Galatians 4:1-7
"Now I say, That the heir as long as he is a child, differeth 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 are 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 ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ," Galatians 4:1-7. In these verses, Paul continues to deal with the false teaching of the Judaizers and the unfaithfulness of the Galatians. Keep in mind that the Lord had truly saved the Galatians, but they had allowed themselves to be seduced by false teachers. The false teachers, along with their false teachings, were leading the Galatians away from Christ. Though the Galatians were truly saved, if they continued on the path they were on, they would soon doubt the faithfulness of Christ. Once you doubt Christ's faithfulness, you begin to look to yourself for your spiritual needs. Someone may say, so, they are already saved, what will it hurt? It will hurt because they will teach others to look to themselves for salvation instead of looking to Christ. The goal of false teaching is to keep people from looking to Christ for salvation, and to cause those who are saved to forget who they are in Christ Jesus. Dear reader, if you attend a church that teaches works for salvation, you are listening to false teaching. Flee to a church that points you to Christ through the Scriptures.
In Galatians 3:29 we read that all who are Christ's are of Abraham's spiritual seed, and therefore are heirs according to the promise. We are in the same family of Abraham, the family of salvation by faith. All who have been and will be saved were saved by grace through faith in the promise of God. At the moment of salvation we are placed into God's family by adoption. This makes us an heir of God through Christ. When did God make the choice to save us and make us heirs? Turn to Ephesians 1:3-12. "According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love," Ephesians 1:3. According to the Scriptures, God chose us before the foundation of the world. We are heirs of eternal salvation. This is realized at the moment the Lord saves us. Before the Lord saves us, we are no different in this world than others who are lost (Ephesians 2:1-10.) This is obvious by our lifestyles. When the Lord saves us He truly makes us a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17).
The word "child" in verse one is a minor, one not yet of age. Even though this person is lord of all, the possessor, owner, master, of property etc., these things are not given to him until the appointed time of the father. This child is under tutors and governors. A tutor is a domestic manager, guardian. A governor in this verse is someone who had some charge over the sons of a family, probably in respect to monetary matters. These would be over the child until the pre-appointed day or time, the day or time being understood, appointed by the father. These would keep the child in line. Paul is using an illustration that the people of that day clearly understood. The Jews practiced bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah. Bar mitzvah is when a boy is proclaimed a man, and assumes the religious responsibilities of a man. Bat mitzvah is when a girl is proclaimed a woman, and assumes the religious responsibilities of a woman. Both are done at twelve or thirteen years of age. This means they are now responsible for their own actions. We see an example of this in John 9:18-23 when the parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
The Greeks also had a similar custom. After early childhood, boys and girls were separated and prepared for their distinct roles. At six or seven, Greek boys began their schooling. Girls would remain home to learn the skills necessary to running a household. At the age appointed by the father 13-18, the boys would be considered an adult, and would acquire voting rights and civic obligations. At the age of 14-15, the girls were usually married and immediately acquired the domestic role as woman of the house. A ceremony would take place to celebrate their coming of age. The custom of the day is that their hair would be cut. As a child their hair would be long but would be cut at the ceremony as a symbol of adulthood. Just like the Jews, until the Greeks became adults, they had tutors and governors.
"Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world," Galatians 4:3. Paul is using this well-known custom of their day as an illustration of the elect. No one who had been under these tutors and governors wanted to go back again after they were set free. The word "elements" in verse three speaks of the principals of life, philosophy, and religion, particularly in contrasting ceremonial ordinances and the traditions and commandments of men with a true knowledge of God. Paul is bringing these truths to their remembrance. Why would you want to go back under bondage? You have been set free by Jesus Christ, at the appointed time of the Father.
"But when the fullness 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," Galatians 4:4-5. Christ came to set the captives free. We were captives of sin and the law in that the law magnified our sinfulness, and proclaimed that we were guilty and deserved the wrath of God. Christ came at the time appointed by the Father. Christ became a man; He took upon Himself flesh, and He dwelt among mankind. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet He never sinned. Christ kept the law perfectly. Christ came to redeem all who have and will believe. He accomplished this on the cross. The perfect sinless lamb of God became sin for us while on that cross. Christ paid the ransom to God, that we might become the adopted sons of God.
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father: Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ," Galatians 4:6-7. All whom the Lord saves are truly and eternally sons of God by God's grace, through the faith He gives us to believe His word. False teachers will lead you away from these truths. False teachers will lead you into captivity, and keep you bound. I beg you to look off this world, look off good works, turn from your sins, and trust Jesus Christ to save you. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
