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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
An heir to an inheritance who has not reached the age set by his father is no different from a slave because he is not free to do as he pleases but is under guardians and managers. In the same way, both Jew and Gentile were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. The Jew to the law and the Gentile to their own religious attempts to win favour with the gods. When the time was right according to God, He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born of woman (this is a reminder of both the virgin birth and Jesus’ humanity). He was born as a Jew under the law and perfectly satisfied the requirements of the law in order to redeem (buy back) those who were under the law. The end result is that we receive adoption as sons. We are adopted as fully mature sons who have full access to the inheritance—the wealth and power of God. Because we are sons, God has given us His Holy Spirit who helps us to recognise our position and see God as Father. So we are no longer slaves to the elementary principles of the world but sons. And if we are sons, then we are heirs.
“Christ, by nature Son of God, became Son of man, that we, by nature sons of man, might become sons of God. Wonderful exchange!”
Govett
What does it mean to you that you are no longer a slave, but a full son of God with full access to your inheritance?