AN HEIR OF GOD THROUGH CHRIST

Gal 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 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. 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.

Having dealt sternly and decisively with the fact that the New Covenant, between God and all faithful followers of Christ, replaced the Old Covenant, between God and the Jewish people, Paul now deals with the false doctrine of Judaizing teachers within the body of Christ. It seems that some Jewish Christians clung to the Law of Moses, falsely taught, and continued to hold as their belief, that certain tenets of the Law of Moses was to be carried over, and included in, the doctrine of the church of Christ. Paul had just told them that, if they did indeed belong to Christ, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (of eternal life available through Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham) (Gal. 2:29).

Having referred to Christians as heirs according to the promise, Paul now teaches us about "heirship." In the first three verses of the lesson text, he discusses young, immature heirs - children that had not come to the age of knowledge and accountability. In this state of immaturity, and lacking the ability to control and provide for their own lives, young heirs are mere children, having rights similar to that of a servant, in constant need of supervision and direction. Such children, although they will become lord of all, are presently under "legal age" and, until they come of age, they have only the prospect of future inheritance. These children, although destined to receive their inheritance, were presently under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

Paul includes himself in the application of this lesson to Jewish Christians by stating that, Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. Under the Law of Moses, the whole nation of Israel was as under-age children with only a promise of an inheritance. Eternal salvation could not be attained under the Old Covenant law, but was only a promise, which could not be inherited until they came of age - at the time appointed of the father.

And when was this to take place? Paul tells them that it would be at the time determined by God, their Heavenly 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. The inheritance of eternal life promised to those under the law (of Moses), could not be received until God's Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, redeemed them. Then, and only then, could they receive the adoption of sons (their inheritance of eternal life). Until the children of Israel became obedient children of God - until they obeyed His will and became Christians, and were added, by God to His church, they could not inherit the promise of life eternal.

Using this example of "heirship," Paul now makes the application to Jewish Christians. He wrote, And because ye are sons (legal heirs of God's promise), 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. The inheritance of the adopted children of God is bestowed only to obedient Christians, Jewish Christians to whom Paul was writing, as well as obedient Christians in all ages. The apostle, John, told us that those becoming the sons (and daughters) of God, are only those that, by obedient faith, believe on His name, that is on the Son of God, Jesus Christ (See John 1:12). The Law of Moses has no place in the doctrine of Christianity. It was a yoke that even the Jewish nation was unable to bear (Acts. 15:10). It has been blotted out, taken away, and nailed to the cross on which the Son of God was crucified, and, through His sacrificial blood he shed, Christ redeemed God's children. Each obedient child of God can, and must, say they are an heir of God through Christ!