Children of God: Embracing Our Inheritance in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: From Slavery to Sonship: Our Adoption in Christ

Paul teaches that, just as an heir is no different from a slave while still a child, we too were once spiritually immature and enslaved to the basic principles of the world. But at the appointed time, God sent His Son so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters, no longer cast aside but welcomed into the family of God. This adoption is not based on our maturity or merit, but on the gracious act of God who brings us from the corner of slavery into the center of His household, making us true heirs with Christ. [14:42]

Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

Reflection: In what ways do you still see yourself as an outsider or “slave” in God’s family, and how might you begin to embrace your identity as a beloved son or daughter today?

Day 2: The Struggle with the Law and the Gift of Justification

We all wrestle with the law—whether it’s the natural law, the law of the land, or God’s commandments. This struggle reveals our immaturity and inability to fulfill the law on our own. Yet, Christ came and perfectly fulfilled the law for us, taking on the weight of our sin and granting us justification. Through Him, we are set free from the burden of earning our salvation, and the scales are balanced not by our deeds, but by His grace. [16:24]

Galatians 4:3, 4:6-7 (ESV)
"In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world... And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Reflection: Where do you find yourself striving to “earn” God’s approval, and how can you rest in the freedom Christ has already won for you?

Day 3: God’s Perfect Timing in Deliverance

Just as God set a specific time to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He also set the fullness of time to send Jesus for our redemption. God’s timing is never accidental or late; He orchestrates deliverance at the precise moment it is needed, both in history and in our personal lives. Trusting in His timing means believing that He knows when and how to bring freedom, even when we feel stuck or forgotten. [11:19]

Exodus 3:7-10 (ESV)
"Then the Lord said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey... Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.'"

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are waiting for God’s deliverance? How can you trust His timing and remain faithful while you wait?

Day 4: The Restored Relationship: Calling God “Abba, Father”

Through Christ, the Spirit of God dwells in our hearts, enabling us to cry out “Abba, Father.” This intimate relationship is a restoration of what was broken by sin; we are no longer distant or estranged, but welcomed into a close, loving relationship with the One who created us. No matter our posture—standing, kneeling, or face down—God hears us as His children, and we can approach Him with confidence and trust. [18:24]

Romans 8:15-16 (ESV)
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

Reflection: When was the last time you addressed God as “Father” in prayer? What would it look like to approach Him today with the trust and openness of a beloved child?

Day 5: Living in Freedom, Not Fear

Because we have been justified and adopted, we are no longer slaves to fear or uncertainty about our standing with God. We are free to live as heirs, secure in the promise of eternal life and the presence of the Spirit. This freedom invites us to let go of anxiety about tomorrow and to live boldly in the assurance of God’s love and provision, knowing that our relationship with Him has been redeemed and restored. [17:17]

John 8:36 (ESV)
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Reflection: What is one fear or worry you can release to God today, trusting that you are truly free and secure in Christ?

Sermon Summary

In Galatians 4:1-7, Paul uses the imagery of an heir who, while still a child, is no different from a slave, even though he owns everything. This passage invites us to consider the difference between being a child—immature, under guardianship, not yet free—and being a son or daughter, fully adopted and welcomed into the family. The Greek word for heir, “claronamas,” means “possessor by law,” reminding us that inheritance is not just about receiving something, but about being legally and relationally brought into a new status. Maturity, not just age, is what distinguishes a child from a son or daughter in this context.

Reflecting on the story of Moses and the Israelites in Exodus, we see a parallel: the people of God were enslaved, waiting for the time set by the Father to be set free. Their liberation came not by their own effort, but by God’s appointed time and action. In the same way, we too were enslaved—not to Egypt, but to the elementary principles of the world, to the law, and to our own immaturity. We struggle daily with the law, both God’s commandments and the natural laws of this world, and find ourselves unable to fulfill them perfectly.

But God, in the fullness of time, sent forth His Son, Jesus, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem us. Through Jesus, we are not just forgiven; we are adopted as sons and daughters. This adoption is not a mere legal transaction, but a restoration of relationship. We are no longer cast aside as immature children or slaves, but welcomed into the household of God, able to call Him “Abba, Father.” The Spirit of Christ now dwells in our hearts, confirming our identity and our freedom.

This is the heart of justification: Christ has fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf, balancing the scales we could never balance ourselves. We are set free from the burden of earning our salvation. Our relationship with God is restored, redeemed, and made new. We belong to Him, not as outsiders or slaves, but as beloved sons and daughters, heirs of His promise.

