “All these people are in bondage.” That is not harsh or judgmental; it is merely what the bible says. Sin has such a hold it does not want to release that person and that is the bondage. Some people are in very great bondage such as those who are considered irredeemable drunkards or those who are demon possessed and we read of those in the Gospels. However the blood of Christ breaks every bondage.

[C]. BORN UNDER THE LAW TO REDEEM THOSE UNDER THE LAW TO ADOPTION TO SONSHIP

{{Galatians 4:4 but [[when the fullness of the time came,]] [[God sent forth His Son,]] [[born of a woman,]] [[born under the Law,]]

Galatians 4:5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”}}