THE FULL RIGHTS OF SONS

Galatians 3:26-4:31

Key Verse 4:5

   

 “To redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” 

About 7 years ago I bought one vegetable juice maker. I believe it was “Bosch” brand. I did not know it but it was made in Germany. After one year it was broken. And I really wanted to repair for free and use it. But as I look for the receipt I could not find it. Furthermore I noticed that it was more than a year has passed after I bought it. So there was no hope at all for me to fix it under warranty. But since I really wanted to fix it I spent many agonizing nights to find a way to fix it for free. But there was no way. Then one day I just brought it to an authorized dealer because I really wanted to fix it for free and I wanted to explain my situation. I gave it to a lady who was there and I was going to explain my situation. But amazingly she even did not ask me the receipt. She just made sure that it was Bosch brand and told me, “It will be fixed.” Wow! I can never forgot the incident. That is the best experience in my life about warranty. The warranty period was gone but it did not matter because she was going to fix it. Had I known that I had such a right to fix it for free I would not spend many agonizing nights in order to find the way to fix it for free. I would just bring it right away. In the same way we may have some great rights. But we may not know that we have them and then  we may fail to exercise it. If that is the case it will be great loss for us. As the rights are greater our loss will also be greater. Today I am going to show you what rights for you which you might not have noticed so far even thought they were yours in eternity.

Part I. You are no longer a slave but a son. (3:26-4:7)

Let’s read verses 26-29 responsively. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, [27] for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

These verses shows the opposite picture of those who are under the law in previous verses. Before faith came they were locked up like prisoners by the law. But now when they have faith in Christ Jesus they are all sons of God. Verse 26 reads, “you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Then the next verse, verse 27, explains the reason why. They are all sons of God because all of them are clothed with Christ. Since Christ is the Son of God and they are all clothed with the Son of God they are sons of God. 

How can they be clothed with Christ? It is through baptism into Christ. The expression in verse 27 “Baptized into Christ” shows that the baptism is with faith in Christ. Baptism without faith does not mean anything other than taking one more shower. “Were baptized into Christ” means to be united with Christ by faith. Symbolically when you are under the water it means you die with Christ. When you are out of water you are raised from the dead together with Christ. After baptism you take off your old garment and wear new garment. It means that you take off your old self and Christ becomes your new self. 

When you are clothed with Christ you have Christ’s position and all of his belongings. Christ’s obedience is yours, and his patience is yours, and his humility is yours, and his holiness is yours, and his compassion is yours, and his son-ship is yours, and everything he has is yours. That is the reason why you are called sons of God when you are clothed with Christ. 

When we are clothed with Christ human difference disappears. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. We become spiritual descendants of Abraham and his heirs. [29] If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 

All of their glorious position as sons of God compared to their old life as the prisoners of the law shows the important of faith in Christ Jesus. Faith in Christ Jesus brought such a change. It made them sons of God from prisoners of the law. 

Faith is so important because we live in the spiritual world through faith. Faith is to receive what Christ has done for us simply as if we receive a gift from our friend. When your friend bought a gift for you and bring it to you you do not say “wait a minute. I need to pay.” Your friend had already paid it and you just need to receive it simply. But many times we make faith as work not as a gift and fail to receive what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Another important thing in faith is that you need to believe first before seeing the fruit because fruit comes as the result of your faith. So many people want to see the visible result first and then fail to believe. But only when we have faith in Christ Jesus first we can see Christ will reveal himself through us. And we will be truly sons of God.

Now Paul explains how we who were like slaves become sons of God. Let’s read verses 1-3 responsively. [4:1] What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. [2] He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. [3] So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 

Paul called Moses’ law or anything that functions as guardians and trustees of the young heir as ‘the basic principles of the world’. When we are spiritually young we need spiritual guardians and trustees although we are heirs. But when we become adults we do not need them anymore. That is exactly what God has done for his people. When his children were young he used ‘the basic principles of the world’ like Moses’ law to guard them and train them. 

