Untitled Sermon (4)

Galatians 4:1-7

Paul has transitioned from laying down the truth of the Gospel and helping the Galatian church steer clear of false prophets.

Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.

He explained the difference between following the Law and Grace. You cannot be saved by following the Law. In today’s context, we mean, you cannot be saved through righteous efforts, good deeds.

Regardless of your beliefs about this life, your background, you cannot be saved on self merit. Your beliefs are driven by what you have experienced in this life and your feeling about particular aspects within your life. Some have been in your control and others have not. However, your belief system has been shaped you ultimately need to decide if their is factual basis for your belief system.

If it based on personal preference and feelings, you need to reevaluate those beliefs. Truth cannot be based on feelings and subjective idealism.

Think about it for just a moment.

In the passage we are examining today, Paul discussed what it means to be an heir. Last week we looked at the promise of God, the promise to Abraham that would come to his offspring, Jesus Christ. Since the promise was to Jesus Christ, it is, by birthright, to us as well.

When a child is born, he gains a birthright. Jesus, being God’s first, and only Son, received all the promises and blessings, because he was obedient to death.

Philippians 2:5-11

When we receive the Holy Spirit and righteousness, we have been “born-again.” When we are born, we too, receive the birthright and become heirs to God’s Kingdom. Because we belong to Christ. And when we belong to Christ, there is nothing that can separate us from His love, His grasp.

Galatians 4:1-2

A slave and a child in a household, in the 1st century, were considered the same. They had duties that must be performed. They were under authority within the home and must abide by said authority. This is the Law.

The son, heir has no legal rights yet, since he is a minor. He is lord over the estate and will gain the estate once the Father has died. The estate is his by promise. However, until the time set by the father, the lad is:

“He is put ‘under guardians and trustees’ (rsv, neb), who act as the ‘controllers of his person and property’.1 They order him about, direct and discipline him. He is under restraint. He has no liberty.” - John Stott

Col. 3:20-22

Children’s Role

Father’s Role

Slave’s Role

Deut. 5:16

The Prodigal Son?

The Role of parents is to provide, protect, and discipline.

(Develop this more).

How would authority treat a slave? From a Scriptural POV

A heir, the 1st born son, would be heir to all things from the Father. Until the day he came of age, he would be under a guardian. Someone that watched over, maybe taught him.

While we really do not have this today, it was commonly practiced in the 1st Century and had been for hundreds of years, and would for hundreds more.

When the child came of age, he would not longer be under said guardian. (Age?)

Jesus is God’s only Son, and is heir over everything. (Find supporting verses to show this)

How many of you were a child once?

Did your home have rules?

Maybe you were adopted or were in the foster care system. I am quite certain at some point, you would have to live by the rules of the home, or guardians.

Now, when you followed the rules, did that make you a good child? Did your parents or guardians tell you weer a “good girl” or “good boy?”

Have we made an error by consistently telling our children they are good? When in fact, they are not good. For certain, we can tell them they have done a good job at something, or we are proud of what they done or accomplished.

But, to call them good? Are theology may be misplaced. Now, I am not saying, call them bad. Maybe we just tell them, and show them, how much we love them. When they do something right and when they do something wrong. We correct wrong behavior. But, our love should not change based on the merits of our children.

Everyone is capable of following the Law, following the rules. Even if for a short time. Even those in prison have to follow rules. But, does following the rules make a prisoner a good person?

What made you good? Nothing. Nothing can make you good. You are, by definition, human.

Premise 1: All humans have the capacity to commit sin or wrongdoing.

Premise 2: Sinfulness indicates a deviation from moral goodness.

Conclusion: Therefore, all humans are not good.

Paul Romans 7

There is none Righteous

The Law guarded over mankind, taught him the rules and disciplined him.

2 Tim. 3:16-17

Galatians 4:3

Explains the Metaphor from verses 1-2.

Paul used the pronoun “we.”

Everyone, before they follow Christ are slaves to the world. We are under guardianship to the Law and are held by God’s standards. Regardless of whether or not we agree with them.

Once we accept Christ, we no longer under the guardian of the Law. We have come of age.

We have chosen to become slaves to Christ. Before we had no choice, we were born slaves to sin.

Now, we make a choice to be slaves to Christ.

Do not hinder children from coming to me.

Whoever causes one of these to stumble, it would be better for a millstone to placed around his neck.

Elemental things, the ABC’s, like a child.

Galatians 4:4-5

The fullness of time is God’s perfect timing. There was not a more perfect time that Jesus could have come to the earth.

Talk about disbursement of Gospel.

Acts 2, every nation

Roman Government

Common Language (Koine)

While the Law was still existing

Virgin Woman, Mary, could trace her lineage.

After this time period, there was an explosion of people?

God sent His Son so He could redeem all who are under the Law.

Who is under the Law? All! Romans 3:23

We have been adopted, because we were trapped, held captive under the Law, under sin. Enslaved to the world and its powers that be.

Let us think about that for a moment. What does the world have to offer you?

List that out.

What does God offer? He adopts you into His family. Into His Kingdom. An adoption is official, it has been ratified by promise/covenant.

Unlike children who have been rejected, God wants you. He invites you to His Kingdom.

Galatians 4:6

We have a Spirit that calls to our Father. Longs for our Father.

How many know what is like to have a Father you would cry to, long for, want to be with?

Galatians 4:7

If we are with Christ, we are now heirs. We are no longer slaves to the world, to sin, to the Law. We have an inheritance that awaits us.

What is that inheritance?

We get to be with Christ. Being with Him is the prize.

We get to gain eternity.

In eternity there is no pain, sin, death