Sons and Daughters

Sons and Daughters - Galatians 4:1-7 October 15, 2023 Pastor David Platt, in his book, Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live tells the story of when he and his wife, Heather, adopted their son, Caleb. Here is what he had to say about the experience: The parallels between Caleb's story and the gospel story are many, but I want to point out one that is particularly significant. Adoption like this begins with a parent's initiative, not a child's idea. Before Caleb was even born in Kazakhstan, he had a mom and a dad working to adopt him. While Caleb was lying alone at night in an orphanage in Kazakhstan, he had a mom and a dad planning to adopt him. And one day when Caleb was placed in the arms of his mom and dad, he had no idea all that had been done, completely apart from any initiative in him, to bring him to that point...this precious ten-month-old boy did not invite us to come to him in Kazakhstan to bring him into our family; he didn't even know to ask for such a thing. No, this orphaned child became our cherished son because of a love that was entirely beyond his imagination and completely outside of his control. He did not pursue us, for he was utterly unable to do so. Instead, we pursued him. As we get back into Galatians after a week off to observe the Lord's Supper, Paul continues to teach us on the concept of being adopted as sons and daughters into the family of God. As Platt points out, this was not our work, but the work of the Father. Let's read Galatians 4:1-7 and see what he has to say: 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. 3 IN THE SAME WAY WE ALSO, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WERE ENSLAVED TO THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD. 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. 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. Recall that Paul was writing to the southern regions of Galatia to mostly Gentile Christians. He writes to them as he was defending his apostleship and the Gospel that he preached - which, he contends, came directly from Christ Himself. The local churches were being manipulated by a group called the Judaizers, who were teaching that Christians needed to effectively become Jewish through circumcision and the keeping of the law. Paul uses several examples to describe the teaching of justification by faith through Christ. One of those examples is what the law really does, which is restrict us and holds us captive. Because of this, as we saw a couple of weeks ago, in Christ, we are adopted into the family of God and are heirs of the promise to Abraham. Paul expands on that thought which we saw back in chapter 3, namely verse 29 which reads: AND IF YOU ARE CHRIST'S, THEN YOU ARE ABRAHAM'S OFFSPRING, HEIRS ACCORDING TO PROMISE. And as we saw a couple of weeks ago, Paul likes to use personal and known examples as he addresses the church's needs. Here, Paul continues his thought of the heir to the promise. Let's identify our main idea, then we'll address some reminders from Paul in respects to our past, current, and future status as adopted sons and daughters: As sons and daughters, we enjoy a personal relationship with God. Paul describes this in three ways: * First, by reminding us of WHO WE WERE (1-3) o Paul first uses the example of a child. * It's that old adage, "if you're under my roof, you abide by my rules" * Paul, again, is piggybacking off of his example from chapter 3 where Paul calls the law a "guardian" * Recall, as territories in Galatia during that time, they were likely under Roman rule. * In Rome during that period, the child was under the guardian until he was old enough to move onto the next stage of his life. Paul here speaks of the period of his independence, or in this case, access to his inheritance. * Effectively, the child in his father's home was restricted and guarded until the right time. * That time, of course, was not determined by the child, but the father. o Next, Paul compares that child to a slave. * Now, obviously Paul is using the example of a child and a slave to illustrate their bondage to their father or master. * More specifically, Paul is reminding them that they were once under - or a slave to the law. * Paul makes an interesting statement in verse 3 to describe what they were following: IN THE SAME WAY WE ALSO, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WERE ENSLAVED TO THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD. * Some of your bibles may have a footnote for the phrase "elementary principles" for its literal translation of: "elemental spirits" * This phrase could be interpreted two ways: * First, the term may be referring to some sort of demonic influence, or * Second - and most likely - as a reference to the basic religious teaching. o It's the ABC's of the teachings. And with the alphabet - which is fundamental - we move on from there, expanding our vocabulary, knowledge, and mastery of the language. o Similar to how the writer of Hebrews described it in Hebrews 5:12 when he says: 12 FOR THOUGH BY THIS TIME YOU OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS, YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TEACH YOU AGAIN THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD. YOU NEED MILK, NOT SOLID FOOD, o So, what can we apply from this section, where we further understand who we were before Christ? * Don't return to your old life. o I read a story of an old schoolteacher who lost her whole life savings on a get rich quick scheme. She finally - as a last resort - reported the company to the Better Business Bureau. When they were speaking to her, they asked "haven't you heard of us? Why are you just now reporting this?" She responded: "if I did, you would have told me not to invest." o You see, she knew, just like these Christians knew that they didn't need to add to the Gospel to be saved, but they were instead manipulated to go against what the gospel taught to them had already made clear. o This wasn't unique to the Galatians, in fact, we saw this same issue when we studied Hebrews and Colossians. o For some reason or another, we tend to want to go back to the old way of doing things when it seems easier to do so. o Maybe things aren't going your way. o Maybe you can't seem to shake that pestering sin in your life. o Paul is reminding us that we can't give up on God, as He may be allowing you to go through something in your life for a number of reasons. * Maybe He wants you to go through the trial so you can bless others who will go through it later * Maybe He's testing your faith and desires you to draw nearer to Him * Whatever the reason, I know for certain that you cannot return to your old ways. * Next, Paul reminds us WHAT GOD DID (4-5) ... first, o God sent His Son. * Look again at verse 4, not only did God send His Son, He sent Him when? WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME HAD COME * What