Untitled Sermon (2)

Galatians 4:1–7 (ESV)

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, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were 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.

The Meaning

This passage is straightforward and easy to grasp.

We all used to be in slavery to things that were not God, so Jesus came and redeemed us (bought us back) out of slavery

This was not something we could do for ourselves (we were slaves), but something Christ willingly did for us

Once we were redeemed, God adopted us as his children

Now that we are his children, we can call him “father” (“dad”) and we are entitled to the inheritance along with Christ

But each step along the way is full of mystery, and there are layers upon layers in this story

So what is God revealing to us today from this text? What is God telling us about Godself?

The Layers

Let’s walk back through the revelation, step-by-step, and see what else we can see

“We were slaves”

Paul draws a distinction between Jews and Gentiles in this illustration

The “elementary principles” mean different things for the two groups, but come with the same result: slavery

The “elementary principles” the Jews were enslaved to is the Law

The “elementary principles” the Gentiles were enslaved to is the pagan worship of false deities (gods that are not gods)

Children sometimes think they’re slaves; slaves never confuse themselves with children

Except, apparently, the Israelites (who thought they were children just waiting to receive the inheritance)

Paul reminds them that:

There is not much significant difference between minors and slaves, and

They were actually enslaved to the Law

This slavery characterized humanity’s relationship with God

i.e. There was none

Slaves may be a part of the household, but they are not part of the family

Slaves have no chance for inheritance

There is nothing a slave can do to change this condition

Slaves become enslaved or are born into it; once enslaved there is no escape

Unless the Master frees the slave, they will remain a slave

Jesus bought us

Slaves changed owners when one master purchased the slave from another

Jesus “redeemed” us

This means he paid a price to purchase us

But redemption isn’t the term for acquiring a new slave

Redemption implies a prior relationship; it means “bought back” not simply “bought”

Redemption is a purchase with a purpose: to free the slave

When Jesus redeemed us, he emancipated us

But that doesn’t mean there was relationship

Emancipation means the slave is freed from slavery

Emancipation does not make a slave a part of the master’s family; that requires another step

“so that he could adopt us”

The redemption had a larger purpose

God was planning an adoption

Adoption is legally binding

In the ancient world, adoption meant the adopted child legally became a part of the family

Adoption was irrevocable

Actually, a natural-born son could be sold into slavery, but an adopted son could not be disenfranchised

Adoption changes the relationship

Anyone who has experienced adoption will tell you even though the law is involved, it’s the relationship that changes the most significantly

Where once a person was outside the family, now they are brought on the inside

Many relationships are legal in nature (or become legally binding), but being a part of a family supersedes the legal realm

Once we were slaves, now we have become sons

Adoption changes the math

Inheritance was a very big deal in biblical times

Households were much larger than our nuclear families today

The “head of the household” was responsible for caring for everyone under his roof

These people could not “strike out” on their own and make it themselves

Inheritance was divided between the heirs

The inheritance was split into parts based on how many heirs there were

The “first born” received a double-portion

This is because the first born became the head of the house, now responsible for his siblings and their families

The double portion was an honor because it came with responsibility

If a father adopts a son, it dilutes the inheritance the natural-born son receives

This was a tremendous disincentive for natural sons, as Scripture and history shows

Jesus suffered through the redemption knowing (and approving of) the plan of adoption

Even though adoption is binding, changes the relationship, and changes the math, Jesus still went through with redemption

This shows us how he felt about our adoption

“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts”

The third member of the Trinity shows up in a significant way

The Holy Spirit has several roles that relate to our adoption as sons

The Holy Spirit confirms our place in the family

The Spirit shows us we belong in the family by teaching us to call God our father

“Abba, Father” means “The Father is my father”

Abba is an Aramaic word that survived the translation into Greek, meaning we are able to use the same word Jesus used when he taught his disciples to pray

The Holy Spirit imparts to us knowledge of the Son and the Son’s knowledge of the Father

1 John 4:12-16 “No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”

John 14:9 “Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?”

2. The Holy Spirit helps us know Jesus, and since Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus, knowing Jesus means knowing God

The Holy Spirit transforms us so we bear the “family resemblance”

Romans 8:26-29 “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Philippians 2:5-11 “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

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