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Free Children of God

Free Children of God

Sep 18, 2016

Passage: Galatians 4:21-31

Preacher: Jared Longshore

Series: Galatians - Trusting the Gospel of God Alone

Category: Sunday Morning

Keywords: covenant, freedom, gospel, grace, law, salvation

Detail:

In a message entitled “Free Children of God,” Pastor Jared Longshore continues his Galatians series teaching from Galatians 4:21 – 31. Christians, freed by grace from the strictures of the Mosaic Law oftentimes seem to want to revert to that law. Paul, in today’s passage, warns against this and cautions Galatian believers to remain true to the gospel of grace offered through Jesus Christ.

Paul taught every Christian is a child of God freed from the law. He bases this belief on three points the first of which is the basis of that freedom. The Christian has the very best foundation, the covenant of grace. One way to understand the strength of the foundation is to consider the weakness of the covenant of works. The covenant of works, works having their basis in the law, requires perfect adherence to that law. This covenant of slavery, as exemplified in the analogy with Hagar, recognizes a relationship with a master must be earned. Yet no one can earn this relationship through works since all fall short. The law was never given to make people free, therefore freedom cannot be attained through it. Grace, on the other hand, is attainable through the mercy of God. The Father, through the work of the Son, offers grace whereby righteousness before God can be had. That is a sure foundation for relationship with God.

The second point Paul makes concerns the reception of our freedom. Paul draws the contrast between the births of two different sons, one the son of a slave, the other the son of a free woman. The analogy Paul is making is the difference between a physical birth, whereby all are born subject to the dominion of sin, and a spiritual birth whereby those so born are free from sin’s dominion and have entered into a saving relationship with God. This second birth, this being born again, is where Christians receive the freedom offered in the covenant of grace. It is miraculous just as was the birth of the child to Sarah in today’s passage. She was barren but One reached down rejuvenating her so that she would bear one promised to Abraham. Both the birth of Sarah’s child and the spiritual birth of God’s children are not the result of “God helping those who help themselves” but rather God helping those who cannot help themselves.

Paul’s third point refers to the nature of our freedom. God’s children have crossed from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of light. We are no longer ruled by sin but have the present power, through the indwelling and enabling Spirit of God, to overcome sin. Sin wants to continue to dominate us, the demonic host wants to continue their rule. Their authority, however, does not extend into the kingdom of light. We are free from relating to God through the basis of our works.

This freedom is available to all who have been born again. Why would you not want this freedom, restoring a relationship with God through the grace He offers through His Son Jesus Christ?