Adopted into God’s Family Galatians 3:15-4:7

Adopted into God’s Family

Galatians 3:15-4:7

Galatians 3:15–4:7

Imagine a child sitting in a foster home. Every few months another family visits. They smile. They play games. They ask questions…Then they leave.

But one day a couple comes, kneels down, looks that little boy in the eyes and says, "We're not just visiting. We're taking you home." Everything changes.

He has a new name. A new family. A new future. He doesn't earn it. He doesn't buy it. He simply receives it. Nothing about that child's behavior earned a family. The parents chose him because they loved him.

That's what Paul wants us to understand. Christianity isn't merely forgiveness. It is adoption. Galatians isn't simply about escaping hell. It's about being welcomed into God's family.

Jordan did a great job last week couniting our study of Galatians talking about the freedom we have in Jesus. And that we need to choose wisely.

Today Paul is going to teach us that because Jesus fulfilled the law for us, we no longer live as slaves trying to earn God's favor—we live as sons and daughters who have already been welcomed into His family.

So if you have your bibles turn to Galatians

I. God's Promise Never Changed

Galatians 3:15-18

Galatians 3:15–18

Paul continues his discussion about the law and it’s ability to justify us or not. Paul uses an example from everyday live to explain this spiritual truth. Jesus did this all the time. Jesus used parables like saying people’s hearts are like different soil. Or saying the good Samaritan teaches us who our neighbor is. Sheep, vines, muster seeds and so much more. Paul does the same here.

Paul says just as no one can add to or set aside a human convent duly established. We would call this someone last will and testament. And just like we cant change someone’s will once it is signed and notarized, the law that came 430 years after Abraham doesn’t add to or take away from the promise that God had established with Abraham. That promise is that salvation is by God’s grace through faith. This is how God has always justified people.

The promise came first. The law didn't replace it. We see this with Abraham.

Genesis 15:6

Genesis 15:6

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Abraham believed God.

Listen to Paul’s commentary of Genesis 15:6

Genesis 15:6

Romans 4:23-25

Romans 4:23–25

The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

People today still try to add things to the gospel. Maybe not out loud... But in our hearts. "If I can just clean my life up..." "If I can just quit this sin..." "If I can just become a better person..." Then maybe God will finally accept me.

Paul says… No. God accepts us because of Jesus—not because of us.

If God's promise never changed, then the obvious question is the one Paul asks next: If salvation has always been by faith, why did God give the Law at all?

II. God's Law Revealed Our Need

Galatians 3:19-22

Galatians 3:19–22

If there was already a promise, why was the law given at all? The law can not give the Holy Spirit as we saw last week in the being of chapter 3. The law could not bring justification as we saw two weeks ago in chapter 2, not because God’s standard is weak, but we are. We can’t keep. And so the law doesn’t change how we are saved. Even Abraham was saved by God’s grace through faith. So what purpose does the law have?

Paul tells us that the law has taught us what sin is, “because of transgressions.” It also restrains sin by showing us that sin brings God’s wrath. It was given until the time the seed of Abraham, the Messiah came.

So does that mean the law is in conflict with promise. I mean people turned into a rule book that we have to follow to save ourselves. Doesn’t that mean it’s in conflict with the promise that we are saved by grace through faith. Paul empathically says, absolutely not!

God gave both the law and the promise. But for two different purposes. The law can not give life, nor can the law justify, because we fail every time to keep it. And so the purpose of the law was to prepare the way for the gospel. The Law wasn't bad. It was beautiful. It simply wasn't designed to save.

It was designed to lead us to the One who could.

The gospel says, Jesus obeyed every command we broke. He fulfilled every requirement we failed to keep. Then He died the death our disobedience deserved. The law shows us that we are slaves to sin and in need of a savior.

When we recognize this truth and give up our attempts to please God by our own works, the way is prepared for us to receive the promise of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

A mirror reveals dirt. It never removes dirt. Imagine brushing your teeth. You look in the mirror. You've got toothpaste all over your face. The mirror didn't make you dirty. It simply revealed what was already there. It simply told you the truth. The problem wasn't the mirror. The problem was my face.

The problem isn't God's law. The problem is our sinful hearts.

And no one washes their face with the mirror. That's ridiculous. The law works exactly like that. It shows us our sin. Only Jesus can cleanse us.

James actually uses this picture.

James 1:23-25

James 1:23–25

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Many Christians still live like they're trying to impress God.

• Have I done enough?

• Read enough?

• Served enough?

• Prayed enough?

The gospel says, Jesus has already done enough.

Now we obey because we love Him. Not because we're trying to earn Him.

If you're trying to earn God's love... Stop striving. Start trusting in Jesus.

Before this saving faith came we were under the custody law. It was our guardian, until Jesus came and set us free.

Galatians 3:23-29

Galatians 3:23–29

Jesus has come and made a way for us to no longer be under the guardian of the law but to be justified by faith in Jesus. Now remember this doesn’t give us a free pass to go on sinning. But Jesus provides that only way for us to be declared righteous before God. Justified.

In Roman culture wealthy families often appointed a guardian to supervise their children until they came of age. The guardian protected them, instructed them, and exercised authority over them—but only temporarily.

When a youth came of age he was given a special garment, a toga that showed that he was given the full rights of his family and of the state, showing they were no longer a child but an adult son.

