Through the Bible: GalatiansSample

Called To Be His Children

So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:24 (NIV)

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Galatians 4:4-5 (NLT)

Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians that a person is justified through faith in Christ’s death, not by works of the law. If the law could justify a person, then Jesus died for no reason. God gave the law to discipline us until the arrival of Christ; it never justified a person.

In chapter 3, Paul contrasts the path of slavery and death with the path of freedom and life. He uses the illustration of slavery to show that before Christ came and died for our sin, people were in bondage to the law. Thinking they could be saved by it, they became enslaved to trying—and failing—to keep it.

We were once slaves, but now we are God’s children and have an intimate relationship with him. Because of Christ, there is no reason to be afraid of God. We can boldly come into his presence, knowing he will welcome us as his children.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that we can be called your children, that we are now co-heirs with Christ Jesus, and we can call you “Abba, Father.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.