DAY 16 - GALATIANS

March 20, 2023

Galatians 4:1-7 (NLT)

Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Thought:

Let’s look at this alongside Romans 8:15-17.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Paul makes it clear that the entire Trinity is involved, here: God the Father sent the Son to die for us, and God the Son sent His Spirit to live in us. The Holy Spirit tells us that we are a child of the Father! That makes us sons - adopted children of God and co-heirs with Christ. We are no longer servants because a servant could never say “Father” to his master. Like the prodigal son, the Galatians wanted their Father to accept them as servants when they were really sons (Luke 15:18-19).

Catch this: As adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God’s resources. As God’s heirs, we can claim what he has provided for us - our full identity as his children. And we may begin drawing on our inheritance right now! God has shared with us (through His Spirit) the riches of His grace, His goodness, His wisdom, His righteousness, His love, His purpose, His suffering, and His glory.

Application:

1. Are you exercising all the wonderful privileges of sonship?

2. “Abba” is roughly equivalent to “Papa” or “Dad.” Such a familiar address of God was not practiced by the Jews, but rather instigated by Jesus (Mark 14:36). Approach God now in prayer with the confidence of a son or daughter approaching their loving Father.

WEEK 4 OVERVIEW - GALATIANS

March 20 - March 24, 2023

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Galatians 4 Overview

One of the tragedies of legalism is that it gives the appearance of spiritual maturity when, in reality, it leads backward into bondage. The Galatian Christians wanted to grow, but they were going about it in the wrong way. And their experience is not too different from ours today.

Here in Chapter 4, Paul is still addressing the Galatians who, like the prodigal son, wanted their Father to accept them as servants when they were really sons. Slaves when they were really free. Bondage when they were really liberated by Christ. But why? The Judaizers were responsible for tricking them into some of the wrong thinking. But also, their old nature liked the law because it enabled them to do things and measure external results. And as they measured themselves, they felt a sense of accomplishment and pride. Sound familiar?

Paul uses several approaches to convince the Galatians that they did not need legalism in order to grow in Christ. He told them that (through the Spirit) they are adopted children of God and co-heirs with Christ (4:1-7). Then he asks them “why” (4:8-11). Why are you trading your sonship for slavery? Why are you reluctant to rest in Jesus’ finished work? Paul even sensed that the Galatians had lost the joy of their salvation because of legalism (4:15). He asked them “What has happened to that joy you experienced when you heard the gospel and trusted Christ?”

Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then?....Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? Galatians 4:15-16

You can sense Paul’s love for the Galatians in Chapter 4. Whatever righteous anger boiled inside, it was because of love. Paul loved them enough to say hard things. He was going after their hearts; he wasn’t going to let them slide away.

At the end of Chapter 4, Paul launches into an allegorical look at the two sons of Abraham: Ishmael and Isaac. This passage is hard to understand, but in short, Paul is saying: you are either a child of slavery or a child of freedom. He’s asking the same questions of the Galatians that he asked previously. Why would they want condemnation when they could have freedom? Why be the son of slavery when they could be the son of freedom?

And we’ll have to examine our lives in the same way. Is your Christian life moving forward into liberty or backward into bondage?

DAY 15 - GALATIANS

March 17, 2023

Galatians 3:23-29 (NLT)

Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Thought:

The law cannot do what the promise can do! The law could never justify the guilty sinner; it could only reveal sin. The law could never give a person oneness with God; it separated people from God. The law could never make people heirs of God; it could only “control behavior” to a certain extent but never enough for righteousness.

But the promise - justification (declared righteous) through faith in Christ - does so much more.

• Faith in Jesus baptizes us “into Christ” (3:27). This baptism of the Spirit identifies us with Christ, and water baptism is an outward picture of this inner work of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 10:44-48).

• Faith in Jesus makes us “all one in Christ Jesus” (3:28). The law created differences and distinctions not only between individuals and nations but also between various kinds of foods and animals. Jesus Christ came not to divide, but to unite.

• Faith in Jesus makes us “heirs of God” (3:29). What a privilege! We are the children of God. No longer slaves, but sons. No longer kept at a distance under restraints, but allowed nearer and freer access to the Father.

Application:

1. The beauty of the gospel shines when people of all races and generations and backgrounds live together in unity before Christ. How is God asking you to live this out as his child?

2. Behavior that pleases God flows from a heart redeemed by him.

How did Galatians 3 help you better understand this statement? Ask the Spirit to continue working heart change in you.