GALATIANS 4

BELIEVERS ARE CHILDREN OF GOD’S PROMISES

Paul teaches that through Christ, believers are no longer slaves to the law, but have been adopted as God’s children. As God’s sons and daughters, believers are redeemed through Jesus and given the inheritance of eternal life. Warning the Galatians not to revert back to their simple, legalistic ways, Paul encourages believers to trust that their righteousness is secured through Christ.

Referencing Genesis 16-21, Paul illustrates his message through the story of Abraham’s sons. Because Abraham and his wife Sarah were old, they doubted God’s promise that they would have a son. Taking matters into their own hands, Abraham had a son with his servant, Hagar. Despite Abraham and Sarah’s wrongdoing, God kept His promises and provided Abraham a son through Sarah. Paul describes the two sons as the son of the slave woman (Ishmael) and the son of God’s promise (Isaac).

Paul uses these two sons to contrast the two relationships available with God, one based on human striving and the other based on trusting God’s promises. Believers are not slaves to the law, but children of God.