Galatians 4:1-4 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
The Jews were held captive to the law, the Gentiles to the basic principles of the world. The Jews lived lives, attempting to please God through obedience to the letter of the law; the Gentiles lived their lives, attempting to please the basic elements they understood to be significant: the sun, moon, stars and planets. The Jews had special ceremonies and special days to observe to please God; the Gentiles served the various gods of the basic elements by participating in special rituals and celebrations, particularly on selected days and times of the year. Paul knew the Jews were trying to serve the one and only God by their obedience to the law and its rituals; he also knew the Gentiles were serving demons and evil spirits in their search to please the gods around them. But in both situations, they were as children, bound to the traditions and the ceremonies of men, strictures that kept them from an intimate relationship with the only true God. The Jews followed the law, which was good; it was light. But the law did not allow a way for them to have direct communion with God. The Gentiles served gods without substance or power, caught in lives of abysmal debauchery, leading to death. When Paul wrote to the Romans, he said you used to be slaves to sin and furthermore you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness. (Romans 6:17 & 19) He understood that the efforts of frail humans did not lead to any sort of right living but kept people bound to impurity and wickedness, immature regarding the things of God.
Both Jew and Gentile, before the sacrifice of Christ, were but children in their spiritual lives, kept from the freedom God intended for them. The traditions and strictures of their culture were the guiding principles in their lives. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. The Jews who were caught with the restraints of the law that always condemned them but could not free them would find FREEDOM THROUGH JESUS. They would find their souls washed by the blood of the Lamb. They would find eternal life embracing them through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Life eternal, face-to-face with their God, would be their inheritance. And while walking this earth, they would have the voice of the Holy Spirit within them. Likewise, the Gentiles would be free to find light in their darkness through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice. They would not be serving demons and devils; they would be set free from the bondage of darkness. Their lives would be polluted no longer by rituals and ceremonies of darkness. IN CHRIST, they would find an eternal dwelling place where the Holy Spirit would come to abide with them, showing them how to serve the only true God in holiness and honesty. The basic elements of existence would be God's new creation through Christ's sacrifice. This was the inheritance of Jew and Gentile. When we move into the next chapter in Paul's letter to the church at Galatia, we will see him come to the obvious conclusion of this state of grace in Christ Jesus: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1) All who are in Christ have been brought into his glorious kingdom of life. Paul wrote: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8)
Those who have been adopted into God's family, whether Jew or Gentile, have the Holy Spirit within them. They cry out, “Abba, Father,” knowing they have a heavenly Father who accepts them as his own. Paul said those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (Romans 8:15-16) We know that our great High Priest, Jesus Christ, sits at the Father's right hand, where He constantly pleads our case. The writer of Hebrews says, knowing this, Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Today, we are blessed beyond measure. We are children of the King, cleansed and made holy by the shed blood of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, the Lamb for sinners slain. We no longer look to our own righteousness. We do not try to keep holy days or religious observances, hoping they will earn us merit with God. We join with our brother the Apostle Paul when he told Timothy of his faith despite his suffering: Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (2 Timothy 1:12) We stand upon the shoulders of such men and women of faith who did not waver, did not faint, and did not fall back in the face of constant trials and great persecution. They believed they were heirs of the promise of God and joints heirs with Christ. They belonged to a new family as new creatures in Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Every one of us has the same inheritance they had. We sing the same song of hope and deliverance. We read in Psalm 40:1-3, I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Sing it loud, pilgrim, and wave your banner high. You are an HEIR!
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