Adopted!

Let's just dive right into Galatians 4. This section is so packed with the beautiful truth of the Gospel. We're going to read and discuss verses 1-16 this week and 17-31 next week because there is just so much great stuff in this chapter!

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.

So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:1-7 NIV

In God's family, we don't get what we deserve. The way we live goes far beyond human understanding. In Christ, we are not slaves, rather, in verse 6 it said we can cry out "Abba, Father"! The word Abba is what a child would call his father, like "Dada" or "Daddy." It's an intimate relationship. We are known by God and we are adopted into his family.

This is so much bigger than just being set free because Jesus paid the penalty of our sins (that is mercy). But now that we are adopted as God's own children, we have received something amazing we didn't deserve: GRACE! In the past few chapters, we read about how we can be saved by God's grace, through Faith alone. But here we see the bigger picture of what God's grace really means. We're not just acquitted. We get an extra gift as well.

Now that God is our Father, we live out the good works in our hearts not because we need to for God to love or accept us (he's clearly already done that, He's our perfect dad). No, we live out our faith through works because of the love God has shown us. As a Christian, I want to serve God and honor Him because I know just how much He has done to pay for my debts!!

We live out our faith through works because of the love God has shown us.

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Galatians 4:8-11 NIV

Just like a relapse or backsliding, the Galatians were falling back into their old ways of legalism. Paul appears to have been really discouraged. Indeed, it is very discouraging when our efforts to disciple someone seem to be in vain! However, I do this same kind of backsliding too sometimes; I go from surrender back to control. In doing so, I live as a slave to my own striving not as a child of God.

I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.

Galatians 6:12-14 NIV

Paul urges the Galatians to turn back to following Jesus just as Paul, himself does. He also reminds them of how kind they had been to him at first, when he was stuck in Galatia due to his illness.

Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Galatians 6:15-16 NIV

These reminders from Paul serve as an exhortation for us to trust in the truth of the gospel and to love and respect our pastors! We know that Paul is an apostle of Jesus, which gives him the authority to speak on these issues. We must examine our own hearts before criticizing our pastors as well (take the log out of our own eyes). It is so much easier to tell someone else where we disagree than to be like the Bereans, "examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11 ESV).

By now it is clear that the Galatians' main struggle was legalism and failure to trust in the grace of Christ and the sufficiency of the gospel. This is such a relatable struggle. How often do you fail to trust God with your whole life? Past, present, and future?

God, help us to trust in you today and every day. We worship you for your sufficiency and the love that you showed in sending Jesus to die for our sins. You are more than enough for us. Thank you for bringing us into your family and teaching us more every day through the depth of your word.

Amen.