Who Is A Son Of God? Series

Who is a son of God?

Galatians, Part 7

Galatians 3:26 – 4:7

Open to Galatians 3 … Place holder at Romans 8

Introduction

- Purpose of the letter:

1. To teach

2. To correct

3. To point us to Jesus

- The Law was given to bring God’s people back to Himself because we strayed

- The Law shows us the sovereignty of God by giving us Grace through Jesus

-- This brings us into a place of reconciliation in 2 different ways as a creation

-- 1. We must (v22) be reconciled to Christ and accept His death for our sins

-- 2. The Law is given (v24) to reveal to us our NEED for a Savior, who is Jesus

- Read Galatians 3:26 - 4:7

- Pray

∆ Point 1 - Who is a Son of God?

- Paul does a reminder here of simple Christianity, simple yet … often missed

-- HUGE: There is no difference in any person if they are found in Christ

-- This is a great application light for 2015 in when race/class/etc. comes up

- Last week we discussed the revelation of the promise:

- (v21-22) God could not give us a law that justified us; else He would have

- Here is the fulfillment of the promise:

• IF you belong to Christ …

• IF Christ resides in your heart as Lord …

- APP: Then you are part of the promise of the seed; which is life giving for all

- So, who are the sons (and daughters) of God?

• Those in the faith (Those who have placed their faith in Jesus)

- IMP: Without Jesus, there is no heir, no sonship, nothing … except separation

- There is an underlying warning about prideful actions …

-- Even as an heir; we cannot get a big head - we must be under submission

-- There is a direct line of submission here to the Master

-- Romans 2:11, “… God does not show favoritism” (no respecter of persons)

- This is just like how we are under the submission of rulers here on Earth

-- Supervisors, government leaders, those God has put us under (even pastors)

-- We have to obey the One who is responsible for the whole estate

-- APP: We can’t place ourselves over God - EVER … leads to dangerous ground

- TRANS: IF we are sons/daughters of God, then what does that mean for us?

∆ Point 2 – From slave to heir

- There is no difference in a slave or an underage heir, we all must submit to Him

- There was, however, nothing that we could do without God’s intervention

-- When God’s time had fully come; He sent us His Son to redeem us (v4)

-- Why? Simply because there was nothing else that we could do 

- (v5) God had to provide a way in order that we might be redeemed

-- Without redemption, we cannot fully receive what God has for us …

- (v6) Paul shows us a very critical stance that we must adopt

-- The Spirit cries out to God, the Creator, because we are sons of God

-- Abba, Father, or dear daddy, is the cry of our hearts because of our weaknesses

- AN: Think of a child who has fallen down; he wants a parent to come and rescue

-- The child cries because of his helplessness; we too ought were once helpless

-- This is the exact stance that God had to take with us; to rescue us; deliver/save

- Turn to Romans 8

∆ CHANGE SLIDE

- Romans 8:14-17 says, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

- All that are Christ’s are taken in as Children of God (v14)

-- They are led by the Spirit of God, as a scholar in his learning is led by his tutor

-- It is the undoubted character of all true believers that they are led by the Spirit

- Having submitted themselves in believing to his guidance:

-- We become sons of God, received as God’s child by His adoption

-- We are owned and loved by him as his children (it’s why we cry “Father”)

- We are not slaves (v15) by fear or any other control methods