Sons, Equals, & Heirs

Welcome & Opening Prayer

Turn to Gal. CH. 3… v23

Happy Mother’s Day!!

!! Open in Prayer !!

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I. Introduction

MUCH of the WORLD is DIVIDED UP INTO HIERARCHIES of SOME SORT…

COMPANIES CAN HAVE ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS — WHO is the BOSS// WHO is ACCOUNTABLE to WHOM

**ORGANIZATION BASED on ROLE CAN BE HELPFUL—

— BUT HIERARCHIES REGARDING VALUE,, NOT SO MUCH**

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SOCIAL/CULTURAL CONSTRUCTS:

PEOPLE BETTER BASED on:

WEALTH

RACE

GENDER

**AMERICAN LIFE—PENDULUM HAS SWUNG TOO FAR**

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DO HIERARCHIES MATTER in the KINGDOM?

IF SO… HOW SO?

Focus: TODAY—APOSTLE PAUL is GOING to UNPACK THIS IDEA—

— CONTINUE HIS ARGUMENT THAT PROMISE is GREATER THAN LAW…

&& HOW ONE BECOMES an HEIR of THAT PROMISE

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Transition ➡ READING PASSAGE…

V23-29

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II. Passage Reading:

Galatians 3:23–29 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. 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. 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.

Church this is God’s Word for us this morning.

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III. Context Recap

MOVING FROM: DEFENDING GOSPEL

TO: “N.T. GOSPEL = FULFILLMENT of O.T. PROMISE”

#1 JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH = ROOTED in O.T.

Genesis 15:6 ESV

6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

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#2 PROMISE PRECEDES LAW — 430 YRS!!

COVENANT W/ ABRAHAM = NOT ANNULABLE

GOD “GRACED” INHERITANCE to ABRAHAM BY PROMISE.

LAW CAN’T OVERRIDE PROMISE

**ENDED: LAW IMPRISONED THINGS in SIN—BUT COULDN’T OPEN the DOOR.**

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Transition ➡ EXACTLY WHERE WE’RE GOING to PICK UP

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 23

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IV. Passage Exposition

1. The Prison of the Law (v23)

Galatians 3:23 ESV

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

Explanation: OUTSIDE of CHRIST— WE ARE “IN ADAM, IN SIN”

Illustration, Bad News: SIN = DARK DUNGEON

LAW BROUGHT LIGHT—AWARENESS— TO SITUATION

**DIDN’T RESOLVE the PROBLEM**

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Good News: LAW = INTENDED to BE TEMPORARY INSTALLMENT.

**V23B UNTIL the COMING FAITH WOULD BE REVEALED**

Takeaway: MOSAIC LAW GOVERNED GOD’S PEOPLE from PROMISE to FULFILLMENT (CHRIST)

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Transition ➡ PRISON METAPHOR NOT HELPFUL?

PAUL OFFERS ANOTHER.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 24

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2. The Law as Guardian (v24)

Galatians 3:24 ESV

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

LAW’S GOVERNANCE likened to “GUARDIAN” or “SCHOOLMASTER”

Historical Background: Paidagogos

1ST CENTURY SLAVE/HOUSEHOLD SERVANT

OVERSAW:

a CHILD’S JOURNEY to SCHOOL

MANNERS

SCHOOLWORK

Takeaway: this “GUARDIAN” = BABYSITTER.

Quote, Schreiner, In other words, what comes to the forefront … is the interim character of the law.

ANOTHER SCHOLAR AGREES—ALSO NOTES INCLUSION of “SUPERVISORY ROLE”

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BABYSITTERS AREN’T NEEDED for ADULTS… SHOULDN’T BE!

IDEA: REDEMPTIVE HISTORY HADN’T “COME OF AGE” in CHRIST.

Galatians 4:4 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

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LAW GUIDED US ALONG—SO THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED in CHRIST

#1 WE CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED BY LAW—ONLY REVEALS OUR NEED

CURSED BE EVERYONE WHO DOESN’T DO 100% (v10)

**NEED for SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM**

#2 THIS NEED BRINGS US to CHRIST ((THROUGH FAITH)) —ONLY SOURCE of JUSTIFICATION

Takeaway: LAW = GUIDE to BRING US SAFELY to CHRIST

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Transition ➡ GUARDIAN’S ROLE ISN’T FOREVER

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 25-26

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3. Sons of God in Christ (v25–26)

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.

**ONE SENSE—REDEMPTIVE HISTORY “COMES OF AGE”

**SECOND SENSE—WE BECOME CHILDREN of GOD BY FAITH

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Exhortation: Children of God

NO LONGER the GUARDIAN FOR/BECAUSE...

