It’s Your Inheritance!
I work with a program that prepares male high school students to be competitive in the college admissions process and to maximize their scholarship opportunities. The goal is that they are able to attend the college that best fits their goals and aspirations…. without the burden of crushing debt! Monthly, these students are tutored on the right steps to take to build their resume and skills so they will stand out to receive the blessing of college admissions offers and the scholarships to pay for it. In this week’s lesson (Galatians 3:23-4:7), Paul told Christians that the Law acted as a guardian and tutor to prepare us to know what is holy and righteous, so that when Jesus came, we would be prepared to put our faith in Him He is our Savior through whom we receive the blessing of admission into heaven and eternal life with God. I pray that you would know the freedom and blessing that we have in Christ as sons of God and full heirs to His kingdom. Amen.
Listen to Donald Lawrence and the Tri-Cities Singers, singing “The Blessing of Abraham”
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:23-28) The Law is personified as a guardian over a minor child in a wealthy family. Being under guardianship meant that we were not free to do what we wanted to, but were under the direction and tutelage of the guardian (the Law). In essence, we were under subject to the same authority as the slaves of the household. Under the Law’s tutelage we were being prepared for Christ’s coming because it exposed our sin and our need for a Savior. With Christ’s coming, believers are (1) children of God, (2) equal heirs, with the same rights and benefits regardless of gender, ethnicity or social/economic status, (3) heirs of the blessing of Abraham (i.e. righteous and justified through our faith in Christ).
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. (Galatians 4:1-5) Paul used an example to illustrate that the Law was only meant to serve as a guide for us until Christ came. Paul used the example of an underage heir in a wealthy family who is under the supervision of a guardian. The heir was under the authority of a guardian who was tasked to guide and teach the heir… only until they reached maturity. When the heir reached maturity, they were released from the authority of their guardian and stood eligible to receive their inheritance. Paul said that God sent His Son to redeem us who were under the guardianship of the Law so that we might no longer be under guardianship, but could receive adoption into God’s family as mature sons (and full heirs) of the Father.
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:6-7) Paul said that in our immaturity, although we were heirs, we were restrained tutored by guardians and trustees (the Law) appointed by the Father. In essence, we were under restrictions just like the one who was a slave in the household. But at the appointed time, set by the Father, we came into maturity and received all of the benefits of being a son and an heir. We are no longer living under the restrictions of a slave (i.e. following the Law slavishly), but as full and free sons and heirs of the Father.
Paul wanted us to see the Law as the vehicle used by God to prepare us to know what is holy and righteous. The Law, juxtaposed against our sins, held a mirror up to us so that we could see our shortcomings…. and know that we needed a savior! The purpose of the Law was never to save us, but to prepare us for the coming of the Savior. In God’s perfect timing, He removed us from under the guardianship and tutelage of the Law and presented us with the Savior…..so that we might mature to receive our full inheritance as sons and daughters of God through our faith in Jesus.
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
