Paul's Epistles - Galatians
Part 9 – Underage
Heirs
Pastor Bruce A.
Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Paul has explained to the Galatians in the
last few chapters that they were heading down the wrong path, the wrong way of
thinking.
We are told in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.”
Proverbs 16:2 says, “All the
ways of a man are clean
in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.”
The Galatians church lost their way, and
strayed from the truth.
James 5:19-20 “brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander
from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the
error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of
sins.”
Clearly, any “brother and sister” that
strays (or wanders) from the truth (which is the Word of God, or Jesus, which is
the Word made Flesh!), they are in danger of death (second death) because of
their multitude of sins!
Paul, wanting to help the Galatians
church, and save them from the err of their way, wanted to turn these brothers
and sisters whom have now become “sinners”
as the scripture tells us, back to the truth, and save them from the second
death (Judgment Day) and cover (with the White Garment of Christ) their
multitude of sins! (So they will not be visible on Judgment Day)
Paul and Peter bump heads as Peter is the
Apostle who allowed the false teachings and misdirection of the Galatians
church to take place, by giving in to peer pressure from the circumcised group
trying to teach you needed to obey certain ceremonial laws IN ADDITION to
Christ to be right in God’s eyes.
However, this was NOT what Jesus taught,
and therefore was a false teaching.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Galatians 4:1-7
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. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and
trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So
also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental
spiritual forces of the world. 4 But
when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born
under the law, 5 to redeem those under the
law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because
you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the
Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So
you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God
has made you also an heir.
I.
WE WERE AS
UNDERAGED HEIRS
a.
As underage heirs are subjects
b.
A slave although he owns the whole estate
c.
Subject to guardians and trustees
i. Until the time set
by his father
II.
WHEN WE WERE
UNDERAGE, WE WERE SUBJECTS
a.
Held subject to the elemental forces of the world
i. Basic force of sin
in the world which enslaves us
ii. Revealed
to us through the 10 Commands
b.
However, when the time come (set by the Father)
i. We, like underage
coming to age, can be released from being a slave, and receive our inheritance
c.
When is the time the Father set for this?
i. When He sent His
Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law
ii. Therefore
adopting us into full Sonship
III.
WE ARE NOW OF AGE
BECAUSE OF CHRIST
a.
You have been adopted (if you come to Christ)
i. You are sons of God
b.
Because you are His sons, He sent the Spirit of His
Son into your hearts
c.
This Spirit cries out “Abba, Father”
CONCLUSION – therefore you are no longer a slave
You are no longer a
slave, but a child of God, and since you are His child, you are also made an
heir to the Kingdom!
If then, you are no
longer a slave to the sins of the world which bind and enslave, how is it you
find yourself in sin?
Jesus gives us the great
commission;
1.
Go
into the entire world and preach the Gospel of Salvation
2.
Baptize
them into the Father (Laws), Son (Redemption from Law), and Holy Spirit (Down
Payment of Sonship and being an Heir to the coming Kingdom)
3.
THEN….teach
them to obey all Christ commands.
Jesus tells us in
the great commission, until we are saved, and baptized into understanding the
Law of the Father (we are in sin), the Son who is Christ (Redemption from that
sin), and finally to receive the Holy Spirit (which Paul explains is the Spirit
of the Son given to Sons of God), it IS ONLY THEN that you teach them to obey
all Christ commands…
BECAUSE it is only
them that the Children of God have the Holy Spirit, and ABILITY to be set free
from the bondage.
Therefore, if you
find yourself in sin, it is NOT because you are enslaved in bondage, but have
willfully returned to your chains.
This is why those
who return to sin are in danger of the second death, because they have chosen
to walk away from the FREEDOM of Christ, and return to the bondage of sin.
The Word of God
tells us, Jesus came, not to condemn, but to set free, for those who do not
belong to Him are already condemned.
Condemned by the
Law.
He sets us FREE
from the Law and the bondage of sin.
To return to sin,
is to turn our backs on the Lord, the Word and Truth.
But as long as we
have breath, we can CONFESS, REPENT and therefore receive forgiveness and once
again be called sons of the Most High.
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