Embracing Our Identity as Children of God

 

Summary

In today's teaching, we explored the profound truths found in Galatians chapter 4, verses 1-7, which encapsulate the essence of the entire chapter. We delved into the analogy Paul uses to describe our spiritual journey before and after Christ's intervention. He likens us to children who are heirs to a vast inheritance but cannot fully access it until they reach a certain age. Similarly, before Christ, we were like children under the law, unable to claim our spiritual inheritance.

We discussed how the law served as a guardian, leading us to the point of maturity where we could embrace faith in Jesus. With Jesus' coming, we are no longer slaves to the law but have been adopted as God's own children, with the Spirit of His Son in our hearts, allowing us to call God "Abba, Father." This intimate relationship with God as our Father brings us into a place of freedom, where we are no longer bound by the law but are free to live in grace.

We reflected on the idea that spiritual freedom through Christ guarantees us a new identity as sons and daughters of God. This new identity comes with full spiritual blessings, as we are co-heirs with Christ. We are reminded that God's love for us is so great that He calls us His children, and in fact, that is who we are.

I shared personal reflections on the expectations placed on children and how this relates to our spiritual walk with God. Just as we should allow children to be children, God treats us with grace, understanding our weaknesses and failures, and is always ready to pick us up and walk with us again.

Finally, we celebrated the freedom we have in Christ, which was purchased at Calvary, and the full family blessings that come with it. We are reminded that God's love never fails and that we are guaranteed a new identity and inheritance in Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Our spiritual adoption as God's children is a profound truth that speaks to the heart of the Gospel. We are no longer slaves to the law or to sin, but through Christ's sacrifice, we have been given the right to be called children of God. This new identity is not based on our efforts or adherence to the law but on the grace and love of our Heavenly Father. [21:46]

- The law served as a guardian, leading us to Christ, but it is not the end goal. The purpose of the law was to reveal our inability to achieve righteousness on our own and to point us to the need for a Savior. In Christ, we find the fulfillment of the law and the freedom to live by grace, not by a set of rules. [11:24]

- The concept of spiritual inheritance is not just a future hope but a present reality. As co-heirs with Christ, we have access to the fullness of God's blessings now. This includes love, acceptance, mercy, grace, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must live with an awareness of this inheritance and allow it to shape our identity and actions. [35:25]

- Understanding God as our loving Father can transform our relationship with Him. For those who have experienced a lack of love or acceptance from earthly fathers, the truth that God is a perfect Father who offers unconditional love and forgiveness can bring healing and a sense of belonging. [25:37]

- The story of the father and son, where the father publicly declares his forgiveness and desire for reconciliation, mirrors God's heart for us. God is always seeking us, ready to forgive and restore us to Himself. This parable encourages us to respond to God's invitation and embrace the relationship He offers. [38:14]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 4:1-7
2. 1 John 3:1
3. Galatians 3:23-29

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Galatians 4:1-7, how does Paul describe our spiritual state before and after Christ's intervention?
2. What role did the law play in our spiritual journey according to Galatians 3:23-29? [08:13]
3. How does 1 John 3:1 describe the love of God towards us and our identity in Him?
4. In the sermon, what analogy did the pastor use to explain the law's role before Christ came? [09:04]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be an heir of God and co-heir with Christ as described in Galatians 4:1-7? How does this change our understanding of our spiritual inheritance?
2. How does understanding God as "Abba, Father" transform our relationship with Him, especially for those who may have had difficult relationships with their earthly fathers? [09:53]
3. The pastor mentioned that the law was a guardian leading us to Christ. How does this understanding affect our view of the Old Testament laws and their purpose? [11:24]
4. Reflect on the statement from the sermon: "God is not going to spank you; God is going to pick you up, love on you, and say it's going to be all right." How does this perspective influence your view of God's discipline and grace? [31:02]

#### Application Questions
1. How can you embrace your new identity as a child of God in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to remind yourself of this truth? [24:19]
2. Reflect on a time when you felt like you had to earn God's favor through your actions. How can you shift your mindset to live in the freedom and grace that Christ offers? [05:50]
3. If you have experienced a lack of love or acceptance from an earthly father, how can you begin to heal and embrace the unconditional love of your Heavenly Father? What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God as "Abba, Father"? [09:53]
4. The pastor shared a personal story about unrealistic expectations placed on children. Are there any unrealistic expectations you place on yourself or others in your spiritual walk? How can you adjust these expectations to align with God's grace? [27:16]
5. How can you live with an awareness of your spiritual inheritance and allow it to shape your identity and actions? What specific blessings from God can you focus on this week to strengthen your faith? [23:25]
6. The story of the father and son in the sermon highlighted the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. Is there someone in your life with whom you need to seek reconciliation? How can you take the first step towards healing that relationship? [36:06]
7. How can you celebrate the freedom you have in Christ this week? What practical ways can you express gratitude for the spiritual blessings and new identity you have received? [33:55]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Identity in Christ
The truth of our spiritual adoption into God's family is a cornerstone of our faith. It is not through our own efforts or strict adherence to religious laws that we are saved, but through the grace and love of God, who sent His Son to redeem us. This adoption gives us a new identity as children of God, a status that comes with the freedom to approach Him with the confidence and affection of a child to a parent. This profound relationship is not based on fear or servitude but on love and acceptance, which transforms how we view ourselves and our place in the world.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." - 1 John 3:1 ESV

