Galatians

Unbound, Unchained, Unbroken

Week 7 | Galatians 3:26-4:7

Lisa Scheffler, author

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I know several people who have adopted children into their families. These kids came from homes where the parents, for a variety of reasons, weren’t able to care for them. They were joyfully and expectantly welcomed into new families and given love. But that doesn’t mean it was always easy.

Even if the adopted parents do everything they can to prepare, the transition to a new home can be difficult. Challenges can crop up as children acclimate to a new environment. And even if they were adopted as infants, various issues can crop up at each stage of the child’s development. As wonderful as adoption is, adoptive families will tell you, it’s not without its struggles. They will also tell you, it’s worth it.

When we trust in Christ, we become part of God’s eternal family. God is our Father who accepts us, loves us, and guides us as we grow in our relationship with him, but as with human adoption, it’s not always easy. We are leaving behind an old way of life and have to learn new ways so we can live with our heavenly family. We also have to learn how to get along with our spiritual siblings. At each new stage of our spiritual life, we have to come to terms with what it means to be a child of God. Though there are growing pains, it’s a vast understatement to say it’s worth it!

As we move from Galatians 3 into Galatians 4, we see Paul use the image of adoption to explain our relationship with Christ and with others. This week, we’ll discover what it means to be an heir of God and to call him our Abba Father.

Day 1

Last week we saw Paul wrestling with questions about the law. His opponents had challenged his gospel and were insisting that Gentile Christians in Galatia follow certain Jewish customs, such as circumcision, and dietary restrictions. Paul goes back into Israel’s history, all the way to the Covenant with Abraham, to show that these “works of the law” were never meant to make someone right with God. It’s always been faith that saves, and ultimately, the object of that faith is Jesus Christ. Acceptance into God’s covenant family comes from your allegiance to Christ. Nothing else is needed.

In the passage we’ll look at this week, we’ll see Paul using family language. Because of Jesus, whether believers are Jews or Gentiles, they are included in Abraham’s family line and recipients of all the promises that were fulfilled in Christ. 

Think about this family language as you read through the passage for the week — Father, son, adoption, heir. Think about what it means to be an heir. In the first century, the heir was the first born male and received the bulk of the inheritance (if not all of it). Therefore, an heir was the most valuable child. Notice how Paul plays on this belief.

Read

Galatians 3:26-4:7

²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

4 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. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. ⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.  ⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

According to this passage, how do you become a child of God?

What are you if you “belong to Christ”? What does that mean to you?

Respond

What a joy to have the Spirit and approach God as Abba, Father! In the first century Abba was a term of endearment and familiarity, like Dad. Jesus has redeemed us — we are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters. We are dearly loved children! No matter how the world judges us because of our race, ethnicity, social status, or gender, we are precious in the sight of our Dad. Rejoice in that this week.

This week, let’s also consider how we can find greater unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly those who are from different races, ethnicities, social classes or gender. How can we show them Christlike love, kindness, and acceptance? How can we be better listeners and try to understand their experiences? How can we seek their good, even if it costs us something? Pray for the Spirit to move as we think about what it means to be “one in Christ.”