… IN CHRIST WE’RE ALL SONS of GOD

Exhort: PRESENT-TENSE REALITY: YOU ALL ARE (RIGHT NOW!!) SONS of GOD

THIS BLESSING = “IN CHRIST” //THROUGH CHRIST

WE’RE NOT “IN ADAM” as OUR REPRESENTATIVE HEAD

BUT NOW “IN CHRIST”

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Exhortation: Dangers of Familiarity

WE CANNOT TAKE THESE THINGS for GRANTED

Great Problem: LENGTH of FAITH CAN LEAD to FAMILIARITY

UNMOVED

“GOOD NEWS” BECOMES “OLD NEWS”

Ref. Adoniram Judson ((THEY’D HEARD IT BEFORE!))

**IT DOESN’T GET MORE EXCITING THAN the GOSPEL**

SINNER to SAINT

RAISE from DEATH to LIFE

ALIEN to CHILD

WITHOUT HOPE—TO KNOWING the ONE WHO IS HOPE.

1 John 3:1 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

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Transition ➡ MIND-BOGGLING,,, GOD CALLS US INTO HIS FAMILY.

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3b. Gospel Invitation: As many as received Him (John 1:12)

Apostle John: John 1:11

John 1:11 ESV

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

WITH CHRIST’S REJECTION BY JEWS—MESSAGE GOES to GENTILES

CHRIST = HOPE FOR ALL…

John 1:12–13 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

GOD BRINGS ABOUT NEW BIRTH… for ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUST in CHRIST

BRINGS US INTO HIS FAMILY—ON CHRIST’S MERIT NOT OUR OWN!

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WE CANNOT BE SAVED BY OUR OWN DOING,

BUT ONLY THROUGH WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.

LAW BRINGS CURSE

CHRIST BRINGS BLESSING to GENTILES

HE BECAME a CURSE for US…

Gospel Response: WE MERELY RESPOND in FAITH—PUTTING OUR TRUST in CHRIST

Result: ADOPTED INTO HIS FAMILY, SAVED, SECURE, & CHILDREN of GOD...

ALL of GRACE

Invitation: QUESTIONS REGARDING FAITH//ASSURANCE, TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE

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Transition ➡ OUR ONLY HOPE is THAT WE BE FOUND “IN CHRIST”

PAUL WILL UNPACK THIS MORE

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 27

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4. Baptized into Christ (v27)

Galatians 3:27 ESV

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

PAUL CONTINUES—BELIEVER’S UNION W/ CHRIST

WATER BAPTISM— AN ACT of FAITH — SYMBOL of THIS REALITY

UNITED W/ CHRIST in HIS DEATH

RAISED W/ HIM to NEWNESS of LIFE

THROUGH IMMERSION the BELIEVER is IMMERSED “IN CHRIST”

Scholar, Quote, “However, baptism is more than simply a symbol of that new relationship; it is the capstone of the process by which one is converted and initiated into the church.”

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Historical Background: BELIEVERS WOULD TAKE OFF OLD CLOTHES & PUT ON NEW

PUTTING OFF OLD MAN—ADAM

PUTTING ON NEW—CHRIST

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Invitation: A Call for Baptism

**DON’T BELIEVE in BAPTISMAL REGENERATION**

DON’T HAVE to BE BAPTIZED to BE SAVED

Challenge: BUT IF YOU ARE SAVED… YOU HAVE NO GOOD REASON NOT to BE BAPTIZED.

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Great Commission:

JESUS TOLD HIS APOSTLES to MAKE DISCIPLES

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

BAPTIZING

TEACHING

**OBVIOUSLY “ALL HE’S COMMANDED” WOULD INCLUDE BAPTISM!

PART OF YOUR DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY is PUBLICLY ALIGNING YOURSELF W/ CHRIST…

… IDENTIFYING W/ HIS DEATH & RESURRECTION.

Invitation: WE’RE GOING to BE DOING a BAPTISM SERVICE 1ST SUNDAY in JUNE.

Interested/Questions/etc.…

TEXT: “BAPTISM” to 570-473-5516

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Conclusion: NOW— IN CHRIST— WE HAVE HIS STANDING...

WE ARE “IN CHRIST”

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Transition ➡ MANY, GRAND BENEFITS to THIS...

ONE COMMONLY OVERLOOKED ONE — V28

LOOK W/ ME THERE

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5. In Christ, Equal Footing (v28)

Galatians 3:28 ESV

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.

Powerful Conclusion: IN CHRIST—WE ARE EQUALS.

#1 SONS

#2 EQUALS

NO HIERARCHY of VALUE in KINGDOM— WE’RE ALL “IN CHRIST”

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Addressing Historical Context of Galatians:

**WE MUST KEEP PASSAGES ROOTED in THEIR CONTEXT**

Issue: UNCIRCUMCISED,, GENTILE BELIEVERS NEEDING to BE CIRCUMCISED ((BECOME JEWS)

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PAUL’S CONCLUSION: NO ONE = BETTER THAN ANOTHER.

THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST…

… YOU ARE INCORPORATED INTO the PEOPLE of GOD:

WHETHER JEW or GENTILE

WHETHER SLAVE or FREE

WHETHER MAN or WOMAN

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SOCIAL STANDINGS = IRRELEVANT

ONLY QUESTION: ARE YOU IN CHRIST??

