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Introduction
In September of 2015, Mary and I were truly blessed when Amber and Erin became part of our family.
It would not be until April of 2016, that their adoption would be final and they would truly become heirs.
In September of 2019, Mary and I would be blessed again with the Kaia, Alissia, and Chloe becoming part of the family.
Would not be until March of 2020, when they would become join heirs with Amber and Erin.
If you will notice, I placed a difference in the steps that followed within the lives of the children as they became part of the family and then heirs.
As we look at our text, we see a few key truths that we must identify this Christmas season.
We need to know that there is a difference between being part of the family of God and being an heir of Jesus Christ.
We need to understand what Christmas is all about.
We need to know and live in the benefits that we have an heirs with Christ.
As we come to our text, we see that Paul was writing to a collective body of churches, thirteen to be specific in the region of Galatia.
His intended purpose was to combat Judaizers who were trying to promote legalism over grace.
Within this portion of his letter to the churches of Galatia, we see that Paul brings about a message, an unlikely Christmas message.
He speaks of the gift of salvation that was afforded to man through the birth of Savior, Jesus Christ.
Focus Passage : Galatians 4:1-7
Outline
What We Were: Children Under Bondage (vv.1-3)
We are all in the same boat without Christ.
We are in the same boat, even as the Jew during Paul’s time without Christ.
We were dead in our trespasses and sin.
Even as new babes in the Lord, we are as those who have not matured and grown in the Lord.
We may be part of the family of God, but there is a difference in being part of the family of God and being a son of God.
As children of God, we are part of the family of God, yet are not able to exercise the full blessing of that relationship.
This is pointed out through Paul’s letter to the church’s of Galatia.
A child is no different than a servant
Paul writes, That the heir, as long as he is child, differeth nothing from a servant.
What does he mean by this.
As a child, although he is heir of all, has all the wealth and power of the father, even ruler of the kingdom, he cannot exercise the rights that come with those privileges.
He has the power, the prestige, and the position, but he cannot take advantage of any of it.
This was a perfect picture of the spiritual condition of the Jews.
They had the rights as children of God, children of Abraham.
They had the privilege of knowing God’s law.
They had the position of being God’s chosen people, yet they were not able to use this advantage.
Why? Because, they as we, are under the bondage of a servant.
A child is under the bondage of a servant
A child, no matter their power, prestige, and position, was under the protection and direction of a servant until they became an adult.
When Paul writes of adoption, this is what is speaking of.
Adoption, when one is adopted within our current culture, they are child.
They come in as a child and are part of the family.
This was not the case in the 1st Century.
The idea for adoption in the Greek is “to place as an adult son”.
One was only part of the family, but did not become an heir until adulthood.
They were under the direction of a servant, which was under the direction of the father, the master of the house.
For the Jew, this was their picture.
It is our picture too.
We are all under the bondage of the law until we accept Christ and mature in Him.
The law is our school master.
The law is that which God uses to teach us right from wrong and reveals to us the need for a genuine relationship with Him.
A child must learn until the time comes
Paul writes, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of this world.
In laymen terms, as Wiersbe writes...
This word elements means the basic principles, the ABCs.
For some fifteen centuries, Israel had been in kindergarten and grade school, learning their “spiritual ABCs,” so that they would be ready when Christ would come
Praise God, some two thousand years ago, He came.
His coming is why we celebrate Christmas.
Let us not forget why Christmas is so important.
What God Did: He Came (vv.4-5)
We must understand the importance of Christmas.
Christmas is one of the most opportune times to share the Gospel message.
Praise God for Christmas.
Praise God for the Son that was given and the Son that was born...
Praise God for the Alpha and Omega...
Within our text Paul identifies four points to remember not only during Christmas but everyday of the year!
4 Points to Remember at Christmas and Beyond
Paul identifies who came, God’s Son
He, who came that blessed Christmas morn, was none other than the Son of God, God sent forth His Son, This was not just another baby being born.
This was God come in the flesh.
This was the wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace spoken of by the prophet Isaiah (Isa.
9:6).
This was the Logos, the Word of God in the flesh (John 1:1-2, 14).
He was incarnation of God, God in the flesh.
As Jesus testified of Himself...
Paul identifies when He came, in God’s Timing
Paul writes, but when the fullness of time was come.
Paul is stating, when God planned for Jesus to come, He came.
Jesus came at the perfect time in history to bring salvation to mankind.
This truth is brought to light within the Holman New Testament Commentary on Galatians.
He came right on schedule, arriving on the earth when the time had fully come.
Some suggest world conditions were ripe for the spread of the gospel.
The Romans had ushered in an era of relative peace through law and order.
Their network of roads made travel more convenient.
Widespread use of the Greek language simplified communication.
At the same time, the proliferation of empty religions among many people created a spiritual hunger for something genuine.
We find similar conditions within our time today.
We live in world with many different religions and a whole grouping of cults and sects.
They all promise the answer, but there is but one answer and that answer is Jesus Christ.
The message of Christmas, is the answer to the question, Jesus Christ’s birth, life, and passion.
We may live in one of the most religious times in history, but as in the times of Jesus’ birth, we live in a time of spiritual bankruptcy.
People need assurance.
People need hope.
People are needing an answer.
There is but one assurance, one hope, and one answer, Jesus Christ.
This truly is what Christmas is all about.
God providing the assurance, the hope, the answer.
He did this through sending His only begotten Son.
He did this be sending His Son, in His timing, according to His plan, and He did His way.
Paul identifies how He came, God’s Way
Jesus being born in Bethlehem was no coincidence.
It was according to Divine providence.
It was according to God’s plan.
Jesus came just way God had always said he would come.
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