The Child of God

February 19, 2012

Lesson: Galatians 3:19–29, 4:1–7

Key Verse: Galatians 4:7

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Introduction

Our prayers need to rise to the throne of grace, that the Child of God who has heard the gospel may not be led to a numbness of mind by those who, within the church, preach a liberal gospel, which is no gospel at all (Gal. 3:1). Paul reminds those who have received the gospel that they did not receive the Holy Spirit by works of the law, but by the “hearing of faith” (3:2). The blessing of Abraham, which is that we have been justified through faith (3:8), comes to the Gentiles “through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (3:14).

There were those within the congregations of Galatia who preached a gospel of works, of obedience to the law, and the need that these Gentiles be circumcised. One question for today’s lesson is, “are we justified by works or by faith?” The other is that of the place of God’s law: “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise” (3:18). To Abraham came the promise of God for which he did not have to pay in any way of money or deed. As Scripture attests to that which is freely given and received by faith alone: “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16).

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Our Schoolmaster—Galatians 3:19–29

To consider the law, we must keep in mind the moral demands of God, the moral law that Moses received from God and gave to His people. Its message is, “Be ye holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16; Lev. 20:7). Moral obedience is to be found between man and God, and man and man, as summarized by Christ: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength …Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Mark 12:30–31).

All are under sin and its curse. However, all men are sinners and are unable to keep the moral law of God. They are unrighteous before God. Then what is the purpose of the law if it cannot make us righteous? One of the purposes of the giving of the law is “because of transgression.” God could have left all of mankind in the darkness of their sins, receiving their just reward. But He gave the law that we may know that we are transgressors, and in desperate need to confess our guilt. “for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20).

The law was given to restrain us from sinning; but more than that, it was to point us to Christ, that we might be justified by grace through faith. Our eyes must be directed by the Spirit to the death and resurrection of Jesus in whom we have forgiveness of sins and reconciliation to our Father in heaven. The law was “ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” The promise of grace was given to Abraham and to the spiritual seed of Abraham. The song to be sung is that Christ was slain and has “redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9).

The law is not against the promises of God. Though the law cannot itself give life, it has done that which leads us to the One who has become our righteousness. The law gathers “all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” If under sin, then under condemnation, and unable to achieve righteousness or justification through obedience to the law. Knowing that we are so condemned as sinners, then our eyes must turn to our only Savior, Christ Jesus.

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We are Justified by Faith Alone

Before faith came, we were kept under the law. Under the law, there was not hope for forgiveness and reconciliation to our Creator. But then, faith came and opened up the gates of heaven whereby we saw Jesus who came to seek and to save His people. Being convinced of our guilt and the insufficiency of the law to save us, we, by the Spirit, are persuaded to place our faith in Christ, and so realize the promises of God in His Son.

The law was our schoolmaster to reveal our sin. The schoolmaster brings us to Christ. And it is in Christ that we are justified by faith. Faith revealed the grace of our Father in heaven. In Christ we are justified to be called “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” In our baptism into Christ, we “have put on Christ.” There is also a new family where we are one with another, “all one in Christ Jesus.” And, therefore, if we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, “and heirs according to the promise.”

What a privilege is ours to be called children of God. We were once enemies of God, lawbreakers until the coming of faith, whereby we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ according to promise. Such blessings are ours because of the beloved Son of God in whom we believe and have life everlasting.

Discussion: What is the purpose of the law of God?

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Our Heavenly Father—Galatians 4:1–7

If we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise, then the question arises as to what is the meaning of being an heir. Paul answers by giving a comparison between being under the law and under grace. Paul is still concerned with the true gospel that has come from Christ over against the false teachers who speak of works under the law.

In the fullness of time: By the grace of God we were made heirs; “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17). We were chosen to be heirs long before we knew we were appointed, in Christ, to be children of God. Therefore, as a child, writes Paul, the heir differs not “from a servant, though he be lord of all.” A child is under “tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.” The glory of grace was not sufficiently known until the coming of the Son.

As children, not yet knowing our inheritance, we “were in bondage under the elements of the world.” Our eyes were not yet cleared to see the heavenly mysteries which declared us as heirs chosen of God. The heavens were open with the revelation of the Son of God: “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.”

The Son came to be born, taking on our fleshly nature, being subject to the law of God, thereby redeeming us from the curse of the law. He fulfilled the law’s righteousness for us and freed us by His own life. He came and accepted our place under the law that we might be made whole under grace.

We have been adopted as sons. The purpose of the coming of the Son of God was to “redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Before we knew our redemption in Christ, we were of our father, the devil. We were under the law and so under the condemnation of death. Christ has redeemed us, who were under the law, and made us as sons by adoption. We now belong to God our Father; for “ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

We hear more questions about which church we belong to than the question of whether we belong to our Father in heaven. We are nothing less than the “called out” people of God; a congregation that belongs to our Father in heaven, of whom Christ is King and Head, and the Holy Spirit our Comforter and teacher. The covenant is that the Lord God will be our God and we will be His people. “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself” (Deut. 7:6). Paul admonished the elders of Ephesus to consider seriously their calling because of the preciousness of the people who belong to Him: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the (Ccongregation) of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). (Note also the words of our Lord, John 10:27-29).

Therefore, belonging to our Father in heaven, we are no longer servants, but each believer is “a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” We are no longer under the yoke of the law, but are called children of God. We are Christ’s and therefore enjoy the freedom which grace has afforded us. Yet we belong to Christ. Our freedom rests in Him alone. As Jesus has said: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11:29).

Discussion: What does it mean to belong to the congregation of God?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.