Galatians 3:25-4:11 Lesson 364

Galatians 3:25-4:11
Lesson 364

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

We are the children of God (3:26).

"Ye are all one in Christ."
Jesus brought us from slavery to freedom to God's heir (4:1-7).

Abba -
Abba is Aramaic for father. It is an endearing name similar to "papa" or "daddy." Although it was common for Jewish children to use such a familiar term when speaking to their fathers, it was unusual for Jews to address God in such an intimate way. While waiting for the mob to arrest Him in Gethsemane Garden, Jesus called out to "Abba" in prayer (Mark 14:36).

Study Tip:

Put the lessons learned from the Bible in your life.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Galatians

The King James Bible

Galatians 3:25-4:11
Children of God

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.


Galatians 4:1-11

1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Margin notes:

"Schoolmaster." (3:25) - The Mosaic Law was the Jewish "schoolmaster." It taught right from wrong until Jesus. Since the crucifixion, we are no longer under the Mosaic Law.   We are under God's grace.

"Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (3:26) - Now that the Mosaic Law has been replaced, everyone (Jew and Gentile) who has faith in Jesus is a spiritual child of God.

"Have been baptized into Christ." (3:27) - "Have been baptized and become part of Jesus Christ." Jesus' death on the cross destroyed the power of our sinful nature. Once we become Christians, we become part of Jesus and enjoy a new life (Romans 6:3-11; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (3:28) - Our love of God supersedes all racial, ethnic, economic, or gender differences (Romans 10:12: 1 Corinthians 12:13). We are all one in Jesus. The Messiah tore down the wall that once separated us (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus brings everyone into "one-fold" under "one shepherd" (John 10:16).

"If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed." (3:29) - If you're a Christian, then you are a spiritual descendant of Abraham and therefore included in God's covenant (Genesis 12:3).

"And heirs according to the promise." (3:29) - Believers are God's children, and thus his heirs along with Jesus (Romans 8:16-17).

"The heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant." (4:1) - While still a child, an heir to a fortune is no different than a servant taking orders.

"Tutors and governors." (4:2) - The teachers and guardians of children.

"Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world." (4:3) - Jews were like children in bondage to Jewish rites and ceremonies as they waited for Christ to arrive. Likewise, Gentiles were in bondage to whatever pagan god they followed.

"When the fulness of the time was come." (4:4) - When man was ready.

"Made of a woman." (4:4) - "Born of a woman."

"Made under the law." (4:4) - "Born subject to Mosaic law."

"To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (4:5) - "To save them from the Law, so they could become adopted children of God." In other words, Jesus died to save us. Believers are not only forgiven. They are guiltless before God.

"God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts." (4:6) - See Romans 5:5.

"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son." (4:7) - We are no longer servants to the Law. We are children of God.

"And if a son, then an heir of God." (4:7) - 'If you're a child of God, then you're an heir of God." Paul is reinforcing this truth from verse 3:29.

"When ye knew not God." (4:8) - "Before you knew God."

"Ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods." (4:8) - "You worshipped gods that weren't real."

"Now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements." (4:9) - "Now, after knowing God and being known by God you want to turn again to the Mosaic Law, pagan rites, false gods, or human efforts for salvation." Paul is repeating this vital message from Galatians 3:3.

"Ye desire again to be in bondage?" (4:9) - "Do you want to be slaves to the rules, rites, and ceremonies of the Mosaic law again?"

"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years." (4:10) - To Paul's despair, some Galatian believers listened to the Judaizers and celebrated the Jewish ceremonies and holidays.  They combined the Gospel with the Mosaic Law to form a hybrid religion.

"I am afraid of you." (4:11) - 'I am afraid for you."

New Living Translation

Galatians 3:25-4:11

25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Galatians 4:1-11

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.

2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set.

3 And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

5 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.

6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father."

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

8 Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.

9 So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world?

10 You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years.

11 I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. Why does Paul talk about "adoption"? (4:5)

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. Paul writes of adoption to show that the adopted children of God will enjoy all the rights and glory of God's kingdom. God's children are "joint-heirs" with Christ. Everything God gives to His Son Jesus will be given to believers (Romans 8:15-17).



Application thought for the day:

What are the rights and responsibilities of "an heir of God" (4:7)?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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