Scripture:
Galatians 4:3-7 – 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.
Observation:
The Galatians have drifted from the true Good News of Jesus Christ and have returned to following the law. Paul is sharing with the Galatians that when they follow the law they are bound to it and become slaves to the law. Paul reminds them that through Christ, God gave us freedom from the law and adopted us as his children. As children of God, we have been given the Holy Spirit and are able to have an intimate relationship with the Father as an heir.
Application:
There is but one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. God is our creator and as part of His redemptive plan he sent Jesus in to the world to rescue us from our sin against Him. By faith in Jesus and repentance of our sin, we respond positively to the Gospel and are allowed to be children of God. There are no other requirements and we always need to be alert to any false preaching that adds to the Gospel. The Gospel with Jesus death on the cross at the center and His resurrection alone is enough! The Gospel frees us from our bondage to the law/sin.
This is why we need to remind ourselves of the Gospel daily, not just once upon salvation. We should continue to respond each and every time we hear the Gospel for what God has done and what he is doing in our lives! How awesome is it, that when we place our faith and trust in Jesus that we become the adopted children of the one true God? The God who is creator of the universe and everything in it loves us enough to gives us the opportunity to be His child and heir to all in His Kingdom.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank you so much for loving us enough to send your Son so we may be free from the law. Help me to never get over the true Gospel. Let me be led by your Spirit to realize the power in the Gospel and share it freely with all to have many more become your adopted children.