In Galatians 4, Paul contrasts our status as children of God with “the weak and worthless world system” that enslaves us. What does he mean?
Scripture:
Job, chapter 30; Psalm 120; Galatians, chapters 3-4
Galatians 3:26 – 4:9 (CEB):
You are all God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Now if you are Christ’s, then indeed you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.
I’m saying that as long as the heirs are minors, they are no different from slaves, through they really are the owners of everything. However, they are placed under trustees and guardians until the date set by the parents. In the same way, when we were minors, we were also enslaved by this world’s system. But when the fulfillment of the time came, God sent his Son, born through a woman, and born under the Law. This was so he could redeem those under the Law so that we could be adopted. Because you are sons and daughters, God sent the Spirit of God into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” Therefore, you are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and if you are his child, then you are also an heir through God.
At the time, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved by things that aren’t gods by nature. But now, after knowing God (or rather, being known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless world system? Do you want to be slaves to it again?
Observations: Children of God
Paul begins this passage by reminding his readers that we are all God’s children through faith in Christ. He will proceed to contrast the system based on the Sinai covenant with God’s offer of grace through Jesus Christ. Rather than being divided between Jews and Gentiles – or on any other basis – we are all one in Christ Jesus. Racial divisions (Jew nor Greek), economic and cultural divisions (slave nor free), and gender divisions (male nor female) are abolished in God’s kingdom. Our differences do not divide us; rather, God brings us together in His family from every background. All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Because we are God’s children, we are heirs according to the promise. The promise was the blessing that God gave to Abraham; we are heirs to that promise through faith. “Those who believe are blessed together with Abraham who believed” (Galatians 3:9). And because of faith, we are not longer a slave but a son or daughter, and if you are [God’s] child, then you are also an heir through God.
The Weak and Worthless World System
“By faith” means that it is not through our own efforts, nor through any “merit” that we may think we have. As I reflected yesterday, our efforts to seek knowledge apart from God are destined to fail (“Where Can Wisdom Be Found? With God!”). Paul similarly mentions the weak and worthless world system, in contrast to knowing God and being known by God. The world system is grounded in and directed toward self; God’s way is grounded in knowing Him.
History is filled with examples of attempts to create an ideal society. Time after time, people believe and proclaim that if we can just pass this set of laws, elect this group of leaders, we can find our way to Utopia. “Utopia: an imaginary island described in Sir Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) as enjoying perfection in law, politics, etc.“
We have to remember, though, that the word “utopia” comes from a Greek phrase meaning “no place.” Human efforts to achieve an ideal society apart from God lead us nowhere. In the end, such human systems which ignore God are weak and worthless, leaving us enslaved by things that aren’t gods by nature. However, by faith we are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters.
Application: Children of God
I think God is reminding us that being His children is not a cause for us to be arrogant. After all, it’s not anything that we did! We should not be the stereotypical “spoiled rich kid”! Instead, we should be more like our “older brother” – Jesus. “Though he was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit. But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8, emphasis added).
Prayer:
Father, thank You for reminding us that we have been adopted by You. You are forming us in the image of Jesus; help us to submit to Your sovereignty each day. Thank You for delivering us from the weak and worthless world system that seeks meaning apart from You. That system actually enslaves us; You set us free by the salvation that we have through Jesus. Amen.
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