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 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.
The main focus of the book of Galatians is justification by faith in Christ alone. This is cut and dry; there are no grey areas. No one has ever nor will ever be saved by any kind of works (Galatians 2:16). When Christ saves us, we are able to receive the adoption of sons. What are the benefits of adoption? Before we answer this question, let us learn what adoption is for, and what adoption is not for. The majority of people in our day who are adopted are adopted for sympathy. What ever reason it may be, the child is adopted because the adoptive parent feels sympathy for the child. Adoption is a noble act of kindness in our day. God does not adopt us for sympathy, but instead for inheritance. All who are saved are heirs of God through Christ. We are excited and cannot wait to receive our inheritance, right? If you are not excited, it is probably because you do not know or understand what your inheritance is.
God is the One who adopts us. We become His adopted children. This makes us an heir with Christ. This means we are given great exceeding and precious promises. Our inheritance is not in this sin filled world, nor is it in this sin filled body. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time," I Peter 1:3-5. "Incorruptible" in verse four is spoken of things: imperishable, enduring. In I Corinthians 15:52 it specifically speaks of the future bodies of the saints. Our present bodies are corruptible. It is currently perishing. If you do not think it is, I challenge you to look in the mirror; without makeup. Look at pictures from when you were younger. We are covered with evidence that this earthly body is perishing. Go to the nursing homes, the hospitals, and the funeral homes and you will find evidence all around.
We are given a new body in heaven. This new body is undefiled. This means it is pure, sincere: of the heavenly inheritance. It is not tainted by sin. In heaven you will not be surrounded by sinful people, nor will you be surrounded by sinful things. Your thoughts will be pure, and your fellowship with God will never be diminished. This new body will not fade away. It is enduring. It is an eternal body. It is reserved in heaven for us. "Reserved" in verse 4 means to keep back or in store, reserved for later use.
We are given a new body, and this new body will never know sin, nor will it know anything that is sinful. Along with our new body, we inherit a new heaven and a new earth. "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," I Peter 3:12-13. Turn to Revelation 21:1-5. There is nothing in heaven that is infected of sin.
We are adopted by God. We are an heir through Christ. We are adopted unto glorification. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together," Romans 8:15-17. "Glorified together" in verse 17 means to share in the glory of another. It is used there to express the privilege given to believers in Christ to share in His glory (John 17:22). What is this glory? Christ likeness. We will not be like Christ in His attributes, but we will be like Christ in that we will be holy; sinless. We were predestinated to this. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified," Romans 8:28-30. Our glorification is a done deal. Nothing and no one can alter it (Romans 8:31-39).
We have looked at some of the benefits of adoption; a new body, new earth, new heaven, no sin, and glorification or Christ likeness. All this comes about because our greatest blessing is sonship. If you have been justified by faith, you are a child of God and you have all these blessings to look forward to. If you are seeking justification through anything but faith, or faith plus something else, then you are still a child of the devil (Ephesians 2:1-2), and you are headed to a devil's hell where you will be tormented for eternity. You will experience the exact opposite of the blessings of heaven. Why would you die in your sins and suffer the wrath of God? Trust Jesus Christ alone to save you. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1. Look unto Jesus Christ and be ye saved. "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.
