5 Word Summary of 3:26-29 (ESV): 5 Word Summary of 4:1-7 (ESV): NPC Going Deeper Series Galatians Lesson 8, p. 1

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1 Lesson Eight T EXT for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. 5 Word Summary of 3:26-29 (ESV): I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[1] 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. 5 Word Summary of 4:1-7 (ESV): A Q UICK UICK REVIEW After giving an extended biographical introduction which was intended to remind the Galatians that the Gospel comes straight from God who entrusted to him as an apostle (1:1-2:14), Paul then lays out the Gospel: justification (complete forgiveness/complete Galatians Lesson 8, p. 1

2 rightness ) is by faith and not by obeying the law (2:15-3:9). Following this he then explains that the true purpose of the Law was always to drive us to Christ and never to be the means by which we tried to relate to God or pursue salvation (3:10-29). The Essence of the Argument Why on earth would you want to go back to being a slave when you have a Dad who loves you and has given you the keys to the mansion?! Paul, a son of Sarah and Isaac S UBT EXT for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29) Paul then describes who we become now that Christ has arrived: In Christ, we become sons and daughters of God God is no longer our judge, though we were condemned by the Law. We are now part of his heavenly family not merely forgiven, or made fully right, but welcomed into the family. In Christ, we are all one The strongest, deepest running divisions of the ancient world (and ours as well) are in Christ negated. Care should be given: Paul doesn t mean that we no longer see people as uniquely who they are, or no longer fulfilling pre-ordained roles, but rather because these distinctions did not hinder God from entering their lives, they should no longer create barriers among us. Jews, Gentiles, slaves, free persons, men, and women are saved in exactly the same way. In Christ, we are Abraham s heirs In Christ we are included in God s plan of salvation and blessing as much as the most Hebrew of Hebrews. As people in Christ we have found a new place in eternity (related to God first and foremost as his sons and daughters), in society (related as brothers and sisters regardless of external systems), and now in history (related to the succession of God s people through the ages) [Paraphrased from Stott, p. 101]. Paul has painted a vivid contrast between who we are under the Law and who we have now become in Christ. The Human Condition Under the Law 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. (Galatians 4:1-3) Having laid out God s plan for salvation (justification by faith, not through obedience to the Law) and the proper role of the Law (to drive us to Christ), Paul now unpacks the implications and relationship of these two ideas. Galatians Lesson 8, p. 2

3 Under the Law, humanity was like an heir to a great estate. Picture a young child who is the heir to a great estate and tremendous fortune. Although these things are his/hers by promise, and they are the master of the estate in title, in reality they are still under the jurisdiction of guardians and trustees. They aren t yet free to spend money as they wish, or make the vital decisions about running things. In this sense, they are little better than one of the servants they are without liberty, under direction, under restraint. Though master in title, in lifestyle they are like an underling until the time set by the father. Paul has already mentioned that the Law served this function for humanity as restrainer (prison) and disciplinarian (pedagogos). Even when under the Law we were heirs of the promise made to Abraham, though like our young child above, heirs by title but under restriction. Elementary principles can have two meanings (first like elementary school ), but the one which makes most sense is elemental, pertaining to physical elements (earth, fire, air, water) and heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars) in light of v. 8, enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. (i.e. demons and evil spirits) Paul s meaning is that Satan took this good thing, the Law, and twisted it (also confusing it) to make it an enslaving principle which could be used readily by his minions to torment us. Stott summarizes insightfully: Just as during a child s minority his guardian may ill treat and even tyrannize him in ways which his father never intended, so the devil has exploited God s good law, in order to tyrannize men in ways God never intended. God intended the law to reveal sin and drive men to Christ; Satan uses it to reveal sin and to drive men to despair. God meant the law as an interim step to man s justification; Satan uses it as the final step in his condemnation. God meant the law to be a stepping-stone to liberty; Satan uses it as a cul-de-sac, deceiving his dupes into supposing that from its fearful bondage there is no escape. Stott, p. 105 The Human Condition in Christ 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 has sent the Spirit of his son (Galatians 4:4ff) Notice the conditions: At exactly the right point in world and redemptive history The Father sends the Son, God himself; and then the Father sends the Holy Spirit, God himself. The Son is humble enough to be born of a woman, and thus fully human The Son is humble enough to be born under law, and thus fully able to understand our bondage and by his obedience and death set us free from bondage Galatians Lesson 8, p. 3

4 Notice the purpose: to redeem those who were the heirs to the kingdom of God, but who were up until this point subject to the restraint and discipline (and misuse) of 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. (Galatians 4:5b-7) If Christ had only been sent simply to free us from the bondage of the Law it would have been enough. But he came also to make us literally part of God s family, fellow heirs with himself. J.I. Packer sheds light on Paul s reference to adoption, which was more a feature of Roman, rather than Jewish, culture: adoption was a practice ordinarily confined to the childless well- todo. Its subjects were not normally infants, as today, but young adults who had shown themselves fit and able to carry on a family name in a worthy way. In this case, however, God adopts us out of free love, not because our character and record show us worthy to bear His name, but despite the fact that they show the very opposite. We are not fit for a place in God s family; the idea of His loving and exalting us sinners as He loves and has exalted the Lord Jesus sounds ludicrous and wild yet that, and nothing less than that, is what our adoption means. J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 195 I love Eugene Peterson s way of translating And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying, Papa! Father! Doesn t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? Although Satan will always try to convince us that God could never really love us as we are, that we have failed him in ways that are inexcusable, that we are people God puts up with, rather than beloved Sons and Daughters, Paul cites the definitive answer to the contrary: You have God himself living within you so that you know you are now his child. The contrast between this theological statement and those made by other religions is enormous! God is not out to serve his agenda merely by ruling creation, seeing that we receive the just rewards/punishments of our actions, or even to see us become better, more moral people. At the heart of Christianity is God s desire not just to redeem us from sin, but also to make us a part of his divine, eternal, three-in-one family. It is this reality that is to shape our view toward God. Galatians Lesson 8, p. 4

