Galatians 4:1

For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ... there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ. And if you be Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from the servant, though he be Lord of all, but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the Father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

How God moved us from slaves of sin to adopted heirs—co-heirs with Christ Himself.

The Setting: Acts, Galatia, and the Judaizers

We have been going through the book of Acts on Sunday mornings, which covers the first thirty years of the church from Jesus' ascension until just before Paul's martyrdom in Rome. As the church spread, letters were written to the churches in these regions, and we want to read those letters in chronological order alongside Acts to gain context for what was happening in the church and in the Roman Empire.

In Acts we are right at the point just before Paul's second missionary journey in chapter 16, where Paul and Silas will return to Galatia to visit the churches Paul and Barnabas had planted in chapter 13 on the first journey. Between those two journeys, Paul received word that men called Judaizers had come into the fellowship, bringing another doctrine that seduced some and confused many. They were being drawn into a works-based, Pharisaical relationship with God, relating to Him based on their lineage from Abraham and their keeping of the law of Moses.

Children of God by Faith, Not Works

So Paul writes this powerful letter, filled with strong exhortation. Some words seem harsh, but Paul writes in such a strong tone because he is deeply concerned. As he says in verse 26, "You all are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." The Judaizers had told them that before you could become a true child of God, you must first become a Jew—a child of Abraham—not by faith but by works, by circumcision and by keeping the law. For Gentile believers, especially the men, that was a rather painful doctrine.

To this point, Christianity was basically seen as a sect of Judaism. Paul shows that this is an error. Individuals become children of God in the same way Abraham became a friend and follower of God in Genesis 15:6: "Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him as righteousness." It had nothing to do with his works or his special lineage. God by His grace called him, and we too can join with Abraham in following God and receiving the promised gift by faith.

Two Sides of Faith

The Greek word for faith, pistis, has two important definitions. When we hear the English word "faith," we often think only of mental assent—yes, I believe there was a man named Jesus 2,000 years ago who lived, did good works, was crucified, and even rose again. But pistis also means fidelity or faithfulness to the truth. Once you believe that truth, it ought to transform the way you live.

Many people simply have mental assent: "Yeah, I believe there's a God." Yet James reminds us that even the demons believe and tremble, and they have received no salvation, for they have not repented. Their conviction that it is true has not transformed their thinking or living.

Abraham's Seed and the Promise

These Judaizers put stock in their works, in being Jews, and in their stock—their descent from Abraham. Notice verse 29: "If you be Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." What promise? The one God gave Abraham in Genesis 12:3: "I will bless them that bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. And in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

This blessing was the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would come through Abraham's line. Jesus would be a blessing not to one small family, but to all nations. And how do they receive it? The same way Abraham did—he believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

The Heir and the Servant

In verse 1 of chapter 4, Paul says, "The heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from the servant, though he be lord of all, but is under tutors and governors until the appointed time of the father." Around 50 AD, households throughout the Roman Empire would fully understand the relationship of slaves and masters—it is believed that 60% of the Empire were slaves.

Paul says the master's son is no different from a slave's child while they are children. They may play together in the yard under the same tutors. But there comes an appointed time when the father gives over the inheritance and the right of the family to the son. In the Roman world there was no specific age for this coming of age; it happened when the father judged the boy ready. The children might not even recognize the hierarchy until they were older and came to understand, "I'm actually the master, the one with authority over these servants."

The Law as Our Schoolmaster

These tutors and governors point back to chapter 3, verse 24: "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith." Paul builds on this in chapter 4, verse 3: "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."

The law was our governor until just the right time. As Paul told the church at Rome, "when we were yet without strength, at the right time, Christ saved the ungodly."

Why That Was the Right Time

Why was 2,000 years ago the right time? Teachers offer many answers, but consider the flow of Scripture. After the fall in Genesis 3, God made atonement, a covering for man and his wife; blood was shed so they could have a restored relationship. From that time until the giving of the law—roughly a 2,000-year period—man tried to approach God by his own methods, but it always came down to sacrifice, and there were right sacrifices and wrong ones.

