Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

                                                                                                               Galatians 4:6-7

Imagine a billionaire tycoon with a son who is six years old. This wealthy father has already determined that his son will inherit everything he owns when the son reaches the appropriate age for accepting such responsibility. The man has servants and he pays them very well, but their wages are miniscule in comparison to the inheritance that this young son will one day receive. Yet, in the present, you would not be able to tell the difference between the servant and the young heir because the appropriate time to hand over this father’s wealth has not yet arrived. The child is still under guardians and mangers of the estate until the inheritance is transferred to him. This is the analogy that Paul is using when referencing the Law and the promise of eternal life by faith in Jesus.

So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

                                                                                                            Galatians 4:3-5 

Notice that the “elemental things” held us in bondage and they still do. Elemental things are rudimentary, basic things, and the Law is the elemental things. Progressing in the faith then returning to works of the Law as means of being accepted by God is to return to the bondage from which believers have already been redeemed. It would be a major step backwards and doesn’t promote spiritual maturity or the abundant life we are to enjoy.

Rather, our acceptance from God is through adoption and this through the cross of Jesus. We are now sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Like the son of the billionaire tycoon, we are heirs to the kingdom of God. It was God’s grace that makes us the offer and it is by faith that we receive the gift of salvation and eternal inheritance.

But that’s not all. Because we are now sons of God, He has given us His Spirit to live in our hearts allowing us to address Him as “Abba Father!” First, notice that the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. “God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ because God, Jesus, and the Spirit are three in One. Once the Spirit of God is living in us, we now have the right to call Him “Abba Father!” This term is an affectionate, personal, and intimate reference of God. It is much like referring to your earthly father as “daddy”.

So the conclusion that Paul makes in this passage is that as born again believers in Jesus, we are no longer slaves (to the Law), rather sons and daughters of the Most High God and if we are children of God we are also fellow heirs of His kingdom.

I believe the church should spend some time rediscovering these truths. Do we live as those who have inherited everything? Do we pray with that posture in mind? Do we engage the world in this truth? What a terrible offense to the cross to live like a spiritual pauper when in fact you are an heir to the kingdom. Let’s live like kingdom people!