Lets’ read verses 4-5 together, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, [5] to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

God’s Son was “born of a woman”. He was born as the offspring of the woman promised in Genesis 3:15 and Isaiah. It also means he is human. He is the Son of God but as the same time he is the son of Mary. Christ was ‘born under law’. “Born under law” means Jesus was born under the power of law. Sinful man cannot keep the law. But Jesus kept all the laws in his life. 

Why did God send Jesus for us? It is to redeem those under law. To redeem means to pay the price to recover. What is the condition of people under law that they need the redemption of Christ? We are also under law and we don’t feel any problems. What’s wrong with people under law that they need redemption of Christ Jesus? They need it because they are under constant condemnation of the law.

But we don’t feel that we are under constant condemnation of the law and we don’t feel that we need Christ’s redemption. 

But do you remember the 4 pictures from DMV which shepherd William used as the evidence of shepherdess Sarah’s violation of the traffic law? He showed the pictures to deliver the point – The law points out our violations and sins perfectly without fail. 

But we don’t feel that we are under the constant condemnation of the law. We don’t see anything bad about the traffic law. We are supposed to keep it for safety of us and others. But why does Galatians talks about curse of the law and prisoners of the law? Well, suppose if you get really serious about keeping traffic law. Let’s assume that to keep the traffic law becomes your life and death matter. So you want to keep the traffic law without fail. If you violate the traffic law even one slightest one and even one millions of seconds you lose your salvation. Now what happens. Whenever you are driving you will be super careful not to violate the traffic law. I bet you you will sweat a lot while driving. Yet, even though you sweat a lot and do your best not to violate the traffic law I guarantee you that you will violate it sooner or later. Now can you see the picture? The traffic law which is good now becomes your master and you are like its slave. You are now living under the constant fear of breaking the law and condemnation that comes from breaking of the law. Indeed you will feel like that you are living under the curse of the law and you become slaves of the law. The worse thing is that you cannot get out your situation with your own effort because you must keep the law and you do not have power to keep it perfectly.

The more we try to obey the law seriously the more we realize we cannot obey the law. “We have desire to do good what is good, but we cannot carry it out.” This is a cry of man under law. Who does not know it is good to get up early in the morning and eat daily bread and pray? Who does not want to love one another? Who does not want to forgive one another? Who does not want to lose weight? Who does not want to be diligent? Who does not want to be kind and gentle to others like their husbands and wives and children? Who does not want to be self controlled? 

A few years ago one brother in our ministry confessed to me that three months is a maximum he is free from lustful desires. It means most of the time he falls within 3 months. He was very sincere and born again and fruitful shepherd. To some people it may be three days and to others it may be longer than 3 months. But sooner or late we all fall and cry out, “We have desire to do good but we cannot carry it out.”

Now doesn’t God know our agony? Didn’t he do something? He did. What is it? He sent His Son.

Now if we go back to the story, then one day an officer from DMV comes to your home and says, “Well, Mr. So and so, here is the good news for you. Someone paid all the penalties of your traffic violations and all the cost of traffic accidents for your entire life including your future violation and accidents completely. The payment he made is so huge that you are completely free from any result of traffic violations and accidents whatsoever. Here is the proof of his payment and here is the government document that says you are completely free from any responsibities relating to traffic violation and accidents. Guess what? How happy will you be? I bet you you will dance around and say ‘thank you’ many times. Will you break traffic law though? You may but I tell you you will keep the law not because you are under the condemnation or fear of losing your salvation but out of thanks and joy. You have been set free from the condemnation of the law. You are redeemed from the law. 

In the same way on the cross Jesus became a sin for all men and met all the righteous requirement of the law full so that whoever believes in him shall be free from the condemnation of the law. All the righteous requirement of the law are fully met in those who believe in Jesus. In this way he set us free. He saved us from the condemnation of the law. He redeemed us from law and saved us.

In the similar way the children of God receive full rights of sons through the redemption of Christ Jesus. The expression “the full rights of sons” has the same meaning of “adoption as sons.” When you are adopted into a family legally you have all the same rights as the natural born sons in the family. You have the same name, same inheritance, same position, same privileges and so forth. Jesus Christ is God’s Son by nature, and we are God’s adopted sons. So there is no difference between Jesus and us in terms of our rights. He wants to give us all the blessings of Christ Jesus and all of his rights and privileges for us. 