Recall Cain and Abel in Genesis 4. Both brought a sacrifice of their own choosing, but only one was accepted. Cain's was rejected because there was no blood atonement. He could have repented, but instead he grew angry and killed Abel. By Genesis 11, man is still trying to reach God his own way—building the Tower of Babel in the Valley of Shinar to reach the heavens. It is always man's way to find his own method to reach enlightenment, as the 6.5 billion people in the world today, with their countless worldviews, demonstrate.

Grace, Then Law, Then Christ

But in Genesis 12, God calls a man by grace—Abraham—who followed God by faith and was accounted righteous. God called Abraham's entire family, and over the next 400 years multiplied them into a great people in Egypt. He brought them out not because of their merit, but because of a covenant made with their father by grace through faith.

At Mount Sinai, more than 400 years after Abraham, God established the law. The law is magnificent—holy, just, and good. God essentially said, "Man has been trying to approach Me by his own strength; this is the proper way." But the standard was very high. The law was given not to make man righteous, but to show him he was sinful and could never keep God's perfect standard. Yet give a man a list of things to do and he will claim he has done it. For centuries the children of Israel boasted of how well they kept the law, right up to the time of Christ, when the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and Herodians believed themselves righteous based on their works and lineage.

So after man failed under his own methods—Babel, Cain, idolatry—and then failed under God's perfect law while still claiming he was doing fine, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. And it was the ungodly, those who recognized their sinfulness through the law, who received Him. The religious of the day rejected Him, saying, "We don't need a Savior." The sinners understood their need.

The Same Error Today

The Judaizers came in saying, "It's great that you believe in Jesus, and His work is wonderful, but it's not enough. You must also be circumcised and keep the law of Moses; only then can you become a child of God." That teaching was not new then, and it continues today. People come to your door saying, "It's great that you believe in Jesus, but you must also do this—you must be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." It is no different from what the Pharisees taught: adding to the work of Jesus for our justification.

The work Jesus did is sufficient. We may believe that with our minds—but the other side of faith is putting our confidence and trust in it, saying, "I'm going to trust Him for my salvation, not my own works."

Redeemed and Then Adopted

We were under the tutor until the fullness of time came, when God sent His Son to redeem us who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. We were slaves to sin and death, and Jesus came at the right time to buy us back. That alone would be enough—to say, "I have been purchased; I am no longer a slave of sin but a servant of God." But God goes a step further in His grace. He says, "Not only do I want to redeem you and make you My servant—I want to make you My child."

"Because you are sons," verse 6 says, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying out, Abba, Father." Paul says in Romans 8:16 that His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. He has redeemed us from sin and death, made us His children, and sealed us with His Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, the Guarantee of Our Inheritance

In Ephesians 1:13, Paul says, "In whom you also trusted after you heard the word of the truth of the gospel... in whom also, after you believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit." Galatians 4:7 adds, "Wherefore you are no more a slave, but a son. And if you are a son, then you are an heir of God through Christ."

God purchased us by His blood from slavery to sin and death, adopted us as His children, sealed us with the Holy Spirit, and given us an inheritance. Romans 8 tells us He has given us equal inheritance with Jesus. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father, a true Son by nature; you and I are adopted, yet God in Christ has made us joint heirs with Christ. This is miraculous.

Ephesians 1:14 says the Holy Spirit "is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory." What inheritance? Galatians 4:7 says we are heirs of God—we inherit God Himself. You can have an earthly inheritance of gold and silver if you want, but it is all going to burn. Do you want the eternal inheritance or just the temporal one?

God Himself as the Inheritance

This is the very inheritance God originally intended for Israel. He was going to divide the promised land among the twelve tribes, an earthly inheritance, but He desired to give them far more. Only one tribe actually received that greater inheritance. When Israel gathered at Sinai and Moses was on the mountain, the people built a golden calf and danced around it, saying, "This is the God that brought us out of Egypt." On that day only the tribe of Levi separated themselves, and they became the priests of the nation.