Key Takeaways

1. The distinction between a child and a son or daughter in God’s family is not about age, but about maturity and relationship. While a child is under guardianship and not yet free, a son or daughter is fully welcomed and given the rights of inheritance. This calls us to grow in spiritual maturity, moving from mere rule-following to a deep, relational trust in God. [05:21]
2. The story of the Exodus is a powerful reminder that freedom comes at God’s appointed time, not by our own striving. Just as the Israelites were set free from slavery when God acted, so too are we liberated from sin and the law by God’s initiative in Christ. Our deliverance is rooted in God’s faithfulness, not our performance. [11:19]
3. The law reveals our immaturity and our inability to save ourselves. We all struggle with the commandments, falling short daily, and this struggle exposes our need for a Savior. Recognizing our weakness is not a cause for despair, but an invitation to receive God’s grace and depend on Christ’s perfect fulfillment of the law. [12:27]
4. Adoption into God’s family is more than a legal status; it is a restoration of relationship. Through Christ, we are not just forgiven, but brought near, able to call God “Abba, Father.” The Spirit testifies within us that we belong, assuring us of our identity and our place in God’s household. [17:36]
5. Justification means that Christ has accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. We are set free from the need to earn God’s favor, because Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the law on our behalf. This freedom allows us to live with confidence and joy, knowing our relationship with God is secure and eternal. [16:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:51] - Finding Galatians 4
[01:31] - The Importance of Grammar and Punctuation in Scripture
[03:13] - Understanding the Heir: Greek Insights
[05:21] - Child vs. Son: Maturity and Inheritance
[07:11] - The Role of Guardians and the Appointed Time
[08:19] - The Exodus: Slavery and Deliverance
[09:40] - God’s Appointed Time for Freedom
[11:19] - Parallels Between Israel’s Story and Ours
[12:27] - Our Struggle with the Law
[13:15] - The Fullness of Time: God Sends His Son
[14:42] - Adoption as Sons and Daughters
[16:10] - The Meaning of Justification
[17:36] - The Spirit in Our Hearts: Calling God “Abba, Father”
[18:59] - Redemption and Restored Relationship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Galatians 4:1-7 (ESV) — 1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything,
2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.
3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Observation Questions

In Galatians 4:1-2, what is the difference between a child and a son or daughter, according to Paul? How does the imagery of an heir help us understand this difference? ([05:21])
What does the Greek word “claronamas” mean, and why is it important for understanding what it means to be an heir? ([04:16])
How does Paul describe our condition before Christ came, and what were we enslaved to? ([11:39])
According to verses 4-5, what did God do “when the fullness of time had come,” and what was the result for us? ([13:15])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that being a child is about immaturity, not just age. What does spiritual immaturity look like, and how might it keep someone from experiencing the full rights of being God’s child? ([05:21])
The story of the Exodus was used as a parallel to our own spiritual journey. In what ways are we like the Israelites waiting for freedom, and what does it mean that our deliverance comes at God’s appointed time, not by our own effort? ([11:19])
The law is described as something that reveals our immaturity and inability to save ourselves. Why is it important to recognize our struggle with the law, and how does this point us to our need for Jesus? ([12:27])
The sermon emphasizes that adoption into God’s family is more than a legal status—it’s a restored relationship. How does this change the way we relate to God and to others in the church? ([17:36])

Application Questions

The difference between a child and a son or daughter is maturity and relationship, not just age. In what areas of your faith do you still feel like a child, and what would it look like to grow in maturity and trust in God? ([05:21])
The Israelites had to wait for God’s timing to be set free from slavery. Is there an area in your life where you are waiting for God to act? How can you trust His timing instead of trying to force things on your own? ([11:19])
The law shows us our weakness and our need for a Savior. Can you think of a recent time when you were frustrated by your inability to “get it right”? How did you respond, and how might you respond differently knowing that Christ has already fulfilled the law for you? ([12:27])
The sermon says we are adopted as sons and daughters, able to call God “Abba, Father.” Do you find it easy or hard to relate to God as a loving Father? Why? ([17:36])
The Spirit of Christ lives in our hearts, confirming our identity and freedom. Are there lies or doubts you struggle with about your place in God’s family? What truth from this passage can you hold onto this week? ([17:36])
Justification means we are set free from trying to earn God’s favor. Are there ways you still try to “earn” God’s love or approval? What would it look like to rest in what Jesus has already done for you? ([16:24])
The sermon talked about moving from rule-following to relational trust in God. What is one practical step you can take this week to deepen your relationship with God, rather than just following rules? ([05:21])

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