Then what kind of rights do we have as sons of God?

Let’s read verses 6, “[6] Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 

Firstly, you have the right to call God “Abba, Father”. The word ‘Abba’ means ‘daddy’ or ‘papa’ or ‘mommy’ or ‘mamma’. It is used when children call their fathers. The word ‘Abba’ has affection, trust and intimacy. God gave us the position to be sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Now God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts so that we can be truly sons of God. He gave us the Spirit of his son in our hearts so that we can personally know and experience him as our Father. The Holy Spirit does many thing such as counseling, reminding his people of Jesus’ teaching, guiding them into all truth, and convicting the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment. But before all these things, the Spirit of God’s Son does one thing very naturally. It is to call God ‘Abba, Father’ because it is the Spirit of God’s Son. 

One person told me his story. He was young  and poor and he was lonely and almost like an orphan. Then people who knew him very well invited him and treated him like their sons especially during holidays. But no matter how kind they were he could never be able to call them, “daddy.” He did not feel that he belonged to them despite their great hospitality.

Many adopted children cannot call their adopted parents “daddy” or “mommy” naturally at first  although they are legally their sons and daughters with full rights. Outwardly and legally they are sons and daughters of their adopted parents. But inwardly something is missing. What is it? That is to the spirit of sons and daughters which naturally born children have without any effort.

Do you know why to call God “Abba, Father’ is right and privilege? It is because you cannot call him, “Abba, Father” unless you are his children from the heart.

For example, even though missionary Isaac Kim is my spiritual father I cannot call him, “daddy”. I do not have such right. Only Dan Kim has such a right to call him, “Daddy”. I have a right of a spiritual son for missionary Isaac. But God is talking about the rights of the naturally born son, Christ Jesus here for us. He is talking about the truth that although we are adopted children there is no difference between Jesus and us because he sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. Same spirit, same people. What an amazing truth it is! In a human world it is not possible. Even if best adopted children under the best adopted parents cannot have the spirit of the naturally born children because it only belongs to naturally born children. But God is saying that he gave us the Spirit of his naturally born son Christ Jesus to us that we are exactly like his naturally born Son Christ Jesus. 

Surely to call someone as ‘daddy’ is right and privilege because it means you know you are fully received as a son and will not be rejected. To call someone “daddy” is not something that you can earn. It is something you receive. It can only be given by the father. 

God gave us the Spirit of his Son when he adopted us. The Spirit of his Son calls “Abba, Father”. Once we were slaves but now we confess and call him, “Daddy”. We are truly sons of God not in name only but in reality through the Spirit of God’s Son. It is not doctrine or theory. He is really our Father. Christ redeemed us from law so that we have right to call God, “Abba, Father”.

Secondly, you have the right to become heirs of God. Verse 7 reads, “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” 

To become heirs is the right of children from their parents. God forbid that Maria and I should die. But if we do Mary and Martha will inherit everything from us including homes, music business, bank account and so forth. They will do only because they are our children. 

In the same way, we are heirs of God because we are sons of God and daughters of God. But sometimes it is not easy for us to see our glorious inheritance from God because God is not a person living in mansion on earth.

If somebody gives us one nice computer or car or house as our inheritance we will easily recognize it and appreciate it. But when we talk about inheritance from God, a heavenly city, we begin to yawn. So Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18. Let’s read Ephesians 1:18, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” “Saints” means ‘believers’, you and me.

One famous evangelist named “John Wilbur Chapman” served God in the late 19th Century. In his church a man was there who searched for his son who left his home at the age of 13. After 18 years later he found his son in a railroad station in Philadelphia. A young man who looked like a drug addict and homeless was begging for coins from people. When the young man came to him and begged for ‘a quarter’ immediately the father recognized that it was his son, Tom. So he shouted, “You are Tom! I am your father!” However the young man did not care. He still begged ‘please spare a quater”. Then the father shook him and hugged him and shouted, “25 cents does not matter! I am your father! You are my son! Therefore all my house and my money and my farm are all yours! Even my life is yours! All I have is yours!” The young man did not know that he had such right.

