Galatians 3:15-29
Thursday, 28 January 2021
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. … And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” - Galatians 3:26&29
The Epistle to the Galatians is much about Christian liberty. Legalistic religion and false doctrines had crept into the churches in Galatia, insisting that faith in Christ alone was not sufficient, but also obedience to the Mosaic Law and observance of Jewish traditions. Apostle Paul contrasts our old nature as slaves to the Law to the new creation as a free man in Christ and emphasizes that salvation and being made right before God, is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.
Have we at times drifted like the believers in Galatia, turning to legalistic religious practices in an effort to please God? Let us not add anything of our own to what the love and grace of God have freely given us. “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.” (Galatians 5:1NLT) Now that we have been set free, let’s not continue as enslaved and bonded to the law but rather live in the freedom that Christ has given us. Through Christ, we have the great privilege of being sons and daughters of God. Let us behave as sons and heirs!
How do we become sons and heirs of God?
In our old status as sons of Adam, we were estranged from God (Colossians 1:21) in bondage to sin and under the wrath of God (Ephesians 5:6). But by faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ – the blemish less and spotless Lamb of God–who bore the punishment for our sins by His death, we are made right with God! It is by faith through grace!
It is by faith in Christ that we become sons of God and heirs of the divine promise (Vs 26-29). The Holy Spirit witnesses and testifies of our sonship. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (Galatians 4:6-7). Romans 8:17 reminds us that not only are we heirs, but also co-heirs with Christ. As co-heirs with Christ, we have the assurance of eternal inheritance. The fullness of our adoption will be completed at glorification, which every believer eagerly awaits (Romans 8:23).
What are the duties and responsibilities of sons & heirs?
While we enjoy the immense privilege of adoption into God’s family, we have an even greater responsibility. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48). As children of God, we are familiar with the need to love the Lord, walk in His ways, lead a blameless and live in peace. Beyond this, as sons and heirs, we have the tremendous responsibility of advancing the kingdom of God on earth. We are a chosen generation, empowered by the Spirit to be the light and a beacon of hope, leading others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are called to ‘do the work of an evangelist’, with a zeal for drawing lost souls to Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, Himself is the greatest example for us, of one who labored for the “Father’s business” throughout His earthly ministry!
Let us take our responsibility as sons of God seriously and labour diligently for the advancement of the Lord’s Kingdom that those in darkness may be brought in, to share in the joy and privileges that we have been bestowed.
The task set before us:
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you...”
(Matthew 28:19-20)