Living Like a Child of God
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:4-5
The Thirteenth Amendment officially abolished slavery in the United States on December 18, 1865. So, how many slaves were there on December 19, 1865? In reality, none, but many people still lived like slaves. Some did so because they had never learned the truth that they were indeed free. Some didn’t believe the truth and continued to live as they had been taught. Others reasoned that they were still doing the same thing that slaves did, so they must still be slaves. They maintained their slave identity because of the things they did.
One former slave, however, heard the good news and received it with great joy. He checked out the validity of the amendment and discovered that the highest of all authorities had originated the decree, and that it personally cost that authority a tremendous price. As a result, the slave’s life was transformed. He correctly reasoned that it would be hypocritical to believe that he was still a slave rather than believe the truth that he was free. He determined to live by what he knew to be true, and his experiences began to change rather dramatically. He realized that his old taskmaster had no authority over him and did not need to be obeyed. He gladly served the one who had set him free.
In Galatians 4:1-7, Paul says that we were all like little children (nepios, “child,” in verse 1, in contrast with huios, “son,” in verse 7) who were subservient to our guardians and trustees—similar to the way slaves are under the authority of their masters. Even though we had a birthright, we could not become heirs until the time appointed by our Father. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship” (verses 4-5). We were enslaved to the “elemental spiritual forces of the world” (verse 3) until Christ came and set us free. We were in bondage to the Mosaic Law or other religious systems.
Christ did two things for those who were under the yoke of slavery (see Galatians 5:1). First, He redeemed those under the Law. The Jews were enslaved to the whole Mosaic system; it was the bondage of legalism. Second, the Incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ secured for all believers their birthright as adopted sons and daughters. “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:6-7, NKJV). As believers we may not feel free from sin and we may not feel like children of God, but in reality we are. Our position in Christ is real truth, and we must choose to believe it.
The Holy Spirit resides in our hearts, ensuring our position in God’s family. The Spirit moves us to pray, “Abba, Father.” The word Abba is the Aramaic word for “father.” Small children used it to address their father—it would be similar to the English word “daddy.” Calling God, “Abba,” implies intimacy and trust as opposed to slavery and legalism.
A few questions to ponder:
If Christians have been liberated in Christ, why do you think so many still live as they always have?
What does it mean to be “in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world”? To what or whom are they in bondage?
What are the positives of being adopted into the family of God?
As an adopted child, do you view God as a legalistic taskmaster or as a loving “Daddy”? Explain.
From what has God set you free?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.