Sons Not Slaves | Galatians 4:1-5

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, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. — Galatians 4:1-5

CALL OUT: I want to give a shout-out to the 1300 men at Men's Advance from Alexandria, MN. Thanks for letting me be with you over the weekend.

If you remember back a few days, Paul had compared the Law to a "prison warden" and a "pedagogue." Now, he compares it to “guardians and managers” whose job was to supervise until the date of their status had ended.

Here's Paul's illustration.

There was a long period of time when your Father (God) used the Law to guard and manage you. During this time, you were like a son who was no different from a slave. You had borne the title "son" but were being guarded and managed, just like a "slave." However, that time is done. The "fullness of your time" as a son has come. You (the sons of Abraham) are now of age through the Father's provision of his Son born under the law, which frees you as slaves and adopts you as sons with all the rights of a pure-blooded heir.

Here's Paul's point in context.

In the same way, the Law was your former guardian and manager. But now that you are heirs, you don't serve the same guardian and manager. In fact, it would look foolish for you, as a pure-blooded heir adopted as a son, to go back to serving under a guardian and manager when you don't need one. You have a Father, a family, and the freedom to live as sons.

Here's Paul's exhortation for the believers in Galatia:

The discipleship and discipline of the Law had its time. Its purpose was to train and teach you the way of righteousness. But there comes a point when you no longer need this guardian and manager. By faith, the Father has adopted you as full heirs into his family. So don't go back to the old patterns of living like a slave when you are a son. Circumcision under the Law is one of those old signs that add nothing to your salvation by faith as heirs.

Here's the exhortation for you today.

By faith, you are an adopted son. By faith, you are a full heir of his righteousness. By faith, you are a son of the living God. If this is the case, why do you immediately return that voice of shame in moments of sin? Why do you let your shame rule over your sonship?

This is similar to what the Galatians were doing. They were using former behaviors to fortify their current relationship. But when you let shame rule over your sonship, you are returning to the slavery of the Law.

Stop listening to the voice of shame and letting it rule over you. Preach back to this voice, "I am no longer a slave to sin. I am a child of God." Consider singing this song to yourself. I posted it below.

#FromSlaveryToSonship #EmbracingAdoption #NoLongerSlaves #IdentityInChrist #FreedByFaith

ASK THIS:

How does recognizing ourselves as adopted sons of God change the way we view our struggles with sin and shame?
In what areas of our lives do we still tend to revert to a "slave mentality" instead of embracing our identity as sons of God, and how can we actively shift our perspective in those areas?
DO THIS: Tell your shame, "I am no longer a slave to sin. I am a child of God."

PRAY THIS: Father, thank you for adopting me as your son and freeing me from the bondage of sin and shame. Help me to live confidently in my identity as your child, rejecting the voice of shame and embracing the freedom you've given me through Christ. Amen.

PLAY THIS: No Longer Slaves.