Free because of Jesus

Intro:

Free to call God your Daddy. This informal, familiar and affectionate call of God. Jesus introduces us to God as our Father in His earthly ministry. He teaches the disciples to pray to God the Father. Jesus demonstrates this in his prayers recorded in the gospel addressing God as Father. We too can now God as Father buy first knowing His Son. We get to know the Son of God because God sent the Son at the right time!

Galatians 4:4–7 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Conjunction Junction what’s my function...

Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses. Conjunction Junction, how's that function? I got three favorite cars That get most of my job done. Conjunction Junction, what's their function? I got "and", "but", and "or", They'll get you pretty far.

[spoken] "And": That's an additive, like "this and that". "But": That's sort of the opposite, "Not this but that". And then there's "or": O-R, when you have a choice like "This or that". "And", "but", and "or", Get you pretty far.

The conjunction But…That’s sort of the opposite.

The opposite of what?

Earlier in this letter Paul is dealing with the sinfulness of man and being in bondage because of our sin.

Galatians 4:3 NLT

3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

So the subject that is before the conjunction but is that we were once sinners in bondage under the law of the natural world.

But now give us the opposite as we see following verse 3 verse for gives us the change that has come through Jesus Christ

Galatians 4:4 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

What is about to change for you is that God saw the timing was right to send his Son to be born of a woman who like us would be subject to the law.

The further explaining of what will change is verse 5

Jesus will redeem us!

Galatians 4:5 NLT

5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

The sending formula of God the Father sending the Son followed by the Holy Spirit is expressed here in Pauls writing to the church in Galatian. This sent formula is also expressed in Jesus telling Nicodemus that God so loved the world he sent his Son!.

So here we see Paul telling how God sent the God the Son to REDEEM!

Jesus was sent to buy our freedom.

Jesus changes our status for slaves to the law.

Jesus changes our stats to be children of God.

Children of God the Father also receive God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

God send His Holy Spirit to his children. The Holy Spirit allows us to experience the relationship the Son had with the Father in having wisdom.

Jesus teaches this truth to his disciples prior to his death. We can look to John 15:12-15.

John 16:12–15 NLT

12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

Our faith in God the Son leads us to believe God the Father who sent him.

This leads us to know God the Holy Spirit and bolster our relationship with God.

The Holy Spirit moves us to grow closer to God!

The work of the Holy Spirit in us will convict us and change us to be more like God. This why we must not quench the holy spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 NLT

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Live to bring glory to God and feed the Holy Spirt.

Have disciplined lifestyle of prayer.

Daily time of reading and devotion with God in his Word.

Times of silent meditation by taking a walk, driving with radio silence in car, or time in the bath or shower to think of God’s goodness and glory.

The Holy Spirit reminds us that we are no longer slaves but his child!

Galatians 4:7 NLT

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

The conjunction is used again to show us that we are not slaves “but” sons of God. Therefore, being sons of God the Father, the creator of the world who owns the earth and everything in the earth. We are rich because our Daddy is rich!

Therefore, we are heirs through God!

Jesus the rightful King makes us brother and sisters in him and before God. Jesus death exalts us to be like him. Jesus frees us from being slaves to be royalty.

Conclusion:

With liberty and power of the Spirit we look forward to this new year in 2021 to see growth in our life to be bolder, brighter, and better for the kingdom of God. Think of what you want to change and change that subject.

I used to be be BLANK, but God sent his Son and I am free, no longer bound no more chains holding me.

I used to be BLANK, but I am no longer a slave, I am a child of God!

Let us look to celebrate the turn of the Year knowing we are child of God!