Galatians 4:1-7 Sons and Heirs Through Christ
“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
If you have ever been through a brutal estate settlement, you might want to run in the other direction when you hear the term “heir.” There are all kinds of stories about people inheriting things, some of them funny but many of them painful. But when we speak of inheriting along with Jesus Christ, we are not describing struggling over Great Grandma’s jewelry or houses or lands. Here Paul is speaking of an eternal inheritance, an inheritance that allows believers to be adopted as sons-and daughters-into God’s family and to inherit eternal life, all because of what Jesus has done through his sacrificial death at Calvary.
Yesterday I gave this explanation that is worth repeating. Unless we understand the culture in Paul’s day, we might not realize how revolutionary this pronouncement was. Many households had slaves or servants or foster children, none of whom would inherit anything unless the master specifically indicated that in his will. However, if one was adopted, past histories didn’t matter. Once you were fully adopted into a family, you enjoyed all the rights and privileges any child born into that family would enjoy. Even if you had started out as a slave, once you were adopted, your inheritance would be equal to anyone else’s. If your adopted father was a Roman senator, you could even wear a distinctive purple band on your clothing, indicating that you belonged to a high-class family.
Now Paul is assuring the Galatian believers that they have an incredibly precious inheritance, an inheritance of holiness and eternal life. What does inheriting have to do with holiness? Paul is advising the Galatians-and us-that as believers in Christ, we are candidates for holiness, not because we are so good but because God changes our nature to conform with His. This process of sanctification has two parts – God’s and ours. God stands more than willing to change us; we must agree to be changed. The more we agree with God, the more our lives will reflect God’s goodness and God’s glory.
But there’s even more. When we believe in Christ Jesus and become children of God, God sends the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” In Paul’s day, “Abba” was the equivalent of “Daddy!” This was a term of great affection that only beloved children would use when calling out for their fathers. When God puts His Spirit into us, we too can cry out to Him as our beloved Father who cherishes us.
Sounds great-right? But what if your concept of fatherhood has been perverted? While there are lots of fathers who are loving and caring and who protect their children, there are also many more who are incapable of doing so. Some fathers have been abused by their fathers while others were raised by single mothers and have no idea of how to behave like a father. Some fathers are chronically depressed and unable to care for, nurture, and protect their children.
What can you do if your father was absent, abusive, or failed in some fashion? Ask God to show Himself as your Father. God is fully capable of demonstrating His love, His wisdom, His power, and His ability to protect you. Tell God your problems with the idea of a father and allow him to teach you.
PRAYER: Father God, many of us hate the very term “father” because we have had terrible experiences. Please help us to confess our problems to You and heal our spirits, teaching us what a perfect Father can be. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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