Reflection: How does understanding your identity as a child of God change the way you approach your daily life and interactions with others? [07:40]

Day 2: The Law as Our Guardian to Christ
The law was given to us as a guardian, a means to show us our need for a savior by highlighting our inability to achieve righteousness on our own. It was never intended to be the final destination but rather a path leading us to Christ. With the coming of Jesus, we are no longer bound by the strictures of the law but are free to live in the grace that He provides. This freedom allows us to live a life that is not about checking off a list of rules but about growing in a relationship with God through faith in His Son.

"But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith." - Galatians 3:25-26 ESV

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced the law as a guardian in your own spiritual journey, and how has it pointed you to a deeper reliance on Christ? [11:24]

Day 3: Living in the Reality of Our Inheritance
Our spiritual inheritance is not just a distant promise; it is a present reality that we can experience here and now. As co-heirs with Christ, we have access to the fullness of God's blessings, which includes His love, acceptance, mercy, grace, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This inheritance shapes our identity and should influence our actions, as we live not for ourselves but as representatives of God's kingdom, reflecting His love and grace to the world.

"And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." - Romans 8:17 ESV

Reflection: What aspect of your spiritual inheritance can you more fully embrace today, and how can it impact your approach to challenges or relationships? [21:46]

Day 4: The Transformative Love of Our Heavenly Father
Understanding God as our loving Father can revolutionize our relationship with Him, especially for those who may have experienced a lack of love or acceptance from earthly fathers. The revelation of God as a perfect Father who offers unconditional love and forgiveness can bring deep healing and a profound sense of belonging. This relationship is not earned; it is a gift, and it invites us to live in the security of His love and to extend that love to others.

"As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him." - Psalm 103:13 ESV

Reflection: How can the knowledge of God's perfect fatherly love influence the way you view yourself and your worth today? [25:37]

Day 5: Responding to God's Invitation for Reconciliation
The parable of the prodigal son is a powerful illustration of God's heart for us. He is always ready to forgive and restore us to Himself, no matter how far we have strayed. This story is an invitation to return to God, to accept His forgiveness, and to live in the joy of reconciliation. It is a reminder that God's love is relentless and that He desires a relationship with each one of us.

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," - Ephesians 1:7 ESV

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to experience God's forgiveness and reconciliation? How can you take a step towards accepting His invitation today? [38:14]

Quotes

"When God says you are a son or a daughter, he treats you like a son, like a daughter. What he knows is that you are going to fail, what he knows is that you are going to fall, and like a loving father, he's going to come over and pick up your hand and hold you by the hand and pick you up and say let's do it again. That's Grace. Amazing Grace." [30:21]( | | )

"God is Not going to spank you. God is going to pick you up, love on you, and say it's going to be all right. But I know too that some of us also grew up in spiritual environments where we were taught that God is angry... I think that's a misrepresentation of God. Yes, God's heart is a heart that corrects... but I don't think God's heart is a heart that looks out at you to see what mistakes you made so that you can get the next punishment." [31:56]( | | )

"Spiritual Freedom through Christ guarantees us a new identity. You are a daughter, you are a son of the most high, and that's the greatest identity that each and every one of us can embrace. The Son and Daughter of the most high." [27:16]( | | )

"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God and in fact that's who we are. What that means is that God loves us enough to adopt us into his own family and to enjoy the full inheritance that comes with being in his family." [22:40]( | | )

"Calvary purchased Freedom delivers full family blessings... if he owns everything, that means you own everything because you have full spiritual blessings. You are the heir that actually is going to own the full family blessings. So as God's children, we have the full family blessings that is freedom, Deliverance, Mercy, Grace, love, acceptance." [34:35]( | | )

"The story of Paco is also a story of God that God is constantly searching; he's got the ad that says 'All Is Forgiven, come back home.' We have access to a father who calls us sons and daughters, and we can call him Abba, father." [38:14]( | | )

"Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law, kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of Faith was revealed. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith." [11:24]( | | )

"Now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. For you are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ like putting on new clothes." [12:10]( | | )

"God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father.' Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child." [21:46]( | | )

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Transcript
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Were there any personal stories shared?