Gal 3:23-4:11

INTRO

Main Idea: God has graciously adopted us, giving us the position of sons and the privileges of sonship.

PRAYER

A - Oh God of Abraham you are the Rock of ages, the LORD God almighty, you are the creator and sustainer of the universe. You are all powerful, all knowing, Holy and righteous. You are a refuge for your people and a fortress of salvation.

C - Lord we confess that we will often trade our new identity for our old one. We confess that we will often turn back to the worthless things in this life rather than turning to you.

T - Thank you for your patience Lord. Thank you for setting us free and giving us an inheritance.

S - Father help us to live more like sons and daughters and less like slaves. Let us not just hear the word today but help us to apply it. Grant us the filling of your Spirit and teach our hearts to cry out to you.

MESSAGE

Salvation: Deliverance from the power and effects of sin.

Justification: We are right before the judge.

Adoption: We are loved by and given a new identity from the Father.

Redeem: To buy back, to free from captivity by payment of ransom.

Galatians 3:23–24 ESV

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Before Faith - captive / imprisoned / guardian - under law

Until Christ - in order to be - justified by faith

Galatians 3:25–26 ESV

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

BUT NOW / contrast = Faith/Christ = no longer = guardian…

Roman culture… 25yrs = manhood

Galatians 3:27–29 ESV

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Baptism = not saving / representation… Put on Christ = change / transformation

Scriptural inheritance in christ… miss-use of this text

Christ = Abraham = Heirs ----> promise

Galatians 4:1–2 ESV

1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

Heir - Child (owner of everything) = slave

What you eat / where you go / what you wear / what you do / when you do it…

Until - set date

Galatians 4:3 ESV

3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

In the same way = likewise

elementary - simple, standard, childish

firstly the natural law

secondly the mosaic law

thirdly the spiritual forces

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Fulness of time ??

Jewish law bankrupt

Roman law bankrupt

False gods bankrupt

common language

travel

4B = huge - HIS son / born under Woman / born under Law

full God

full man

promises fulfilled

covenant kept

To REDEEM ----> those under law-----> receive adoption = sons

Galatians 4:6–7 ESV

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Because Sons ----> Spirit of Son ----> Hearts = crying out

Abba = daddy.... a small child… intimate

emotional connection

Father = Pater.... a man to his father.... respect/honor

logical connection

Jesus using in the garden before crucifixion

No longer a slave !!

Galatians 4:8 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

Demonic principalities and powers in this present evil age.

Formerly…

Galatians 4:9 ESV

9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

You know God… He knows you.... Why turn back?

weak, worthless, elementary… jewish law, legalism

Galatians 4:10–11 ESV

10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Observation of Days - Sabbaths, Feasts, new moons, seasons, years

Paul take personal offense at this

MESSAGE

4 new experiences and 3 Instant inheritances 2 serious warnings 1 wonderful truth

4 New Experiences

A New Freedom

Gal 3.25 “25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,”

Captive / imprisoned / guardian - no more we are now free !!

Free to chose right or wrong - slave to sin, blind, dead

Free to worship God -

Free to love and be loved

Would you who are free go back to slavery?

Gal 5.1 “1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

freedom from Religion - Relationship

Justification - courtroom illustration

A New Fellowship

Gal 3.28 “28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Family / Body

All that the world says should separate is not to be what separates us

A New Future

Gal 3.29 “29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Grafted into the promises of Abraham

Guaranteed a future by Christ

Growing in our application of this identity eventually finding fullness in heaven

A New Father

Gal 3.26 “26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

1 John 3:9–10 “9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

The Child is like the Father

3 Instant Inheritances

Instant Endorsement - Position

Gal 3.27 “27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

support, back, advocate, champion

At the moment that Elisa told me she was pregnant I was a father!

At the moment you believed you were His child

Instant Enablement - Power

Gal 4.5 “5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

authorize, sanction, license, qualify

At the moment my child cried I was there to hear!

From the moment we are His we are able to cry to Him and He will hear.

Instant Entitlement - Provision

Gal 4.7 “7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

empower, allow, permit

At the moment my child was born they were entitled to all that I have as a father!

at the moment of your salvation you are entitled to all that God gives His children.

2 Serious Warnings

A Freedom Missed

Gal 4.8 “8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.”

Christ is the only way to freedom ! - Don’t miss this freedom !

A Freedom Misused

Gal 4.9 “9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?”

freedom misused in legalism

freedom misused in liberalism

1 Wonderful Truth

Gal 4.6 “6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!””

John 8:35–36 ESV

35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This Is Your Eternal Identity!

Through Christ God has graciously adopted us, giving us the position of sons and the privileges of sonship.

CLOSE

PRAYER

GROUP QUESTIONS

What’s the difference between being justified and being adopted?

What does the timing of Christ’s coming teach you about God’s providence in the world and in redemption? Did Jesus come at just the right time? Explain.

Could anyone other than Jesus have reconciled us to God? Explain your answer.

How might seeing one’s fundamental identity as biological undermine the gospel? Why would this have been a strong temptation for Jews in Paul’s day?

Identify the problem with the following statement: “God adopts us because we deserve a better life.”

How should the new identity of a follower of Christ affect his or her battle with sin? What about fear? Covetousness? Divisiveness? Why should the doctrine of adoption inspire greater prayer and deeper worship?

How would you respond to someone who said that God is the Father of everyone, regardless of their faith?

Does intimacy with God as your Father naturally lead to a low or irreverent view of God? Explain.

How should the doctrine of adoption impact the way we view others in the church? Do you think most people in your church view the church as a family, an event, or a building? Why?

Paul speaks of the inheritance believers receive by virtue of their adoption. List some of these privileges.