Sometimes we act like the young man begging for a quarter not knowing how rich we are. So Paul prayed, “The eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints”

Part II. Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? (4:8-20) 

In this part Paul warns Galatians not to turn back to their old slave life and pleaded with them.  

 Look at verses 8-11. Let’s read responsively. “[8] Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. [9] But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? [10] You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! [11] I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”

“Those who by nature are not gods” refer to gods like Zeus and Hermes (Acts 14:2). Paul called the Galatian’s pagan idol worship and their religious life as “those weak and miserable principles”. They were weak because they could not save men. They were miserable because they made their worshipers miserable.

But some Jewish legalists came to them and told them that they should observe Jewish special days and months and years. Special days may refer to weekly sabbaths, and months may refer to new moons, and seasons for seasonal festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, and years for sabbatical and jubilee years. (Col. 2:16.)

Somehow the Galatians believed that they could secure their salvation more by obeying some Jewish laws. They did not have any intention to turn back to their old slave lives. But that was what they were doing. So Paul shouted out, “Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” 

Then Paul pleaded with them asking them to be like him which means to stand firm in the gospel faith in verses 12-16. [12] I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. [13] As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. [14] Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. [15] What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. [16] Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 

Paul revealed the selfish motive of Jewish legalists and his heart’s desire to form Christ in them again with great pains in verses 17-20. [17] Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. [18] It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. [19] My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, [20] how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! 

After rebuking and pleading Paul wanted to help them once more.

Part III. We are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. (4:21-31)

Let’s read verses 21-31 responsively. “[21] Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? [22] For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. [23] His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 

    [24] These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. [25] Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. [26] But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. [27] For it is written:

    "Be glad, O barren woman,

        who bears no children;

    break forth and cry aloud,

        you who have no labor pains;

    because more are the children of the desolate woman

        than of her who has a husband."

    [28] Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. [29] At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. [30] But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." [31] Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” 

Basically what Paul was saying is that the Galatians would become slaves again without inheritance if they choose to live under the law again. 

Abraham had two sons. One was from the Egyptian slave woman Hagar. He was born in an ordinary way which means he did not come according to God’s promise nor was he born by the power of the Spirit. But Isaac was born as the result of God’s promise and he was born by the power of the Spirit. For no couple who are 100 years old and 90 years old can bear a son.

Now Paul was saying that Galatians are like Isaac because they were born as the result of God’s promise and by the power of the Spirit. And they were like children of a desolate woman who does not have a husband but is more fruitful than the woman who has a husband prophesied in Isaiah 54:1. God can produce more children by his power according to his promise than a woman who has a husband. 

Are you fruitless? Don’t worry. By the promise of God and by the power of God you can be more fruitful than anyone in the world. Jesus promised in John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” With your own effort you cannot bear even one single fruit. But with Christ he can bear much fruit because it is the fruit as the result of God’s promise in Jesus and by the power of the Spirit. How much is ‘much’? I don’t know. But ‘you will bear much fruit.’

Through faith in Christ Jesus the Galatians can live as sons of God and heirs of God in Jerusalem which is above. And they are persecuted by Jewish legalists in the same way Isaac was persecuted. Paul concluded his story saying, “Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.” 

In conclusion, Christ redeemed us from the law so that we can receive the full rights of sons. Because he redeemed us and gave us full rights of sons there are so many similarities between Jesus and ourselves. Firstly, by title Jesus is the Son of God and we are sons of God. Secondly, Jesus and we have the same Spirit. Thirdly, Jesus is the Heir and we are also heirs. Fourthly, Jesus was born by the power of the Holy Spirit and we too are born by the power of the Spirit when we are born again. Fifthly, Jesus was born according to God’s promise and we too were born as the result of God’s promise. Surely Jesus is the Son of God and we are all sons of God and heirs of God through the redemption in Christ Jesus.

 One word: Christ redeemed us so that we might receive the full rights of sons

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