"To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:5
The Jews who were under the law were not sons of God, they needed to be redeemed by Jesus Christ in order to be adopted as sons of God in the same way that Gentiles are adopted into the family of God: through faith in the finished work of Christ. They could not be adopted by the law because it was not given to do that.
"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:7
Under Roman law, adopted children enjoyed equal rights as biological children. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, but in our becoming adopted into the family of God, we became joint heirs together with Him to the inheritance of the Father. Most time, we are not fully able to twist our minds around this truth of our equal inheritance with Jesus, and let it change our perception of who we are in Him. When, however, we do, everything changes. For example, when we get to know that all that the Father has belongs to us as much as they belong to Jesus, our perception of ourselves in Christ will change; the same happens when we get to know that we are loved with the same love by the Father as the Son is loved. But notice that it is only in Christ that any of these is possible because outside of Christ, we remain strangers to the covenant, and alienated from God.
"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" Galatians 4:9
Being adopted by God into His family, the apostle Paul could say to the Galatians that it is not just that they know God, but rather, that God knows them. Remember how in Matthew, Jesus said of some who called Him Lord, Lord, that He didn't know them, the reason being that they were, according to Him, workers of iniquity. But this can never be said to those who have taken refuge in Christ, of whom we are told that they have been adopted into God's family. Praise God!
Toni
The Jews who were under the law were not sons of God, they needed to be redeemed by Jesus Christ in order to be adopted as sons of God in the same way that Gentiles are adopted into the family of God: through faith in the finished work of Christ. They could not be adopted by the law because it was not given to do that.
"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:7
Under Roman law, adopted children enjoyed equal rights as biological children. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, but in our becoming adopted into the family of God, we became joint heirs together with Him to the inheritance of the Father. Most time, we are not fully able to twist our minds around this truth of our equal inheritance with Jesus, and let it change our perception of who we are in Him. When, however, we do, everything changes. For example, when we get to know that all that the Father has belongs to us as much as they belong to Jesus, our perception of ourselves in Christ will change; the same happens when we get to know that we are loved with the same love by the Father as the Son is loved. But notice that it is only in Christ that any of these is possible because outside of Christ, we remain strangers to the covenant, and alienated from God.
"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" Galatians 4:9
Being adopted by God into His family, the apostle Paul could say to the Galatians that it is not just that they know God, but rather, that God knows them. Remember how in Matthew, Jesus said of some who called Him Lord, Lord, that He didn't know them, the reason being that they were, according to Him, workers of iniquity. But this can never be said to those who have taken refuge in Christ, of whom we are told that they have been adopted into God's family. Praise God!
Toni