does this mean? * Simply, in God's perfect timing, He sent His Son. * I'm reminded of Romans 5:8 when Paul says; BUT GOD SHOWS HIS LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. * In other words, when we needed Him most, He sent His Son. * So, that's the basic understanding of this. * But the historical context is really interesting. * There's a lot of possible reasons why this was the perfect historical time for Jesus to come to the earth, but I'll give you only three ... o Roads. Roads had recently been constructed; and these roads connected many cities together, allowing for growth in commerce, travel, and eventually missionary work for the early Church. Similarly, boats and ships allowed for travel, commerce, and the sharing of the Gospel beyond the normal reach. Next, o Greek. Greek had become the universal language, so the verbal spread of the Gospel would be much easier for the evangelists and missionaries. Then finally, o The Pax Romana. Or the "Roman peace" where the Romans were permissive about religion as long as they didn't cause any issues, leading to the relative acceptance of the spread of the Good News. * Paul is simply stating that God choose this period to send His Son. Not as a reactionary response, but a purposefully determined period. One that would benefit a people in need, and would allow for the spread of the Gospel. And He will do it again at Christ's second coming. o Secondly, o Christ redeemed us through His death. * That word "redeemed" is an accounting term. * It means that Christ paid the debt in full. He paid the price that we could never repay. * Paul could have left right there. But instead, he made special note to remind us that Christ was born of a woman, born under the law. * Don't overlook this. Jesus had to follow the law, just like everyone else. * But, because He is God, it was easy for Him, right? * No. Remember Matthew 4 when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness after He fasted for 40 days? Was that easy for Him? No, I can prove it too: Matthew 4:11 reads: THEN THE DEVIL LEFT HIM, AND BEHOLD, ANGELS CAME AND WERE MINISTERING TO HIM. * Satan came to Jesus when He was most vulnerable. * He was tempted in His human form, just like you and I, the writer of Hebrews confirms this in Hebrews 4:15: FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO SYMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT ONE WHO IN EVERY RESPECT HAS BEEN TEMPTED AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN. * So, you see, Jesus was able to keep the law perfectly through everything that you and I are tempted with. And because of that, He was the only one who was worthy and able to pay the debt. * But what is the significance of being born to a woman? Why not the man? The reason for this is because Adam takes the responsibility for the first sin. Paul explains this in Romans 5:12 when he says; THEREFORE, JUST AS SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND SO DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN BECAUSE ALL SINNED * In other words, like a genetic disorder, sin is passed from the man to the child, so Jesus could not be born through the genetic disorder of sin through the man. He had to be born as a human, without the disease of sin. * If nothing else, Paul is emphasizing he human nature of Christ, and how that uniquely qualified Him for the task of Redeemer. * So, what can we learn from God's work? o Trust God's timing. * This requires patience, which is difficult for us. * We need to trust that God knows what He is doing, that He is in complete control. * I think Peter said it best in 2 Peter 3:9; THE LORD IS NOT SLOW TO FULFILL HIS PROMISE AS SOME COUNT SLOWNESS, BUT IS PATIENT TOWARD YOU, NOT WISHING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD REACH REPENTANCE. * There is no reason for us to doubt that at the fullness of time, Jesus will return for His church. * So, if you're waiting ... continue to wait. * If you're praying ... continue to pray. * If you're trusting ... continue to trust. * Finally, God reminds us WHO WE ARE NOW (6-7): o Paul gives us three things that we are now, in Christ: * We are redeemed. * We saw this a few moments ago, but who couldn't use another reminder that we are justified by grace, through faith in Jesus. * Paul continues, and reminds us that ... * We received the Holy Spirit. * Verse 6 is really cool, as we see all three members of the Godhead at work in our lives as followers of Jesus. * By the Spirit living inside us, we are in fellowship directly with God. * Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:4 that we are PARTAKERS OF DIVINE NATURE. * So, in effect, when the believer goes back to the law, he is denying the divine nature within us. * Jesus, before He left, promised the Holy Spirit. Just as we saw earlier with the fullness of time for Christ's first coming, allowing for the spread of the Good News, this too gives us a path to share the Good News anywhere, as He lives in us. o So wherever you are, you too can share the Good News * Finally, as Paul has been addressing in the last couple of passages ... * We are sons and daughters. * This is that future aspect we've talked about. * The inheritance belongs to us, but we have yet to fully receive it until He calls us home. * We are adopted into the family of God. * As we learned a couple of weeks ago, as sons and daughters of God, we have been given full access to the inheritance and promises of God. * That friends, allows us to ... * Enjoy a close, personal relationship with God. o That term, "Abba, Father" has been interpreted in a few ways. Many of us understand "Abba" to mean "Daddy." o Really, it's just an intimate form of the word "Father" o What is does is emphasize our personal closeness to Him as a result of our faith. o This closeness allows us to enjoy the relationship. o Recall, Paul has been talking about how the law holds us captive, and here he says that not only are we free from that, but we are also loved and taken into God's family as a result of faith. And that's why we said this morning: As sons and daughters, we enjoy a personal relationship with God. Think about all we talked about this morning. We are the beneficiaries of all that Christ did. He lived a perfect life. He died, paying our penalty. He resurrected to be victorious over death, and now, the Bibe says He is preparing a place for us right now. Isn't that something!? Jesus did all the work, and we get to benefit from it. In this passage alone, we've seen what He has done. He has transformed us from slaves to freemen. He has redeemed us before God. He gave us the Holy Spirit. Finally, He has called us sons and daughters. So, we respond by staying close to the Lord, and not turning back. By trusting God at His word, because He has been faithful. And by enjoying that personal relationship that we have as His children. Sounds pretty good to me. How about you? Let's Pray. 2