How adoption takes place. Galatians 4:6-11 Our Lord came to redeem us by paying the price for our sins and our futile attempts to be saved through obeying the law and doing good for others. We are not children of God by nature but become them through the substitutionary work of Christ on our behalf. We become children of God by Him adopting us into His family.
God sent His Son to save us and His Spirit at just the right time to dwell within everyone who believes in Jesus. He is our Guardian, our Seal, and our Teacher. Both Jews and Gentiles can sincerely call out to God and say, “Abba Father,” knowing our relationship with God has begun and is certain. “This is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.”
Adoption in Bible times wasn’t necessarily motivated by pity or a wish to be a parent, but to carry on an inheritance or family name. Our adoption isn’t exactly the same as when a slave owner would adopt a slave into his family as a son, saying publicly before everyone, “Thou art my son. Today have I begotten thee.” However, in a similar way, a former slave took his place as a son with all the rights and privileges of sonship. So, we respond to our heavenly Father, saying, "Thank you for making me a son. You are my Father." The previous relationship is over. A new relationship has been established between the same individuals. The adoption process is complete – the slave is now a son.
Gal.4:5. SONSHIP: I'm not a new person physically, but a few words, a new name, and a new place change my position from servant to son. I now carry a new family name, joy, and responsibility, making it my duty to honor the Father. A dignity given to me is linked to the new role I take on. There's a way I am expected to carry myself that is appropriate because I represent my new Father who has adopted me. Wherever I go and whatever I do, I must show respect, honor, integrity, and grace as a son of the Father.
Rom. 8:14. AN ABIDING SPIRIT: I do not do this out of bondage or with a spirit of fear, but this new place and the new life I now live are driven from within by the Spirit of God, who confirms when I yield my spirit to Him. As a child of God, “Abba Father” is how I approach God in prayer. I am an heir to His blessings, but because I live in an ungodly world, I must expect some pain—the Spirit who dwells in me will guide me every step of the way.
Rom. 8:23. A SURE INHERITANCE: This body I live in seems to be losing its physical strength; its power is gradually fading away. However, I am sure I am a child of God and receive His blessings every day. I am no longer a slave; I can never be sold. I am adopted, a child of the King. My hope is secure, my home is above, and my joy is bringing Him honor.
When we are saved, God places a new nature within us, which comes through the new birth—a spiritual rebirth. We respond with the voice of faith, "Abba Father," because the Holy Spirit has made us alive to God in Christ. It is a natural response to our gracious God to worship with gratitude and words of faith. This response is true for every believer.
But there came a very strange response to the teaching of false brethren among the Christians in Galatia. They reverted to the bondage of law-keeping they had previously left behind. There was no logical reason for this reversal. However, an explanation is that after a person is saved by grace, they become aware that they are still the same person. There are attractions appealing to our fleshly desires.
If a new believer does not immediately take steps to nurture the new nature with divine things, the glow of faith we experienced when first saved begins to fade and gradually diminishes. Filling the empty space—created by a lack of spiritual nourishment—leads to a void. People then seek exciting, emotional experiences to replace their unmet spiritual hunger. That is why the legalistic teachings of the Judaizers appealed to the immature Galatians. When we neglect our soul’s needs, it’s easy to fall into the temptation of accepting others’ words to fulfill our own desires. As a result, a person who has been freed can find themselves tangled again in bondage.
Being adopted into God’s family and becoming His son is not an accident but a choice. It is not a spontaneous act; instead, it is planned by God, not out of pity but out of a desire to bless and be blessed. It is not done impulsively but after careful consideration and with a divine purpose, making the goal clear. The initiative comes from God, who is the giver and meets the needs of the receiver. It is an act of grace on the giver’s part that cannot be earned by the receiver. All of the giver’s possessions are made available to meet the needs of the adopted son or daughter. The one who adopts is given the name of the One, and the giver's Spirit brings joy to the receiver.
The adopted one gives purpose to the Father's life when they respond with love. The adopted one now carries themselves with the dignity associated with their new name, and they receive the inheritance as a son. The adopted one recognizes who the Father is and will forever be grateful for being brought into God's family. Those who believe in Christ are no longer slaves, and childhood limitations are behind them. Now, as sons, we enjoy all the privileges of heirs of God through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gentiles did not know God when they worshipped idols, but even after they learned about God and were known by Him, they followed the Judaizers, who tried to earn God’s approval through their efforts, opinions, and human values. The liberating power of the Gospel had been experienced by the Galatian Christians, to whom Paul was writing this letter. They had worshipped idols made by men because they didn't know any better. Those idols were not gods and held no real value, but the demons behind them made them slaves to the power of darkness. However, now they were turning back to something similar. Those weak principles they once served as slaves to, Paul compares to the law.
When someone comes to know God, they receive eternal life. This has nothing to do with the law. More importantly, it shows that God knows us. Turning our backs on the One who saved us by His grace and returning to a weaker, beggarly form of religious dogma is hard to understand. When rituals and ceremonies replace worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth, it marks a significant step back into the darkness of this world. Those who teach law-keeping, sinless perfection, or "second blessing" as requirements for salvation may claim they have scriptural support. They add teachings from the Old Testament to the Jews and insist these should be included in the doctrine of Christ.
Paul had worked long and hard to teach us about the liberty we gained through Christ's sacrifice. Now, the believers were returning to another form of slavery. All of Paul’s efforts would have been useless if they had gone back to following the rules of Judaism. That bondage would be like the slavery they experienced before being saved by grace. How foolish it is to return to bondage once you are set free!
The ceremonies and days of observing the law were intended to provide knowledge and awareness of sin. Now, instead of just one day—the Sabbath—as a holy day for believers, every day is considered holy. The reason Christians recognize the first day of the week as different from other days is that, on this day, Christ rose from the dead. On the first day of the week, the risen Lord appeared to His disciples. Also, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within believers in Christ on that day. Disciples then and now gather to break bread in remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ and to publicly proclaim His death. We also bring the offerings we have set aside to give to the Lord on this day. God's people have also come together for teaching and preaching on the first day. While that day is not exclusively set aside for us, scripture shows that these activities traditionally took place then. Therefore, the first day is called the "Lord's Day," a day to honor Him. It is not the "Christian Sabbath," but it is the day in which we focus on the Lord's work.