It Starts Small

4 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. ² Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. ⁴ When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

Galatians 4:1-7

The heir is no different from a slave until he comes of age

In the last passage, we discovered the profound truth about equality in Christ. Every individual stands equal, regardless of being Jew or Gentile. The Jews believed their birthright made them heirs of God. However, Paul boldly proclaimed that true heirs are only those found in Christ. Moreover, every person in Christ is a cherished offspring of Abraham. They are an heir to the magnificent promise that transcends all bounds!

Paul passionately emphasizes that being an heir is meaningless. This remains the case until an individual truly “comes of age” by personally putting their faith in Christ. Imagine a child who is the heir to a magnificent estate. Yet, the child remains under the strict supervision of guardians and managers.

²⁴ The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 

Galatians 3:24

A tutor is also involved, as noted in Galatians 3:24. These overseers wield absolute authority over the child, dictating every aspect of life. He must comply with their every command, from rising in the morning to mealtime, homework assignments, and bedtime. Every move requires their permission, rendering him, in essence, like a slave!

This subordinate role to the guardians will endure strongly until the date decreed by his father. This is the moment of coming of age when the heir finally claims his title and estate. Only then, his heart full of longing, will he break free. He will escape from the suffocating grasp of these guardians. Only once this pivotal date has passed will he rise, no longer confined, but liberated from the shackles of servitude!

In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world

Here, Paul powerfully drives his message home. Believers are like the heirs of slaves in his striking example. They remain shackled until they reach spiritual maturity. This happens through the acceptance of Christ. They are bound by the rudimentary principles of this world, which are nothing but man-made religions. They are reflections of human thought, birthed from the limitations of the human mind.

Wherever you venture in this vast world, you’ll find that humanity shares a profound truth: a powerful logic unites us all. It’s beautifully simple yet deeply compelling. To atone for our misdeeds, we must manifest goodness and light. Imagine, if you will, a colossal scale—on one side rests our missteps, while the other balances our virtuous acts. When our goodness outweighs our wrongdoings, we unlock the gateway to paradise. This is whatever divine interpretation your faith holds dear.

This is the fundamental principle that governs our existence. Jews who sought salvation through the stringent observance of the law were earnest in their efforts. Gentiles, driven by their inherent nature, fervently endeavored to uphold their own rules-based religions. Make no mistake about it—this insidious deception continues to permeate our society today. We need to ask ourselves a question:

“If you were to stand before God today and He inquired why He should grant you entry into heaven, what would your response be?”

Shockingly, a significant number of individuals in the will respond with some variation of, “I am a good person.” They cling to the notion that their goodness will secure their salvation. They believe their faith and meticulous adherence to a set of rules will help too. But let me be clear: it will not.

Works-based religion offers only slavery. It offers a burden that no person can carry, and a standard no person can achieve.

⁴ They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry^[a] and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.

Matthew 23:4

Man-made religion cannot save you! It cannot erase your sin or make amends for the wrongs you’ve committed.

¹⁰ For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.

James 2:10

God is utterly holy, and no matter how fervently you strive, reaching that divine perfection is beyond your grasp! Man-made religion ensnares you in a relentless double bondage. First, it chains you to your sin, leaving you desperate for freedom. Second, it locks you in an unending cycle of rules, a daunting system you can never fully conquer!

 When the time came to completion,

God’s timing is nothing short of divine perfection! From the dawn of creation, God’s magnificent plan of redemption started. He intended to send His precious Son into our world. His mission was to rescue sinners through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection! This was not a mere backup plan; it was the ultimate, awe-inspiring design crafted by an all-knowing Creator. Throughout the Old Testament, God was fervently preparing the hearts of His people. He laid the foundation for the grand arrival of Jesus, the long-awaited Savior.

The Old Testament powerfully unveils the depths of humanity’s total depravity and our utter inability to meet God’s glorious standards. It boldly proclaims the urgent need for a perfect sacrifice, the only path to redemption. Throughout its pages, God passionately prophesies that He Himself will fulfill this promise. He ensures that when it happens, we will recognize it unmistakably as His divine handiwork.

Then when the religious and political climate was exactly right, God sent His Son to this world. Jesus was born of a woman and born under the law.

¹⁷ “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

Matthew 5:17

Being born under the law, He followed the law, and He fulfilled the law.

God’s timing is perfect. Often, we cannot understand God’s plans. Why does He wait? Why doesn’t He act now?

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
⁹ “For as heaven is higher than earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

God always has a purpose, and His ways are immeasurably higher than our own! When the Jews suffered under the weight of slavery in Egypt, they cried out to God for rescue. He heard their desperate pleas. Moses was born! Yet, they faced a long, grueling wait of eighty more years for their long-awaited deliverance! In that time, the people transformed into a resilient nation, united by hope.

Are you yearning for God to move in your life or to answer a prayer?

Reflect on the reasons He might have for making you wait!

Then, irrespective of your insights, pray to God. Declare your unwavering trust in Him. Show your readiness to embrace His divine timing!

To redeem those under the law

Jesus was born under the law, a profound act of love to rescue those bound by its demands. He met every requirement of the law with grace, offering redemption to all who struggled to uphold its weight. In His boundless compassion, He extended His saving embrace to those living beyond the reach of the law. This act ignited a flame of hope for everyone!

You are no longer a slave, but a son and an heir

This is the good news of this passage!

¹² But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,

John 1:12

We are not destined to be slaves to this world or to the crushing weight of the law! Jesus liberates us from all of that! He embraces us as His own, welcoming us into His family as beloved children. As children of God, we experience a profound and intimate relationship with Him. This relationship is beyond anything we could ever attain on our own. This is the essence of salvation! It transcends the soulless rituals of a man-made religion rooted in works. Salvation means entering into a vibrant relationship with Jesus. This relationship is life-giving. It elevates the teachings of the Bible above all other religions. It’s all about relationship—passionate, personal connection—not mere rules and rituals!

Our relationship with God is incredibly sweet and profoundly precious. Verse 6 invites us to call Him “Abba, Father,” a term that resonates with intimacy—a beautiful Aramaic expression meaning “Daddy.”

We can cultivate a profoundly intimate relationship with the King of Kings! Monarchs do not permit just anyone to approach their throne. Attempting to barge in and demand an audience with royalty will lead to dire consequences, perhaps even arrest. Yet, who holds the divine access to a king? His beloved children! Even the highest-ranking nobleman may be left waiting in the shadows for a coveted invitation. Meanwhile, the cherished offspring are welcomed in without hesitation. Imagine a young son gleefully racing to leap into the king’s lap amidst a serious council meeting! Nobles cast astonished glances at the boy, yet he responds with pure innocence, “He is my dad.”

¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

Matthew 7:11

God does not guarantee that every prayer will be answered. God relentlessly seeks to bless His children with the most wondrous gifts imaginable, pouring out His love without measure. What a truly astounding privilege it is to be called sons and daughters of God! Take a moment to immerse yourself in prayer. Pour out your gratitude to God for this extraordinary and intimate relationship. He offers you this profound connection.

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Cross References:

Questions to Ponder:

• What is Paul’s main point in this passage?
• How does it relate to what Paul has been teaching in the first three chapters?
• How is an heir like a slave when he is still a child?
• In this illustration, who would the guardians and managers be?
• What are the elementary principles of the world that enslave people in verse 3?
• What can you learn about God from the phrase “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His son”?
• How did Jesus’ coming change His followers’ status?
• What happens when a person becomes a son of God (verse 6)?
• What is a believer’s relationship to God described as?
• What should a good son do?
• How are we heirs? What are we heirs to? What should an heir do?

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