Galatians 4:1 - 4:31 Pages 1-8
In this Book of
Galatians, Paul is teaching us the freedom we now have in our faith on Jesus
Christ, our Saviour. Before Christ died on the cross for us, offering us
Salvation, God's Law through Moses is all there was, besides a Promise of the
coming Salvation through Christ. God's Law merely pointed the Way to Christ in
righteousness. Paul continues further in
Galatians with the meaning of faith in Christ; verses those who wish to be
justified by The Law.
We ask a Word of Wisdom from our Father in Christ's
Name, Amen.
Gal
4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a
servant, though he be lord of all;
2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed
of the father.
Paul's using the analogy of a child
prince who is to be 'heir' to the throne, but not yet ready, needing to be
taught the ways of the kingdom. That child prince is going to be under tutors
and governesses until the transfer of the reign. Even though those tutors
are servants to the king and his child, they have authority over the child
until the appointed time of rule. That child has to learn how to become useful
to the kingdom.
Gal
4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements
of the world:
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth
His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption of sons.
This word 'elements'
is 'stoicheion'
in the Greek meaning 'something orderly; to march in
(military) rank (keep step)' (Strong's nos. 4747;
4748). This word 'elements' is also the
rudiments of this flesh world named by Peter in...
2 Peter 3:10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up.
When God's Kingdom
comes in, those 'elements' will exist no longer.
Paul is talking about how God's People were in
bondage under God's Law before Christ came in the flesh.
Christ was born 'under
the law' just as we, but He showed us The Way, as He was Perfect in God's Law.
And Christ died on the cross for all, not just for Israelites, if...
we be Christ's. That means we must make the move to accept Him as our Savior.
God's Law handed down through Moses couldn't, and still can't offer that
Salvation in Christ.
It's important to remember why Paul began this
Message to the Galatians, as some of Judah were trying to bring the Gentiles into
bondage of being justified by The Law instead of Christ. The particular
grievance was over flesh circumcision. Is God's Law bad then? God forbid. Some
will take Paul's Message here in Galatians and teach that we are to just throw
away all of God's Law, not just the 'ordinances' and dogma which Christ
fulfilled on the cross.
I John 3: (Read
All.) Informs us what the definition of sin is:
I John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth
also the law: for sin is
the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our
sins; and in Him is no sin.
How do we know when we
sin? God's Law tells us. The coming of Messiah Jesus Christ to offer