Reading …

Galatians 3:26-4:31

Introduction …

  1. Last week we dealt with Paul's defense of justification by faith in Christ alone. 
    1. He takes us back into the promises and law  of God to prove his case. 
      1. He uses everyday life to illustrate the immutability of the promises of God …
        1. These promises could therefore not be annulled by the law which came 430 years later.
      2. The purpose of the law was …
        1. Not to justify 
        2. But to make us aware of our need for justification
        3. And to show us that that need can only be fully met in Christ

Sonship …

  1.  The consequence of faith in Christ Jesus is we are declared sons of God… Galatians 3:26
    1. John in particular, is very strong in his writings on this matter …
      1. To Nicodemus Jesus said …
        1. You must be born again …
        2. Born of the Spirit … born from above …John 3:5-6
        3. If this does not happen you will not see the kingdom of God.
      2. Those born of Christ are called the children of God … 1 John 2:29-3:2 …
        1. But as many as received Him to them be gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe in His name …who were born, not of blood ,nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God …John 1:12-13
      3. Notice …
        1. Born again, Born of God, born of the Spirit, Baptised into Christ are all speaking of the same transaction.
        2. In that transaction I am a new creation, I walk in the newness of life, I live by the Spirit because I am indwelt by the Spirit. 
          1. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God … You received the Spirit of sonship …and by Him we cry Abba Father … Romans 8:15
  1. Summary
    1. In that moment of time when I am born again …
      1. I am a new creation …
        1. With a new nature 
        2. Indwelt by the Spirit of God
        3. I am led by the Spirit of God
      2. I am  born into the family of God…I am His child.
      3. I have the Spirit of sonship
        1. I am a son and therefore an heir.
  2. The consequence of being a child of God is that I inherit all the promises of God .
    1. If you belong to Christ then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promises … Galatians 3:29
      1. Now if we are children of God then we are heirs …heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ… Romans 8:17
        1. We inherit the promises of God
        2. We share them with Christ Jesus all that is His… 

Adoption …

  1. Sonship or adoption is the consequence of Justification by faith in Jesus. 
    1. Once again it is an immutable promise of God 
    2. And Paul uses adoption as an illustration to show the immutability of the promise 
    3. Having believed you were marked, in him, with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption… Ephesians 1:14
  2. Notice …
    1. In him … a justified person.
    2. The seal … of the Holy Spirit who now dwells in me. 
    3. He is a guarantee of inheritance to come. 
  3. Roman adoption …
    1. Paul is dealing with a church that is mainly Roman and they therefore understand the Roman law of adoption.
      1. Its purpose was not to gain a child but to secure the dynasty and wealth of the family.
    2. The paterfamilias was the oldest surviving family member who controlled everything … he was the father. 
      1. He held extraordinary powers …
        1. If a child was born in the family he decided it’s future
        2. All of his offspring, regardless of age obeyed his commands.
        3. He could even order the death of family members in certain cases.
    3. It was his prerogative to elect the heirs…
      1. If he had no male children he would adopt a son
      2. If he thought his natural offspring were not up to the task he would adopt a son.
      3. If he decided his eldest son was the man he still had to create what we call a last will and testament.
      4. These documents had to go thru the legal system and be witnessed by 7 witnesses.
        1. At the end of the day the adoption was a guarantee of inheritance that was future. 
  4. Obviously God the Father is paterfamilias …
    1. Let's just take a step back …
      1. When I ask Jesus into my life I die and I'm raised in the newness of life….
        1. I am crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who lives but Christ in me and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me… Galatians 2:20
        2. Paul in Romans 6 speaks about the death we die in Christ and the resurrection to new life we enjoy thru Him…
      2. Remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus …
        1. If you are not born again, not born of the Spirit, you will not see the kingdom of God… John 3:6
    2. So …
      1. I must be born into the family of God … 
        1. Then I am His child. … Galatians 3:26
      2. Consequently (as a result) I am an heir according to promise… Galatians 3:29
        1. Adoption like the law can not give us a new nature …
        2. Only recreation can do that…
          1. Inheritance is a consequence of new life.
      3. In terms of God's promise, unlike Roman adoption, ALL who believe are heirs of God… Romans 8:17
        1. Thus God, determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise, the immutability of his council, confirmed it with an oath… Hebrews 6:17
        2. And Paul the Roman legal process to illustrate the guarantee of the promise.
  5. What then is the Adoption …
    1. It is the future …
      1. The Spirit we now have guarantees a future transaction. 
      2. Creation is awaiting the revealing of the sons of God … Romans 8:19
      3. We eagerly await for the adoption … Romans 8:23
        1. The adoption papers are signed, it has gone through the courts, it can not be altered. It is immutable. 
  6. In terms of Roman law the adopted son would live in the new home and fall under the protection and care of the paterfamilias …
    1. He would enjoy many privileges but would have to recognise the authority of the paterfamilias…
    2. Look forward to the day of inheritance. 
  7. That is what we as believers enjoy here on earth …
    1. Provision, protection, knowledge of God, fellowship, etc.
    2. But the big day is still coming …
  8. The big day is at the return of Jesus to the air (Rapture)
    1. Eagerly awaiting the adoption … the redemption of the body … Romans 8:27
      1. We eagerly await a Saviour… the Lord Jesus Christ …who by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body … Philippians 3:20-21
    2. John says …
      1. What we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears  we will be like Him … 1 John 3:2
    3. Thereafter with the enabling of our eternal bodies we will enjoy sharing Christ's inheritance  forever.  