Deuteronomy 10:9 says Levi "has no part nor inheritance with his brethren" in an earthly sense, because "the Lord is His inheritance." For the priests—originally intended to be the whole nation—their inheritance was God Himself. In Christ today, we inherit God for eternity, to be with Him in His presence wherever He is. And He has given us a down payment: the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our inheritance.

A couple of weeks ago I read that Toys R Us is offering layaway again because of the economy. You see the toy you want, put some money down, and that seals the possession for you until the day of redemption—when you have the full amount, you give the whole and receive the product. God has given us a portion of Himself in the indwelling Holy Spirit as a down payment before we are ultimately with Him in heaven. And His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are indeed His children.

Unique Access: Abba, Father

We have a unique relationship with God the Father in Christ. Before Christ opened the door, man could only approach God in a legal fashion, by offering a sacrifice. But Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." Now we can come crying out, "Abba, Father," which literally means "Papa" or "Daddy."

How does this look practically? Malia and Sasha Obama have totally different access to the President than you and I ever could. Legally we might get access—go through the Secret Service, get an ID card, pass a background check, sit in the West Wing, and wait for the secretary to let us in. But do you think the President's daughters have to ask the secretary if they can see their father? They respect the office, but they have unique access no one else has. We have that same access to God the Father in Christ.

Martin Luther said, "A son is an heir not by virtue of his high accomplishments, but by virtue of his birth. He is a mere recipient. His birth makes him an heir, not his labors." It is not because of anything we have done, but because of our position in Christ by grace through faith.

Turning Back to Weak and Beggarly Elements

Paul continues in verse 8: "When you knew not God, you did service unto them which by nature are no gods, but now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage?" These Galatian Gentiles had served false gods—Zeus and Hermes (whom they once mistook Paul and Barnabas for), Diana, and all the rest.

Two different Greek words appear here. In verse 8, "knew not" means to perceive or understand. All mankind has an innate understanding that there is a God, which is why men are prone to worship many things. But in verse 9, "known God" is the word gnosko—to know experientially, an intimate knowledge, the same word used of a husband knowing his wife. Now you have a relationship with God. And even more important, you are known of God.

In Matthew 7, Jesus said many will come saying, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name?" and He will say, "Depart from me, I never knew you." It is like the man outside the nightclub who tells the bouncer, "I know the DJ"—but the bouncer doesn't know him, and he isn't getting in.

Forgetting That We Too Were Pagans

The Judaizers forgot that Abraham their father was just another pagan, that Israel served false gods in Egypt, in the wilderness, and for hundreds of years in the promised land. They were saved by grace through faith just like the worst Gentile pagan, but they had forgotten it and put their stock in their stock. We have the same tendency.

Paul reminded the Corinthians that fornicators, adulterers, murderers, and homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom—and lest they grow prideful, he added, "and such were some of you. But you were washed." Washed by our good works? No—by the blood of Jesus Christ. He who knew no sin became sin that we might receive His righteousness.

Idolatry Is Worshiping God in a False Manner

Why did these Gentiles serve false gods? Not because they loved them, but because they figured, "If I do this, I'll have an abundant harvest; if I do this, I'll become wealthy; if I do this, I'll experience pleasure." That same false understanding crept into the church: "If I do these things, then God will bless me." It still goes on today—"Send $10 to this ministry and God will give you $100." How is that not idolatry?

When we think of idolatry, we picture a little golden image we bow down to. That is idolatry. But often idolatry is not worshiping a false god—it is worshiping the true God in a false manner. These people had been bound up in false worship of the one true God, relating to Him based on what they had done and their lineage, not on what God had done in redeeming them. Verse 10: "You observe days and months and times and years and I am afraid for you lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain." They had been seduced into a pagan worship of the true God, no different from the idolatry they had come out of—taught to them by people who claimed to be Christians but were themselves seduced by Phariseeism.