5 Paul concludes, with so which has the force of therefore or better yet so it becomes apparent. T ELL M E A GAIN THIS? GAIN W HY HY D O I C ARE ARE ABOUT Discussion How would you describe your life and your experience with God when you were first saved? (or if you ve always known Jesus as your Savior, what was your relationship like with him when you little?) Imagine an unseen visitor who could read your thoughts followed you around for a week. How do you think they would answer this question: Based on what I see in s life, this is what kind of father I think God is What has caused (is still causing!) the difference between your two answers? Points to Ponder J.I Packer who we quoted earlier draws out the implications of what adoption by God means when he reminds us that, God has received us as sons, and loves us with the same steadfast affection with which He eternally loves His beloved Only Begotten. There are no distinctions of affections in the divine family. We are all loved just as fully as Jesus is loved (Knowing God, p. 196). Do you really believe this? What personally makes it so difficult for you to believe? The following is an excerpt of a letter written by a woman who had attended a Sonship conference for pastors and their wives. (Sonship Manual, Lesson One p. 1 15). The Shirt When I was very young my older sister was hanging up my father's white business shirts on the clothesline to dry. I was suddenly filled with the urge to hang up one of my daddy's white shirts. I'm not sure I can explain my motive. He was my Galatians Lesson 8, p. 5

6 daddy too, and I was his daughter. I loved him in my childlike way and wanted to express it. I couldn't reach the clothesline --it was too high, but I saw a wheel barrow in the yard and its handles were just the right height for me. I didn't notice how rusty it was and I rather joyfully clothes pinned the wet shirt to the handles. When my dad got home and saw the shirt on the wheel barrow he became very angry with me and punished me severely for ruining his shirt. I hadn't realized the impact that event and others like it had made on me. But as I was repeatedly convicted during the Sonship conference for not believing God concerning His delight in me and in the gracious nature of my relationship with Him now that He has put me into Christ, this memory returned to me. Now, you can't get through 24 hours of a Sonship conference without realizing that your own heart is as murderous as anyone else's --so I wasn't primarily focusing on only being the innocent victim of my father's cruel anger. Rust and the Blood As I remembered these scenes from the past I saw that through the years I had not been believing that my Father in heaven was any different than my earthly father. I hadn't been listening when He described Himself. In short, I hadn't been believing the Gospel, that by faith in Christ and His perfect atoning sacrifice, now He loves me and is forever for me and delighted in me. In Christ He has made me beautiful and pleasing to Him forever. So the next morning I told our counselor, Jeff, that I thought I was beginning to understand. I told him the memory and said that I guess if the Father saw me standing next to the wheel barrow with the ruined shirt on it, He would forget the shirt and hug me. "You still don't understand fully," he said, "God would not overlook the shirt, but take it, put it on, and wear it to work. And when someone commented on the rust marks, He would say, 'Let me tell you about my little girl and how much she loves me '" I was overwhelmed with that realization. I am beginning to realize that my Christian life has been a continual effort to earn God's pleasure by getting "the shirts hung up right." God would answer if my prayer was "right." God would smile upon me if my theology was correct. And since I knew how I had failed day by day in my works, I sort of snuck them up on the line and tried to be away when God got home, so to speak. Someone at the conference had said something that really seems to apply here. He said: "God will not despise the tainted love-gifts of the sinner who looks to Jesus." My entire Christian life had been oppressive. I did not know how to live day by day without an overwhelming sense of failure to perform up to what I thought God demanded. With that came a sense of God being disappointed and even disgusted with me. How overpowering it is now to realize that because of Christ, I can experience a daily freedom to move out into people's lives. I can love others, I can obey God with my heart because I don't fear that He will be furious with me if I get the shirt "a bit rusty." There is a freedom to love that I haven't known since the moments before my father got home that day long ago. I've been thinking of the "rusty shirt" and the parable of the talents. The two servants who loved their master and trusted in his good will served him energetically. They Galatians Lesson 8, p. 6

7 weren't driven, but it seems the very fact that they believed him to be what he was (faithful and generous) moved them to use the talents to the best of their ability. It was the legalist (the one who viewed the master as a hard man) who hid his talent. My unbelief has led me to talent-burying. It's the very fact that my Father delights even in rusty shirts that moves "this most flinty heart of mine" to really desire a life disciplined to seek Him and find Him and by His might at work in me, to live a life of faith expressing itself in love. How do you tend to ignore God s description of himself? What impact does that have on how you treat others (your spouse, your children, your roommates, and the people you work with)? Galatians Lesson 8, p. 7