Galatians 4-6

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Gal 4:1-2

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.

Paul loves to use analogies to express divine principles and truths.

Paul has in mind a boy in a wealthy estate who is legally the heir and so the ‘young master’ (kurios, literally ‘lord’ or ‘owner’) of the family assets, but who is still a minor (nēpios) and so lives under rules very much like a slave (doulos).”

Paul is still focusing in on the Jewish Christians, as he foresees their influence on the Gentile Christians could be detrimental to the growth of the Gospel. He needs the Jewish Christians to understand they are no longer under the care and supervision of the Law. This Schoolmaster has done its job in bringing them to Christ.

Paul also uses a similar approach though toward Christians:

So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 1 Co 3:1.

Whereas Paul is speaking to spiritual maturity to the Corinthians in Galatians he is referring to their Old Covenant constitution and how they could never receive their inheritance while the Law was their guardian.

Conclusion for us - is spiritual immaturity is no difference than being a slave

The “guardians and trustees” who supervise the estate of the child during the time of his minority are comparable to the paidagōgos of Galatians 3:24,

So then, the law was our guardian (Schoolmaster) until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian

The analogy again reveals a paidagōgos (Schoolmaster) who was a hard disciplinarian like those teachers in my early schooling who loved to use the strap! This guardian controls the property and finances of the child depriving him of all and all decision making so that in reality his liberty is reduced to that of a slave.

On the flip side of Pauls argument, we need to discuss the degree of liberty we have in Christ

We know the school Master was very wise though its intended principles hard to discern due to the rigorous practices it commanded.

However, Paul needs to explain the dangers with associating with the Schoolmaster.

It's apparent Paul understands the undercurrents at work in the Body of Christ and the challenges which lay ahead. Should the Law have any influence over the Gospel of God through Jesus Christ it would certainly remove its Power to save.

Takeaways
Postive: Being in Christ brings you into a position of inheritence, some of which can be enjoyed now, by faith!
Negative: Don't allow the Law to influence your motives and actions. It can rob you of your salvation and bring you back into slavery!

Words of Jesus:
“Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:30

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In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. Gal 4:3

Now Paul links this teaching back to the Gentile Christians all of whom were entangled with idolatry and sin.

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.Gal 3:23

pagan idolatry vs. servitude to the law / all under sin!



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But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons Gal 4:3–5.

These two verses contain high impact teaching. Paul has condensed in these few words the precision of God's plan with Israel and the world.

Consider the age in which Christ was raised up into - The Law was governed by the strictest of religious sects in the Pharisees and Sadducee's. You have Roman occupation in its full strength. You have oppression of the poor and the greed of the rich.

Paul on two other occasions reminded Titus and Timothy of that...That he gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in DUE TIME." in
Titus.1:3; he says "God had manifested His word in DUE TIME."

What was the "fullness of time"?

The last reference we have reserved on this is Rom 5..Here is an explanation as to what it was about the time. Coincided with an epoch of history such as has never been. Rom.5:6; "For when we were yet without strength, in due time ("according to the time") ..What WAS that DUE TIME? What was GOD waiting for?! "in due time Christ died FOR THE UNGODLY!"

There is something both awful and wonderful about that.

There is no suggestion that God was waiting for men to act in some way..It was all the other way round!
God was biding His time for that epoch of history that surpassed every other! Not in righteousness..but as described by the word UNGODLY!

He (God) has done it before!

Do you remember Abraham was told that his seed would enter into the land? Not because they had reached great levels of righteousness but, because the Amorites had filled up their iniquity! Genesis 15:16

And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete (full).”

To be cont...

 

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Do you recall that when the Angels came to Abraham on their way to Sodom? They were not going to Sodom to rescue Lot! They went there to see whether the wickedness of those people had reached that limit where destruction as the only option!

It is going to be not only equally true of the generation living in the last days but more so that when Jesus Christ our Lord leaves his Fathers right hand to come to this earth, it will not be due to the fact that the true remnant in the earth has reached NEW spirituality heights in faith and works so as to be deserving of him, but because the ungodliness of this age has peaked!

It will be by God's grace that we will be spared.

That's what is meant by "Fullness of Time".

God waited for that time, for the Apostle went on to say:

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—

What Paul is saying is that we might have a man with excellent moral qualities, upright and noble whom we stand and admire..maybe we would be prepared to die for him..but it would have to be a DARING ACT! That is ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT!

But God waited 1,000's of years in the full and exact knowledge of what He was going to do. He didn't dare to do it on the spur of the moment! It was calculated! And when mankind had reached that pinnacle of depravity that was the "Fullness of Time"

It could be said the filling up of the iniquity of the Gentile age is upon us and a second "fullness of time" will arrive!

"Shall I find the faith on the earth when I come?"

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He came during a time of great confusion:

1. Judaism: Judaism was the dominant religion in Judea and was characterized by its adherence to the Torah, the Jewish scriptures, and the observance of various religious laws and rituals. However, even within Judaism, there were different sects and factions, such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots, each with their own interpretations and practices. These divisions led to debates and disagreements about religious matters.
2. Roman occupation: The region of Judea was under Roman rule during the time of Christ, and this had a significant impact on the religious landscape. The Romans allowed a certain degree of religious freedom, but they also exerted control over religious institutions and practices. This created tension and conflicts between the Roman authorities and Jewish religious leaders.
3. Hellenistic influence: The influence of Hellenistic culture, which was spread by Alexander the Great and his successors, also played a role in the religious confusion. Greek philosophical ideas and religious practices blended with local traditions, resulting in a diverse range of religious beliefs and practices. Some Jews adopted Hellenistic ideas and practices, while others resisted them.
4. Messianic expectations: In the context of Roman occupation, many Jews had heightened expectations of a messiah who would liberate them from foreign rule and restore the glory of Israel. Various individuals claimed to be the Messiah or were regarded as potential messianic figures, further adding to the confusion and raising theological debates.
5. Popular movements and charismatic leaders: During that time, there were several popular movements and charismatic leaders who attracted followers and claimed to have divine revelations or authority. These leaders often had different interpretations of Jewish law and teachings, which further contributed to the religious confusion.

 

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But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons Gal 4:3–5.

Its interesting the connection between being born of woman; born into Adam, Abraham & Davids line and also born under the Law - or the condemnation of the Law. You have sin's flesh (born of a woman) and you have the curse of the Law (for all sin).

Both aspects require Christ to be held under the condemnation both of nature and of the Law.

Both aspects reveal death's dominion over us and him. The wages of sin is death!

"We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Romans 6:9

For the astute minded Romans 6:9 is a major issue and one difficult to ignore - if death had dominion over Jesus while he lives its proof he was in sins flesh and condemned to die like all of us.

Our nature condemns us to die.
The Law condemned people to die.

God in His infinite wisdom was able to remove both from His son; the truth of which is like swallowing a jagged rock for most Christians.

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Our adoption was predicated on Christ being born of a woman and born under the Law. God was able to remove both simultaneously, all the while redeeming man from his sinful state. Our adoption, or as Paul puts it elsewhere, being grafted into their (Israel's) Olive Tree (promises) is the most amazing blessing in all Scripture. Once you understand the reason for Christ being raised into a sinful line of mortal men and women and at a time when the intensity of the Law was at its most fundamental, all Scripture opens up to its fullest meaning.
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