Freedom …

  1. Paul concludes his defense by saying …
    1. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… Galatians 5:1
  2. Freedom is the great cry of this world …
    1. Freedom of …
      1. Thought, speech, association, the press, movement
      2. Freedom from restrictions to indulge, responsibilities etc.
    2. Yet for many if not most this results in being enslaved in some way or another. 
      1. All too often our idea of freedom leads to an enslavement to… 
        1. Substance abuse, pornography, corruption, broken relationships, debt, even obesity, etc.
  3. In Romans Paul refers to the glorious freedom of the children of God … Romans 8:21. 
    1. What freedom is he talking about …
  4. In Romans chapter 7 he discusses his own enslavement to sinful nature …
    1. The things that I would do … the things I don't want to do ..
      1. O wretched man that I am who will rescue me from this body of death … Romans 7:24
    2. He is unable to help himself … enslaved by the sinful nature … Romans 7:23
      1. The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God nor can it be…Romans 8:7
  5. Paul recognises that he cannot change the sinful nature that he is born with …
    1. So his cry is… who can rescue me … 
      1. The answer is “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”
  6. Roman slavery …
    1. You were property … 
      1. You under ownership of a master
      2. You could be traded as a commodity
        1. Which resulted in a change of ownership
          1. And a change of responsibility and service. 
      3. You had no rights …
        1. Even the children you gave birth to belonged to the master. 
  7. In scripture freedom does not mean independence …
    1. We are all subject to, or enslaved by a master.
    2. Freedom is simply a change of ownership …
      1. Giving rise to a change of ownership and responsibility.
      2. The slave of Christ … you are bought with a price …1 Corinthians 7:22-23
  8. In Romans Paul says …Romans 6:16
    1. You are either slaves to sin …which leads to death …
      1. Or slaves to obedience … which leads to righteousness …
    2. By faith in Christ you have set free from sin and have become slaves of God … and the result is eternal life … Romans 6:22
      1. Change of ownership … Resurrected Christ Jesus …Romans 7:4
      2. Change of purpose … Bearing fruit … Romans 7:4
      3. Change of control …The way of the Spirit … Romans 7:6
  9. Summary …
    1. So Paul defends his gospel of justification by faith in Christ Jesus by…
      1. Using the very scriptures the Judaizers use. 
        1. Showing the promises of God
        2. Explaining the true purposes of the law
    2. He then goes on to explain the extraordinary privileges that are ours in Christ…
      1. Our inheritance
      2. Our glory 
      3. The privilege of service 

Challenge …

  1. Do you understand a little of the privilege it is being a child of God…
    1. Bought with a price
    2. Free to live and serve Christ
    3. A joint heir with Christ … sharing all that he deserves and you don't.
    4. Eagerly awaiting the day of redemption.