IF YOU’RE “IN CHRIST” GOD RELATES to YOU as BEING IN CHRIST—

— THERE’S NO HIERARCHY

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**Disclaimer** DOES NOT MEAN—ROLES NO LONGER EXIST

1ST CENTURY—SLAVE = STILL a SLAVE

=> VALUED in CHRIST...PRACTICALLY, STILL a SLAVE

Problem: MANY HAVE ABUSED THIS PASSAGE— REMOVAL of ALL DISTINCTIONS of ROLE

JEW & GENTILE STILL EXIST

SLAVE & FREE STILL EXISTED

MEN & WOMEN STILL EXIST.

WE’RE ONE “IN CHRIST” EQUALS IN CHRIST—

— BUT DOESN’T REMOVE LITERAL DISTINCTIONS DOWN HERE…

GOD MADE MEN & WOMEN DISTINCT W/ DISTINCT ROLES & TENDENCIES—THAT’S GOOD—HOW GOD MADE US.

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Exhortation: The Body of Christ

EAR

EYE

HAND

FOOT

ALL VALUABLE & ESSENTIAL —NONE ARE PRIZED OVER ANOTHER

**DOESN’T MEAN YOUR HAND STARTS to SEE FOR YOU**

VALUE = EQUAL

STATUS = EQUAL

**ROLE = DISTINCT**

Clarifier: I’M NO BETTER — WE’RE on EQUAL FOOTING

BUT OUR ROLES MIGHT STILL BE DIFFERENT…

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Historical Background: Proud Prayers

GENTILES PRAISING DEITIES—NOT WOMAN, SLAVE

JEWS PRAISE GOD— NOT a GENTILE, WOMAN, or SLAVE

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IN CHRIST — WE’RE EQUALS in VALUE & STANDING BEFORE GOD.

SPURGEON

WHITFIELD

—NO BETTER THAN ME,, BECAUSE WE’RE in CHRIST

**YOUR EXAMPLE HERE**

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WE RELATE to GOD THROUGH CHRIST & HIS PERFECTION — NOT WHAT WE BRING to the TABLE

** ALL of US APART from CHRIST = HOPELESS **

**ALL of US W/ CHRIST = CHILDREN of GOD **

GOOD NEWS

POOR GENTILE SLAVE WOMAN “IN CHRIST” = BETTER OFF than PROUD, RICH, JEWISH FREE MAN OUTSIDE of CHRIST!

OUR WORTH & STATUS is FOUND in CHRIST...

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Transition ➡ BRINGING DISCUSSION FULL CIRCLE…

PAUL CLOSES ARGUMENT in V29...

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6. Abraham’s Offspring (v29)

Galatians 3:29 ESV

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

Last Week: PAUL SHOWCASED— CHRIST = “THE OFFSPRING” of ABRAHAM—THE HEIR

Problem: JUDAIZERS in GALATIA—BELIEVED JEWISHNESS = the KEY

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PAUL’S ARGUMENT:

➡ CHRIST = “THE” OFFSPRING

➡ ➡ BELIEVER = “IN CHRIST”

➡ ➡ ➡ Conclusion: BELIEVER = OFFSPRING of ABRAHAM

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WE ARE HEIRS of PROMISE:

RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH

PROMISED HOLY SPIRIT & NEW LIFE

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Transition ➡ ALL in ALL—PASSAGE TEACHES US…

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V. Application

Passage Idea: In Christ, we are made children of God, equals, and heirs.

Exhort: EITHER “IN ADAM” or “IN CHRIST”

REPRESENTED BY SINNER??

or SAVIOR??

LOOK @ OUR BLESSINGS “IN CHRIST”!!

CHILDREN of GOD—HOW GREAT!

EQUALS—NO HIERARCHY in GOD’S ECONOMY!!

HEIRS—RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISE

EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING = IN CHRIST

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Two Responses:

#1 WE OUGHT to BE BOTH HUMBLED & ENCOURAGED BY OUR STANDING in CHRIST

**IF YOU THINK YOU’RE a BIG DEAL—THINK AGAIN**

➡ YOUR ONLY RIGHTEOUSNESS is CHRIST

**IF YOU THINK YOU’RE NOTHING—THINK AGAIN**

➡ YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

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MILLIONAIRE “IN CHRIST” = NO BETTER THAN HOMELESS “IN CHRIST”

SKIN COLOR & NATIONALITY = IRRELEVANT “IN CHRIST”

GENDER = IRRELEVANT “IN CHRIST”

OUR VALUE & STATUS = ESTABLISHED “IN CHRIST”

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#2 WE OUGHT to REMEMBER THIS BY HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE

**THEY AREN’T LESS VALUABLE THAN ME**

WE’RE ALL PART of SAME FAMILY

Conclusion:

WE MIGHT BE DISTINCT in ROLE,,

BUT WE ARE EQUAL in VALUE AS CHILDREN of GOD & HEIRS of PROMISE…

&& IT’S ALL BECAUSE of JESUS CHRIST.

!! Close in Prayer !!