Galatians 4:1-7 - Adoption As Sons

In chapter 4 Paul continues his theological argument against the Judaizers by using a cultural analogy with which his readers would have been familiar. He is going to compare our position in Christ and in the Abrahamic covenant with Greco-Roman adoption. He takes his cue from the preceding verse:

And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.--3:29

Heirs. That's key. We are heirs of the promises made to Abraham. Now taking that concept of our being the heirs of the promises made to Abraham he draws his comparison.

(1) I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,

Now think about a rich son. He is in a royal household. He is the heir. But as long as he is still a child he is treated (especially by the guardian) no differently than is a slave--although legally he is, or will be, the owner of everything. He has no voice. He makes no decisions. He is made to obey, made to learn, by the guardian. He has to go to bed at a certain time. He has to get up at a certain time. He is not free.

(2) but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 

The day will come when he is set free, but it is not yet. This is where the people of God were before the coming of Christ. They were under Moses, under bondage. This is where we were before Christ, enslaved to the elementary principles of this world.

This is the Bible study I taught on a Wednesday night covering the first seven verses of Galatians 4. Below you will find a link to the audio of the entire lesson. Just click the link and a new window will open up where you can stream the audio on your pc or other device. Take a listen and see what you think. God bless.

Click here: Galatians 4:1-7 - Adoption As Sons



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