Paul Had Been in Their Shoes

In verse 12 Paul cries, "Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am for I am as you are. You have not injured me." Paul had once depended on his own works of righteousness but departed from that Phariseeism. In Philippians 3:5 he says, "I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee."

Notice that everything in verse 5 concerns his identity—his lineage, with no pagans in his family tree. Verse 6 concerns his works: "Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." His relationship to God as a Pharisee had everything to do with his lineage and his works. But verse 7: "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." All that any Jew would call valuable, he counted as nothing compared to Christ. They may be good things, but Christ supersedes them.

It does not matter who you are, what you have done, or who your grandfather is—even if his name is Billy Graham. It has everything to do with whether you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and the work He did on the cross. If you are basing your standing with God on anything else, it is false religion. I know that is heavy, but it is what the Scriptures say.

Telling the Truth in Love

Paul says, "You have not injured me." This church loved him; he had planted it and been their pastor. Yet he speaks in harsh tones because he is concerned they have injured themselves by returning to bondage. In verses 13–15 he recalls that he first preached the gospel to them through an infirmity of the flesh, and they did not despise or reject him but received him as an angel of God. He says, "If it had been possible you would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?"

It appears Paul had some illness when he came to Galatia. Some think it concerned his eyes, since he references their willingness to give him their eyes and notes in 6:11 the "large letters" he writes. But Paul was in his late forties or fifties—eye trouble is common at that age. Others suggest he contracted something like malaria in the low-lying areas before climbing the 3,600 feet into Galatia. We do not know; it is all speculation. Whatever it was, when he first came there was something about him that might have put them off—yet they received him and loved him so much they would have given him their eyes, and he loved them, preaching the gospel even through sickness.

Seeking God's Approval, Not the World's

Paul was concerned the harsh tone of his letter might put them off. We are tempted the same way. Sometimes the Word of God is tough—some have even called this "the church of the Holy Spanking"—and people think, "That was rough; I want to go to one of them fun churches." But like Paul, I desire that Christ would be formed in us, that we would be transformed by the renewing of our minds more and more into the image of His Son. So Paul says the difficult things. To the Corinthians he wrote, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls, though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved" (2 Corinthians 12:15).

Let us be honest—we Californians are politically correct. We don't like being told the truth; we'd rather be lied to. But Paul says, "I'm not going to lie to you so that you feel better and die in hell eternally." As we'll see next week in verse 17, the Judaizers were also zealous for the Galatians—but only to gather a following who would say, "I'm of Paul" or "I'm of Apollos." It had nothing to do with the Galatians' good; it had to do with the false teachers' pride and ego. Paul said, "I don't care if you don't like me; I've got to tell you the truth."

Jesus was much the same. The world, especially the religious establishment, didn't like Him. This may shock you: if you are a Christian and you really want the world to like you, it will be a hard life. Enjoy the love of the world and you make yourself an enemy of God; seek the approval of God by grace through faith and the world will want nothing to do with you. The view of Christians is already changing. Watching a documentary on Isaac Newton's theology, I counted at least twenty times they called him a nut, an idiot, crazy—because he literally believed the Bible. What will they say of us?

The enemy desires to discourage us from speaking the truth by making us feel that nobody likes us. So it comes down to this: do you want one day to hear God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant"? Or would you rather have the love and admiration of the New York Times? I'm hoping for the well done. His approval means so much more to me than anybody's.

Closing Prayer

Lord, I thank You that You are willing to speak the truth to us even though it sometimes hurts. God, would You fill our hearts and our minds with Your Word as we prepare to go from here? Would You pour out Your Spirit in abundance upon us? Lord, give us the boldness to speak the truth—yes, with tact, yes, with grace seasoned with salt—but to speak it nonetheless. In a day and an age and a culture where Your Word is greatly looked down upon, would You stir our hearts to stand strong and to speak with boldness? For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.