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.
Summary: Paul arrives at the crown jewel of his argument for the Gospel. In it, he brings together all the threads he has been working with to make his case.
If Paul’s letter to the Galatians were a piece of jewelry instead of words, all the words to this point would be the gold setting, and these verses would be the gemstone. We will probably dive into the parts of this passage individually, but before we do, it is worth stepping back to admire the whole passage.
In Paul’s grand construct, he has erected a legal structure based on the model of inheritance law. His model is constructed of five parts:
• an inheritance to leave to the heir,
• someone to leave it (the Grantor),
• a recipient (the Heir),
• a means of protecting the heir in the absence of the father until the heir should come of age (Trustee, Guardian)
• and, a means of ensuring the heir comes into their inheritance at the proper time. To make this metaphor work, Paul boils down the inheritance to a stark choice. We can accept the inheritance and live or reject it and die (Galatians 3:21-22, 6:7-8).
The Grantor, God (Galatians 3:18), is the source of all life. To receive the inheritance he offers us, we must first acknowledge God’s position as the Father of all things.
The “Heir” refers to the Son of God, Jesus. It also refers to everyone who is “in” Jesus (Galatians 2:15, 3:14).
The “Trustee” overseeing mankind until Jesus comes into his inheritance is “the law” (Galatians 4:4-5).
Finally, the means of ensuring all this takes place is the fact that God is God. He is the absolute final authority for all of Creation.
If God’s Word seems confusing, it is because we try and force it to fit our expectations. Looking into God’s mind is like looking into one facet of a gigantic diamond. Each facet is like a window and a mirror at the same time. Each facet transmits light and reflects light. The resulting complexity of images overwhelms our human minds, yet God understands it all because he is the Author of all. He created both the diamond and the light.
Application: Accept God’s offer of an inheritance of Life in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20)
Food for Thought: Why is an inheritance law a good illustration of God’s offer of eternal life?
I like what Jesus teaches about receiving eternal life. Notice in the story below there are two ways to receive it. One is to be perfect. No one will receive it that way ( Romans 3: 23; 6: 23; James 2:10). The other is to receive it by following Jesus (by faith). From a human point of view, to be good enough to receive eternal life is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. With God there is an eternal inheritance through faith. Without Him there is no inheritance. We can receive it by faith as a gift, or reject the inheritance altogether. The stipulation in the will is faith in Christ.
Matthew 19: 16 – 30: Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18“Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,’ c and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Rich,
I love the passage you share this morning. Especially this exchange:
“Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
It is an amazing truth that God is capable of all things, and also loves us and wants us to be with him.
Its sometimes easy to think of an inheritance in terms of value. But an inheritance is more than that. There is a person behind “the will” that wanted something for you. It is more than giving away of possessions, there is a hope behind the giving, a hope of a greater life. That what is given will be honored and used to enrich life, a hope that the inheritance brings with it rememberance of where one came from, and gives a lasting sense of identity.
Gods offer of eternal life gives us hope. God offers it to us, not only so that we can be with Him in eternity, but so that we can feel His Spirit today, while still in this world. Living a life devoted to Christ is a life more abundant. The inheritance is not only eternal life after death, but life in Christ while alive. In gaining His eternal perspective and the hope of life with Him, we gain the identity of being one of His children. Like an earthly inheritance, Gods eternal inheritance carries with it the responsibility of taking on the name of the grantor.
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
Thanks, Chris!
You make an interesting point. There would be no inheritance if the person making the gift did not care about the recipient.
Why is an inheritance law a good illustration of God’s offer of eternal life?
An inheritance law is a formal method of officially designated property, title or position of a person or person’s following the death of another person.
Because God, the creator of all things, loves all the inhabitants of the world, people who do not know or love Christ, others who are even hostile toward His Son Jesus Christ.
God gave His only Son, so that ALL might receive eternal life in Him. The only requirement is we must humble ourselves and receive this gift that only God can give.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:17-18, For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.
Matthew 20:28, Romans 6:23,
Our inheritance is freely given to the humble, not because or our good works but because of God humbled Himself, allowed men to abuse and kill Him, so He could become the way of eternal life for love for all who love Him.
Ron —
I daresay that your comment today is humbling! 🙂
Thank you!!