December 21
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NO LONGER SLAVES BUT SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. – Galatians 4:1-7
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It is interesting how Paul compares a rich child who is an heir to a slave. Because he is still a child, the rich owner is still under adults who stewards his responsibilities until he is mature enough to do so. Paul compares this situation to our spiritual maturity and our bondage to the world system. When Christ Jesus was sent by the Father, his purpose was to set free those who are living under the world system and bound by Law. Before Christ came, we were slaves of sin but when Jesus came to die on the cross for us, that changed. Since Christ is the Son of God, He also adopted us as His own sons and daughters. When Jesus died and was resurrected from death, we became heirs of God and He gave us the Holy Spirit to live inside us, so we can remember that we are heirs of righteousness and no longer slaves to sin. In other words, we do not intentionally or habitually sin anymore. We become children of God who inherits his righteousness through Jesus Christ.
Sadly, many Christians fail to understand this concept of adoption through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Because all men are sinful by nature, some of those who have already accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior still miss out on their inheritance that God gave us through his Son Jesus. When Christ died on the cross, we were given an announcement of our inheritance to God’s kingdom. Still, many believers fail to receive that gift of salvation because of their love for the world. They continue to think that they are still poor and do not have that inheritance of salvation. So, they still live their lives as slaves to sin and live defeated lives. Because they are still immature to understand the concept of adoption made through Christ’s death on the cross, they miss out comprehending their rights to living holy lives because the Holy Spirit lives in them already.
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REFLECTION
• What would you do if you had an announcement that you inherited something?