And so Paul tells the Galatian believers you have laid aside the old garments of the law, which has served as your guardian and trustee, when they meet Jesus in baptism by faith, and they have put on Jesus. You have clothed yourselves with Christ. Putting on His robe of righteousness which grants the wearer full acceptance before God. Not because of our righteousness but because of Jesus’ righteousness.

I no longer live, but Christ lives in me!

And we become one in Jesus Christ. Human distinctions lost their significant in Jesus. No one is spiritually superior over anyone else. Neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, you are all one.

Jewish men of this time used to pray, “I thank God that you have not made me a Gentile, a slave, or a woman.” Paul isn’t doing away with the roles and reasonability’s of genders. But he is cutting through all of the favoritism and mindsets that these human distinctions somehow make someone more superior than someone else.

The Ground is level at the foot of the cross. Everyone is a sinner and is only saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. And if you belong to Jesus you are now a child of God. This is your prime identity. We are no longer defined by our race, our gender, our pasts, our failures. We are children of God the creator of the universe. And heirs according to the promise.

The law was our guardian to point and to prepare the way for the gospel.

III. God's Son Makes Us Sons and Daughters (4:1-7)

Galatians 4:1-7

Galatians 4:1–7

Notice Paul's progression. You were... Slave. Then you were... Redeemed. Then you were...

Adopted

Think about it. God could have forgiven our sins and left us outside His house.

Instead... He brought us inside. He gave us His name. His Spirit. His inheritance. His family.

Forgiveness removes guilt. Adoption gives relationship.

John 1:12

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

To all who received Him... He gave the right to become children of God.

Romans 8:15-17

Romans 8:15–17

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

This is almost Paul's commentary on Galatians.

We cry, "Abba, Father."

When you pray...

Do you picture a judge?

Or a Father?

…

How you answer that question will shape the way you pray... the way you worship... and even the way you handle failure. It changes everything.

Adopted then...

2. Given the Spirit

The Spirit doesn't merely live beside us. He lives within us. He assures us we belong.

Not, "I hope God loves me." But, "I know whose I am."

Given the Spirit then... Made an heir.

3. Heirs

Children don't earn inheritance. They're born into it. Or adopted into it. That's grace.

Many Christians we live like hired servants. But God calls us sons and daughters. Some of us have been Christians for twenty years... and we're still trying to earn what Jesus already purchased. Every time we fail... we think God loves us less. Every time we succeed... we think God loves us more.

That's not how fathers love their children. That's how employers pay employees. God is not your employer. He is your Father.

If you constantly live in guilt... Remember your identity. You aren't God's employee. You're His child.

Our world constantly asks, "Who are you?"

And then gives us dozens of answers. Your job. Your politics. Your relationship. Your accomplishments. Your failures. Your past. Your bank account.

God says,

"Before any of those things... If you belong to Christ... You are My child."

Because Jesus fulfilled the law for us, we no longer live as slaves trying to earn God's favor—we live as sons and daughters who have already been welcomed into His family.

Think about the story Jesus told in Luke 15.

A young man looked his father in the eye and essentially said, "I wish you were dead. Give me my inheritance now." He walked away from his family, wasted everything on reckless living, and eventually found himself broke, hungry, and feeding pigs. He was so desperate that the food the pigs were eating started to look good.

That's when reality hit him. He remembered that even his father's servants had food to spare while he was starving.

So he rehearsed a speech all the way home:

"Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."

Notice what he's thinking.

He's not expecting restoration.

He's hoping for employment.

In his mind, sonship has been lost, so maybe he can work his way back into his father's good graces. Maybe if he works hard enough, proves himself long enough, and earns enough trust, he'll deserve a place in the household again.

Isn't that exactly how so many Christians think?

"God, I know I failed You. If I read my Bible enough... pray enough... serve enough... stay out of trouble long enough... maybe You'll love me again."

But that's not how the Father responds.

Jesus says that while the son was still a long way off, the father saw him. That means the father had been watching. Waiting. Hoping for the day his son would come home.

Then the unthinkable happened.

The father ran.

In that culture, dignified older men didn't run. They didn't hike up their robes and sprint down the road. But this father did.

He wrapped his arms around his filthy, broken son. He kissed him before the son could clean himself up. Before the son had proven anything. Before he'd done a single good work.

The son starts his rehearsed speech:

"Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son..."

But before he can even ask to become a servant, the father interrupts him.

"Quick! Bring the best robe. Put a ring on his finger. Put sandals on his feet. Kill the fattened calf. We're going to celebrate because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

Why?

Because fathers don't negotiate with sons.

They restore them.

The son came home asking for a job. The father gave him his identity back.

He didn't earn his way into the family. He was welcomed because he already belonged to the father. That is exactly what God has done for us through Christ.

Galatians says we are no longer slaves but sons and daughters. Jesus fulfilled the law we could never keep, so we don't spend our lives trying to earn God's acceptance. We obey Him—not to become His children—but because, through Christ, we already are.

Today, by faith in Jesus Christ, you too can be adopted into God's family.

Your sin can be forgiven. Your shame removed. The Spirit can come live within you. God becomes your Father. Heaven becomes your home. You become an heir to every promise of God. Come home and be clothed in Jesus meeting Him in baptism. The Father has never stopped watching the road for you.

Because Jesus fulfilled the law for us, we no longer live as slaves trying to earn God's favor—we live as sons and daughters who have already been welcomed into His family.