Galatians 4:1-7

Galatians 4:1–7 ESV

1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Cry baby has become a term synonomous with someone who complains or mons about a situation.

The reason we speak in those terms is because babies cry - they cry a lot. New Borns lack the ability to self sooth and so it is normal for them to spend as much as three house a day crying. However, if a baby has colic that number might go up exponentially.

Meconium - I remember

I longed to her her cry - I new that hearing a cry often means something is wrong. But there are times when it means something is right.

The Cry for Redemption

Before Bethlehem everyone was in bondage.

Exodus 2:23 (ESV)

23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.

There are two cries in this story the cry of the people and the cry of the baby.

One is the cry for redemption and the other the cry of the redeemer.

In our English Bibles some 351 times that word Cry is used

Before Bethlehem there was a cry for redemption.

Galatians 4:3 ESV

3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.

We are talking about man’s attempt to come into right standing with a Holy God.

We are talking that there are over 4,000 world religions.

With practitioners in the billions.

Religion doesn’t save it enslaves.

The Cry of the Redeemer

Galatians 4:4–5 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

This is a different cry

Exodus 2:5–6 (ESV)

5 Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it.

6 When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”

A cry of another baby who’s cry priced the night and changed the world forever.

God answered the cry for redemption with the cry of the redeemer.

Matthew 27:46 (ESV)

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

God specializes in freeing captives.

Cry out for redemption

The Cry of the Redeemed

Galatians 4:6–7 ESV

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

In Christ God is not my foe but my Father.

Mark 14:36 ESV

36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

In Christ I come to God in faith not fear.