Galatians 4:1-7 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God had sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
‘That the heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all.’ An heir is not more than a servant until legally of age (4:1-2). Even so, we were children under bondage to the law until Christ came to redeem us from the law, that we might become adopted sons of God and free from the law (4:3-7).
‘Elements’ [Greek: stoicheion] elementary rules, principles of the world system, and rudiments of the Jewish religion (4:3, 9; Col. 2:8, 20; Heb. 5:12; 2Pet. 3:10-12).
‘Fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.’ The crisis of the ages at which time God saw fit to send His Son to redeem men (4:4-5), and the time for the prophets to be fulfilled (Gen. 3:15; 12:1-3; Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; etc.).
‘To redeem them that were under the law.’ To pay the full payment for all people who were slaves to sin and satan and held under the death penalty of the law they had broken. There are seven steps of Gospel redemption: The plan of God to redeem the world by the incarnation of God’s Son (4:4; Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; 9:6-7; Matt. 1:18-25). The manifestation of God’s Son in “the fulness of the time” (4:4; Dan. 9:24-26; Matt. 1:18-25). The circumstances of His appearing: made of a woman; made under the law; to be a perfect sacrifice (Gal. 4:4-5; John 3:16; Heb. 10:1-18). The redemption by His death (4:5; Rom. 3:24; 1Pet. 2:24; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:15). The sonship by the adoption of all who believe (4:6; Rom. 8:14-16; Eph. 1:5). The impartation of the Holy Spirit (4:6; 3:14; Rom. 8:9-16). The heirship of all sons (4:7; Rom. 8:14-18; Eph. 1:11; 1Pet. 1:4).
‘Because you are sons, God had sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.’ Because of sonship, we receive the fullest evidence of it by the Spirit (4:6-7; Rom. 8:14-16).
Living the Word 