God's Way is Liberating, Mankind's way is Slave Holding

Galatians 4

Galatians 4 HCSB

Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. But in the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you. My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you. Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, who does not give birth. Burst into song and shout, you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Privilege over Oppression

Privilege is the concept of a want to, instead of a have to. If you believe that someone has to come to Church, eat certain foods, play certain games, avoid certain things in order to obtain the realms of heaven, oppression is your Master. On the other hand, if you are choosing to do those things out of love for God this is a privilege. To receive an inheritance is a privilege, not a right, not a guarantee, not enforced by the law. We live in a world today that fails to understand the difference between privileges and rights, between God’s plan and mankind’s plan. Privilege is a choice.

Family over Slavery

Families are the fundamental social groups that consist of one man and one woman with their offspring through biological or adoptive means. The very institution of the family was created by God, for God, through God, and expresses the very nature of God. From the perspective of Christianity our family is through the ancestral lineage of faith and baptism into Christ. Baptism is part of the adoption process into the family God, buried in the likeness of His death, and raised into the newness of life.

Loyalty over Exploitation

One of the greatest attributes that Jesus has is loyalty. One thing of many things I believe we are missing in our society today is being loyal to the plans of God. What happens when mankind steps away from being loyal to God’s plan? Paul uses the story of Abraham to describe the difference between people being loyal to God and loyal to self. Hagar was exploited. This does not excuse Hagar, but Paul is revealing what happens when mankind decides to intervene and help God out. When we do this we eventually exploit others. Paul makes this argument to the Galatians that they are being exploited, and he even points out that Peter exploited others, that these Judaizers were doing the same thing, and he is worried for them. Paul is screaming, he fearful that all the studying he did, all the preparation he did, all the investment that he put into the congregation of Galatia was worthless, for they were following a false gospel. I feel his pain.

Education over Indoctorination

Education is the questioning of all things, searching for those answers, and coming to a conclusion based upon the research done by an individual. Indoctorination is the repitition of, enforcement of a singular, opininated viewpoint or prinicple. We are losing the education battle. Most of us have set under the philosophy of indoctorination, it is the leading philosophy of academia today.

Life over Death

The law leads to death, but Christ leads to life. In the next few chapters of Galatians Paul will begin to close out his arguments explaining the difference between the Spirit of life and the Spirit of Death.

Communion