Once a person has chosen to follow Jesus, they are a son and heir.  The people of God, historically did not have the status of sonship until Jesus came.  As the firstborn son from the dead he was able to make everything that God has for us available to us.  Before Christ, the people of God were in a position where they would inherit what God had for them, but it was not realised.  Paul compares their status to a young son who has not come of age.

The analogy breaks down when we think how each son, regardless of whether they are ethnically different, or male or female has equal status.  In Jewish culture different children often had a varied status.  So, as Christians we inherit everything that Christ has purchased through his death – equally.

Galatians 3:23-4:7

²³ Before the coming of this faith,^[j] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

 ²⁶ So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷ for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and 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.

¹ What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ² The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of the world. ⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.^{[b] 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[c] Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Questions

1. What was believers’ condition before the faith in Jesus Christ was revealed?
2. What theme is Paul carrying over from the previous section (i.e. yesterday’s section)?
3. How is becoming a Christian like adoption?
4. How do you think of yourself as a child of God?
5. What have you inherited?