The Book Of Galatians Chapter 4 Part 1 You Can Be A Child Of God By Faith In Christ

The law of God is like a schoolmaster until they come to Christ. 

Galatians 3:24-25  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 

Galatians 3:27-29  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28)  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29)  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

The ending of chapter 3 leads us into the fourth chapter of Paul's letter to churches in Galatia.

The Spirit of God guided Paul to expound on the doctrine of Jesus Christ, salvation by grace through faith and the Christian's inheritance in Christ.

Paul used the idea of a schoolmaster to illustrate how the law relates to the Jewish people. 

Remember, the main issue troubling churches in Galatia was from Judaizers who demanded Gentiles submit to the law of Moses.

A schoolmaster was a trusted slave who was responsible to teach a boy proper morals and conduct befitting the wealthy class.

A young boy was placed under the strict care of a schoolmaster and could not go anywhere without him.

Such strict governance remained in effect until the boy reached the age of adulthood, usually around 17.

The picture is that the law of God strictly governs us, condemning us for sin, until we hear the gospel of Christ.

Exercising repentant faith in Christ is like a young boy reaching adulthood and being freed from the schoolmaster.

Paul illustrates what he said of the law as a schoolmaster to the Jews until the coming of Christ. 

The law ceased as a covenant when Jesus came, lived a sinless life of obedience to His Father, followed by His suffering, death and resurrection.

An heir does not receive inheritance until he reaches legal age.

Galatians 4:1-2  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2)  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 

Next, Paul used the example of an underage heir who must reach legal age of adulthood before receiving his father's estate.

Anyone that is an heir to his father's estate, while under age, is like a child or a minor in modern legal terms.  

As long as an heir is underage, he cannot access his father's estate nor is he free to do as he pleases.

He was subject to correction by his tutor according to his behavior and he had to finish school.

Thus, he may be listed as the sole heir of his father's estate, but in that culture when he was under age, he was more like a servant.

He was not his own man and could not do as he pleased because of legal constraints.

Thus, the heir lived under tutors and governors. 

A "tutor" is like a legal guardian appointed by the heir's father to manage and guide the affairs of an underage child. 

A tutor was responsible for the care and education of children when the father was deceased. 

A "governor" was a person who superintended the business of a family's estate until the heir reaches legal age to inherit. 

This person functioned like a trustee named by an heir's father to manage financial assets until the heir reaches legal age.

He is responsible for safeguarding the assets and acting as a fiduciary agent by putting the interests of the heir first.

Before faith in Christ all were under bondage.

Galatians 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

Paul is speaking specifically of the Jews who were under the Mosaic law and Gentiles who stood condemned by its holy standard. 

He compared the law to functioning like a military guard, a prison, or a schoolmaster to prepare all mankind for Messiah.

Paul addressed the Gentiles as being the children of God, baptized into Christ, as the spiritual seed of Abraham. 

Thus, Gentiles are heirs of all the blessings of grace and glory. 

Paul was Jewish and compared their standing under the law as being in bondage and under the elements of the world. 

Before faith came, Jews and Gentiles were under the law as under a schoolmaster, guardian, or steward.

This condition before the gospel of Christ was preached, was like being in a permanent state of bondage.

The elements of the world refers to the external ceremonies of the Jews religion. They were subject to this while they remained underage.

Jesus came into the world at the right time to fulfill all Messianic scripture.

Galatians 4:4-5  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

The time which God in His infinite wisdom counted best, the moment that all His counsels were ready for implementation.  

Many strands of Messianic prophecy had to converge at the right moment in time and history for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Abraham and the son of David, to be born.

At that right moment God sent forth His Son, made of a woman and made under the law. 

Jesus Christ came immediately from God, made of a woman according to the promise (See Genesis 3:15). 

His body was produced by the power of God in the womb of the Virgin Mary without any intervention of man. 

Thus Jesus is called the Son of God because Joseph had no role in the birth of Christ. 

Normal human procreation was circumvented by the work of God's Spirit.

Christ was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit and is God incarnate.

Matthew 1:20-23  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22)  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23)  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

Matthew's gospel tells us that Joseph and Mary were betrothed in marriage but he discovered that she was pregnant.

Joseph was a kind and honorable man and thought about a private divorce to spare Mary from public humiliation.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and told him that the child in her womb was from the Holy Ghost.

Jesus would be called Emmanuel which means God with us because Christ is God manifest in the flesh.

God determined the way of salvation in eternity past, through faith in Christ.

Hebrews 10:4-10  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5)  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6)  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7)  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8)  Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9)  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10)  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

The fact that it is not possible for the blood of animal sacrifices to take away sin is why Jesus was born. 

He is God manifest in the flesh (See 1 Timothy 3:16). 

He is the Son of God and God is His Father (See John -10:20)

He is the perfect passover Lamb of God who takes away the sins of all humanity throughout all history (See John 1:29; 3:15-18)

We have redemption, expiation and salvation through the blood of Christ (See Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:12-14).

Thus, the text above is a record of a conversation between the Father, Son and Spirit in eternity past. 

The Father determined the only way to save humanity from sin, even though nothing had been created and sin had not yet entered the world.

The infinite foreknowledge of God sees everything from the beginning of creation to the end when a new heaven and a new earth is created.

The Son of God said "A body thou hast prepared me" because animal sacrifices are not sufficient to put away our sin (See Luke 1:34-35; Hebrews 10:5-6).

The Son of God said He would come as a newborn babe and fulfill all that the scriptures declared about the redeemer God promised to send (Hebrews 10:7).

Christ came to be the perfect and only sacrifice for humanity's sins. 

In doing so, He took away the old or first covenant and brought in the new covenant (Hebrews 10:8-10).

This is why there is no other name under heaven whereby men must be saved (See Acts 4:12).

This is why there is only one way of salvation, one way to heaven and one way to the Father, through repentant faith in Jesus Christ (See John 10:1-18; 14:1-14).

This is why each Christian must share the gospel of Christ with lost people (See Romans 10:5-17).

Galatians 4:6-7  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

Oh, the tremendous blessing God pours out on each sinner who repents of sin and turns to Jesus Christ for salvation!

A Christian is not just a sinner redeemed by the grace of God. He or she is also declared to be saint, and a child of God (See Romans 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2).

The Father adopts us into His family by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. 

The Father regenerates each sinner, washing us clean in the blood of His Son and renews our minds (See Titus 3:4-6).

He gives us spiritual life whereas we were previously dead in trespass and sin (See Ephesians 2:1-5).

The Father sends His own Spirit to indwell or live in us by faith. 

Christ lifts us up from the miry clay of sin and sets us on God's solid foundation.

Psalm 40:1-5  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2)  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3)  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4)  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5)  Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 

The Spirit of God gives us a new song, a new heart and a new spirit so that we can walk in newness of life.

The washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost lifts us up from the muck and mire of sin and places us on Christ the solid Rock.

Instead of being like a slave under the law and in bondage to our sin nature, God welcomes each repentant sinner as His son or daughter by faith in Christ.

The Father makes us heirs with Christ of all that the Son of God will inherit.

Therefore, we ought to be overwhelmed at the grace of God in pouring out such a rich treasure of spiritual blessings upon us.

These truths should have a major impact upon what we think about, what we talk about and what we do each day.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will help each of us understand the mighty work of Christ in saving us, granting us eternal life and giving us new life, new hope and a new place to spend eternity.

Bob