Liberated-Part 11

Introduction- Galatians 4:1-11

Last week we considered the scriptural explanation for the role which the law was designed to play.

It is evident that the law was never meant to be a means of justification or righteousness but rather was intended to cause men to see their need of Christ.

The law was designed to play the role of a schoolmaster (pedagogue) which would ultimately lead us to Christ.

We also learned that those who are children of God by faith have been baptized into Christ and have “put on Christ” finding now their identity in Him such that societal distinctions are removed so that all are one in Christ and all are heirs to the same promises in Him.

Today we will consider another illustration which is given to provide insight into the nature of the bondage which characterized the life of all men before coming to Christ.

We will also see how that in Christ we have been adopted and are no longer servants but sons.

The passage concludes with a question directed towards the believers in the churches of Galatia—Why would you turn again to that which you have left behind?

Heirs Through Adoption (Vs. 1-5)

This passage opens with an illustration meant to show the standing of the heir who is a child—in essence the experience of the child differs little from that of a servant.

The child may be their heir to the wealth and authority of his father but as a child he is yet under tutors (one which is responsible for the care and instruction of the child himself) and governors (one who is responsible for the property which belongs to the child).

It is only at the time appointed of the father that the child shall receive the fullness of his inheritance and will have the liberty to take possession of that which rightly belongs to him as the heir.

The child even though he be an heir has little liberty because he is a child—this is meant as a representation of those who are described as being in “bondage under the elements of the world.”

The idea here seems to be that before Christ came spirituality was primarily confined to the outward observance of religious rituals which were only rudimentary representations of the true nature of religion.

Hebrews 10:1 “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

Colossians 2:16–17 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

Yet in the fullness of time (at precisely the time appointed of the Father)—the time which best suited His purposes—the Father sent His Son into the world.

Jesus was sent forth—this indicates that His incarnation was merely a sending forth of one which was already in existence.

Jesus was made of a woman—this indicates His humanity and the unique means through which He entered into the world—God becoming a man born of a woman.

Jesus was made under the law—this indicates that He was subject to the law upon His arrival in this world just as other men.

All this was to fulfill the Father’s purpose in redeeming those that were under the law so that they might have the opportunity to become sons of God through the means of adoption.

In Jesus Christ we are adopted into the family of God as sons with all the rights and privileges of sonship.

We are through Christ heirs of God’s promises and we are no longer in bondage but have been set free.

Christ is distinct from all that came before Him in that He is the full and final revelation from God and is to be the basis upon which all genuine spirituality is founded.

Christ represents a graduation of sorts from the mere outward forms of religion which came before to a deeper inward spirituality anchored in relationship with Him.

The Privileges of Sonship (Vs. 6-7)

Now the scripture speaks directly to those who are now sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

God has now sent forth the Spirit of His Son into the the hearts of those who are sons as affirmation of their relationship with Him.

This is what then enables the believer to cry out to God as His Father.

The specific terminology used here is emblematic of intimate relationship—the word “abba” is a term of endearment which a child would use in reference to their father—similar to “daddy” or “papa.”

This means that those who are now sons enjoy a special relationship with God whereby they can cry out to Him as their Father in times of distress and need.

Mark 14:36 “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

Just as Christ cried out to the Father in this manner and the Father heard His cry—so also now can you and I cry out to Him with confidence knowing that He will hear us in the same manner as His child.

The Spirit of Christ which now dwells within us assures us that we are now sons of God and that we have the right and privilege to cry out to God as a child cries out to His “daddy.”

In Christ we are not merely servants of God—though He does call upon us to serve Him—we are now sons of God with all the privileges that such a relationship entails.

If we are now sons of God then this means that we are also heirs of God (heirs to the promises which He has made to all who believe) through Christ.

As heirs we have an inheritance which the Bible describes as being:

1 Peter 1:3–4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,”

Romans 8:16–17 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

We are now joint-heirs with Christ through faith in Him!

Why Go Back to Bondage (Vs. 8-11)

The final section of this passage is dedicated to questioning the believers in the churches of Galatia as to why they would willingly regress having experienced the liberty which is found in Christ.

The scripture speaks of their having “known God” and then rather their being “known of God” indicating the fact that the relationship originated with God taking the initiative not man.

This is true in every instance—it is not as though men seek God but rather that God is seeking men and desires relationship with them.

In light of their having known (this indicates experiential knowledge) God a question is then posed—why turn again to the weak and beggarly elements—this is indicative of the outward forms of religious experience which were spoken of previously.

The point which is here being made once more is that to turn to the law in the hope of a deeper experience is to make a terrible mistake.

Turning to the law in this manner does not represent progress but a regression backwards to the more rudimentary forms of religion.

Any attempt to progress in one’s walk with Christ in this manner will have precisely the opposite effect.

The second question posed to the believers in Galatia is why would you desire to go return to bondage?

The idea here is that strict adherence to the outward forms and rituals of religion is to be in bondage.

It is illogical for someone who has been set free to have a desire to return to bondage—Paul question them as to their desire to be in bondage having already experienced the liberty which is to be found in Jesus Christ.

The point here is that it if far better to live in liberty that to be in bondage and liberty is found in Christ and the law represents bondage.

Following these questions Paul provides an example of the bondage that he is referring to—the believers in the churches of Galatia had apparently implemented the observation of the days, months, times, and years which were prescribed in the law and imagined that observing these would bring about progress spiritually.

Paul’s response to this is very telling—he states that he is afraid lest all of his labor among them has now been in vain.

The point here is that in pursuing spiritual growth through law they are in essence nullifying Paul’s ministry among them.

Paul had invested a great deal in these churches and now it is being undone by the false teachers and he speaks now of his fear that all of his ministry there will have been in vain if they should follow this path of error.

What a tragedy if all the labour which Paul and others alongside him had invested in them should be in vain because of the influence of these false teachers.

Conclusion

This passage serves as an important reminder that progress in our spiritual lives comes through deepening our relationship with Christ and genuinely surrendering ourselves to Him not through religious rites and rituals.

Those who have believed on Jesus Christ have been adopted into God’s family as sons with all the privileges and benefits which that involves.

We now have the wonderful opportunity to cry out to Him as our father being confident that He will hear our desperate pleas and will answer.

We are not merely servants but are sons of God if we have believed on Jesus Christ.

We are joint-heirs with Christ and we ought now to live in the liberty which we have in Him.

We must resist the temptation to regress towards formality and outward observance concentrating instead upon the inward transformation which Christ shall produce in us as we deepen our relationship with Him and surrender to His influence in our lives.

There is an appeal to these outward forms of religious observance because they provide a simply means of measuring spirituality and they allow men to pride themselves of the strictness of their adherence to them.

Yet you and I must recognize that his represents not progress but regression in our spiritual lives and brings bondage not liberty.

Let us live in liberty leaving behind the bondage which is in the law.