[Adoption] is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification…Justification is the primary blessing, because it meets our primary spiritual need…To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is a greater.”             – J.I. Packer

<Gal 3>

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1. Constraints of underaged children.

<Gal 4> 1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 

2. Christ redeems us to enjoy the full rights of sonship.

<Gal 4> 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

“Fullness of time has come”: God’s perfect timing

“God sent His Son”:

1. born of a woman

born under the law

The privileges of sonship.

1. Receive the Holy Spirit:

1. <Gal 4> 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”
   1. “Abba”: Personal, intimate relationship with heavenly Father.
   1. Sent into our hearts.

1. Being children, we are also heirs:

<Gal 4> 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Heirs to what our Father has, to the promised Holy Spirit (Gal 3:14), to kingdom of God.

3. Why be enslaved all over again?

<Gal 4> 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

Restore the mindset of an heir.

Usually enslaved by excessive desire for something.

4. Restore believers with gentleness and truth.

<Gal 4> 12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 

– Power of God’s word.

– The messenger may be weak, but the gospel message is not.

<Gal 4> 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? [ESV: “What then has become of your blessedness?”] I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Trap of legalism.

<Gal 4> 17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

– Restore with gentleness and love.

– Love includes rebuking in truth.

Reflection:

1. Have you been living with a heart of sonship and enjoying its privileges? Besides intellectually knowing that you have a status as God’s child, are you enjoying the intimacy in your heart in this personal relationship with God?

2. What are the ‘non-gods’ which tend to enslave you again?

3. What can we learn from Paul about restoring believers who have departed from the gospel?