There is a growing number of videos on YouTube these days of parents filming their children whilst being given adoption papers. The children cry tears of joy, feeling overwhelmed by love and security. In Gal 3:15-4:7, the Apostle Paul asks the Galatians if they feel love and security as adopted children of God, or whether they’re still living under the insecurity of the OT Law.
In Gal 3:19 Paul says the OT Law cannot save a person, as it was ‘added because of transgression’. What Paul means is, the law (a) shows the Israelites they cannot fulfil the law, and (b) shows the Israelites what punishment awaits them for breaking God’s laws. The Law kept Israel ‘locked up’ under the constant reminder of God’s punishment for sin.
Yet when Christ came, he took that punishment so that God could adopt his creatures as his children (Gal 4:5). It’s like a supreme court judge (i) acquitting us of a crime we absolutely committed, (b) taking the punishment upon himself, then (iii) adopting us and taking care of us for the rest of our lives. What a wonderful status we have as Christians. We are children of God and heirs of His blessing.
Yet as frail humans, we struggle to live according to this status. Our default position is to be drawn back to the mindset of slaves, who have to work for God’s approval. This is why God sent ‘the Spirit of His Son into our hearts’. We are not told the mechanics of how He does this, but the Spirit slowly, surely and constantly draws us closer to the mindset of sons, who are secure in God’s love.
While this is the Spirit’s role, we can work with Him in this by (1) claiming the promises of Gal 4:6-7 and praying for the Spirit to transform us, and (2) give the Spirit opportunities to do so, by meditating on what our adoption means. So praise God for our status and our feeling of sonship.
