Adopted – Galatians 4:1-7
My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods. 9 Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again? 10 You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.
What does the Passage say?
V. 1-7 Paul talks to the people in Galatian, about the acceptance of being a child of God, compared to an heir. He says, when the heir is young, there are many things to follow, but when the time comes, the heir is an heir just because the Father chose the heir. Through Jesus Christ, we can call God our father, and proclaim our acceptance.
V. 8-14 Paul is asking why the Galatians are returning to their old practices when they are fully accepted. He says, “For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with specials and seasons and years” (v. 9-10 The Message)
What does the Passage say to me/us?
We need to understand the background of Galatians to understand Paul assertion. Paul shared the good news with the people. However, some who were following Paul came and told them that they still needed to follow the Jewish laws.
The people were afraid that their salvation might have been completed, so they were about to follow what the other teachers said. Paul hears this a warns the people not to go back to the old ways. That is why he says, “I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you” (v.11 NIV).
What is Paul saying? Paul is not abolishing the laws or tradition. He was still a faithful Jew. The message he was conveying was that the Good News itself has all the power to save. Nothing else is needed.
We need to understand the power of the Gospel. Maybe we underestimate the power of the saving grace, and we tend to return to tradition and experience. (I am not putting down the Wesleyan quadrilateral, I am saying that the Good News has to be upheld as the foundation of our belief). Like the Galatians, are we not seeking acceptance from other practices.
I do believe that our understanding of the Salvation needs to be refreshed and renewed periodically. Are we, confident of your salvation? Are we fully understanding the enormous grace poured out through the Good News? I pray that the hope of Salvation is renewed in all of your hearts. And if there is anyone struggling with this question, please feel free to contact me.
Prayer
Lord, we are thankful that you sent your one and only Son, to call us and accept us as your children. Help us to fully understand what that means. And help us to live this life, as your child, worthy of our call. In Christ Name we pray, AMEN.
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