Heirs of the Promise
Last week I ended by reminding us we are joint heirs because of the promise. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment. There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise (3:27-29) The word for heir is klēronómos which means, one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship. Because of the promise, we have the same rights as sons. We continue to explore this idea throughout chapter four.
Vs 1-7 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. Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
When we were children, we were under the guardianship (klēronómos) or stewardship (oikonomous) of someone else. For many of us it was our parents. They hopefully took care of us, guided us, and taught us to be good adults. At a magical age, usually 18, we become adults. We are able to make decisions independent of our guardian or steward. Before Christ, like children, all were under the guardianship of the holy law of God. The law set parameters for to be a holy people, and how to conduct ourselves in the world. Then God sent us Christ. He was born under the law so he could redeem not only the children of God, but those who were not yet sons – those who are now adopted children who have the same rights as sons. We are able to call God Abba, Father. We have the same inheritance afforded to His children.
Vs. 8-14 But in the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
There was a time when the Galatians didn’t know God. They were enslaved by false gods and pagan practices. It was the same with us before we met Christ. We were enslaved by the things of the flesh. Paul describes it as “weak and bankrupt elemental forces”. The word for bankrupt is ptōcha, which means one who crouches and cowers. It gives us the picture of a person that is totally imprisoned by fear and poverty. The holy law of God was given to be the guardian of His righteousness and holiness. We cannot live up to it’s expectations. Instead, it points out all our weaknesses and inabilities. Without Christ we are in a desperate situation, poverty stricken in holiness and righteousness. We tried to keep everything perfectly, but we failed. Now we have freedom in Christ because He became holy and righteous for us, ending our poverty and fear. But there are those who wish to continue to live under the guardianship of the law. They don’t necessarily see it that way, but that’s what it is. In Paul’s time it was those who wanted the Gentiles to follow the law and it’s practices. They wanted them to follow the festivals in their original way, not as fulfilled by Christ but as a mandate. They wanted to put perimeters on what it meant to be a believer in Christ. Does this sound familiar? In the words of Solomon, “nothing is new under the sun”. There will always be people who want to put perimeters on what it means to be a Christian. If you don’t do this, or if you do this… Traditions of the church become more important than the gospel of Christ. We create our own “ptocha” or bankrupt practices. I remember when I was a child – about 10 or 11, my father and I went to a church where he was speaking. That evening, the church took Communion and I remember we were not allowed to take it because we were not members of this particular church. I was so confused and felt left out. I have never forgotten this incidence even after all these years. I relay this story to show how our church traditions and rules have created an exclusivity – a for members only club of sorts. We have created our own “laws”. Churches have split over these things and families have been divided. We set rules on how to worship God dividing services into those distinct categories. There are rules for who is allowed to participate in certain events, and some set parameters on the “proper” way to come to the grace of Jesus Christ. I know I might be stepping on some toes right now. Traditions can become sacred things, but we must differentiate between what is tradition and what is truly a part of the promise. Otherwise, we will once again put into place restrictions that are impossible to live up to, causing an atmosphere of fear in peoples lives. In his letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him, “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” (1 Tim. 1:7) In verse 9 Paul continues this thought, “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” Christ came so that we did not have to live our life in fear. In fact this was the plan before time began! He did the work we couldn’t do so we could once again have a relationship with a holy, righteous and awesome God.
Vs 15-31 What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good and not just when I am with you. My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you. Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don’t you hear the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice, childless woman, who does not give birth. Burst into song and shout,you who are not in labor, for the children of the desolate are many, more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband. Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman. Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Do you hear Paul’s exasperation? “What happened to this sense of being blessed you had?” I can see him shaking his head. I wonder at times what he would write to today’s church? Would he be bewildered at our traditions? At our legalism? At the things we focus on and make important? I think he would. Paul would once again remind us of Abraham and his two children. One was born by a slave and one was born by a free woman. One was born by impulse of the flesh and one was born out of a promise. One was born because there was a fear the promise would not happen without help and one who was born when the promise came to be. How often do we try to “help” things along instead of trusting God’s timing and His promises? We actually trust in our own works instead of the work of God. Think about that for a moment. We trust our own works instead of the work of God. I don’t know about you, but this made me pause for a moment. I look at my own life and realize there are so many times when I want to “help” God along. He wasn’t working fast enough or the way I thought He needed to work. Sound familiar? His ways are not my ways even though I want my way to be His way. But, we are children of the promise. We can trust God, who has done the work. He fulfilled all the law for us and He has given us grace. He is the promise. Because of the promise, we don’t have to live in constant fear of failing, of not being good enough, of not living up to the standard. Christ fulfilled the law for us so we could live free from fear. There are always going to be those in the world who want to put restrictions on us, control us, and extinguish grace. But, God wants us to live without fear. He promises that His yoke is easy, His burden is light. He promises abundant life. To subject ourselves back under the law is to reject, or as we discovered last week, anoētoi or to be foolish or inconsiderate, of the work that Christ has done. Let’s remember, we are children of the free woman. Let’s rejoice in the grace we have in Christ.
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