Galatians: The Life I Now LiveSample

In Paul’s day, only a son could be an heir. That is why Paul uses here the language of ‘sons’ rather than ‘children’ as he writes this section. But this is not restricting salvation to men only. As he stated at the end of chapter 3, salvation is open to either gender. Paul is just making sure the Galatians see the full richness of the salvation promise. The offer is not just to be a child of God, but a child with all the rights of an heir! 

The chapter begins, though, by stating that the heir is functionally no different from a slave as long as he is a child in training (vv. 1–2). However, once the date of maturity arrives, everything changes. The same is true for us! There was a time in God’s plan when His people were imprisoned, enslaved and under guard (v. 3). The law was the guardian. We were caught in the operating system of this world: that is, the notion that we can live by our own self-directed obedience to external rules. (Paul refers to the same thing in Colossians 2:20–23.) 

Then in verses 4–5 we read of the rescue! The rescue came at just the right time in God’s plan. Even better than the timing though, is the identity of the Rescuer: God sent His own Son to rescue us. He became one of us, being born of a woman. Paul is referring to the wonder of the incarnation – that God’s Son would actually become fully human in order to rescue us. Not only did He become fully human (while remaining fully God), He also entered our prison by being born under the law. 

Once the Son of God had come all the way to us, He paid the full price to redeem us so that we could go all the way back to the Father with Him! We are not just rescued slaves: we are rescued to be sons of the perfect Father with Jesus. 

Reflection

Does your life give off the vibe of being an imprisoned slave striving to be good, or the joyous freedom of being a child of the most wonderful Father?