Heirs of God

“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 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 4:1-7

Paul refers in this Scripture of our “adoption as sons.” We think of adoption as being born into one family and adopted into another. The problem with this concept of adoption is that even when we are adopted we still carry the character traits of our birth parents. But as Christians we are born again, our old nature has died, and we have taken on the nature of Christ. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus.

The concept of adoption Paul lays out in this Scripture is from Roman and Jewish culture of his time. It refers to when a child is young, he was no different than a slave in that he had no rights as a son but was under guardians and stewards. But at the time appointed by the father he would come into the full right as heir. Not that the father had died, but everything the father had also became his.

Paul in speaking to Jews who understood this was teaching that under Old Testament law, even though they were heirs of the promise they remained as slaves to the law.  But at the time appointed by the father, God sent His Son to redeem us from the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. So now because of Christ we are heirs of God, so that everything that is His becomes ours also.

Paul goes on in Romans 8:14-17 to explain how that works out in our lives. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

If we are led by the Spirit of God, we do not have the spirit of bondage to fear as a child would, but we have received the Spirit of adoption. Through the guidance and power of the Spirit, we have full access to everything that Christ had and everything that is God’s. Children of this world have much to fear, but as children of God, we have nothing to fear. You belong to God and nothing can pluck you out of His hand. Everything that God has belongs to you. How much better can it get than that!

May you today by the Word and the Spirit come into a fuller revelation of how much the Father loves you that He would call you His child.  “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Amen and amen.

Andy Clark