July 29, 2019

 

Galatians 4:4-7 states, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

 

I absolutely love this passage of Scripture. Last week in our Behold Your Godstudies there was a brief discussion over the incarnation of Christ (God becoming a man in the person of Christ). The incarnation of Jesus Christ is one of the most fundamental doctrines of Christianity. In fact, without it there is no Christianity. Entire books have been written concerning the implications of the incarnation; however, I want to briefly focus on just one of these implications this week: the adoption as children of God. The Apostle Paul tells us in the above passage that because Jesus Christ became a human being, and as such suffered and died, those who are redeemed are God’s children. This reflects the personal aspect of our relationship with Christ.

 

The Christian’s relationship to Jesus is often viewed as a King’s relationship to his servant, and rightfully so. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He is the sovereign creator of the universe. He reigns over his kingdom and he is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise! He is the redeemer who is holy, righteous, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-wise, omnipresent, immutable, and infinite in all things. He is the one and only true God. We should never have a diminished view of God. The implications of a diminished view of God will lead to a life of selfishness, disobedience, and apathy. But there is another aspect to our relationship with God. Although all of the above is true, God desires a personal and intimate relationship with those whom he has redeemed. This relationship is clearly illustrated in Galatians 4:4-7 as a relationship between a father and his children.

 

God has not only paid for your sins (redeemed you), but he has also elevated you to the status of an adopted child. If you are truly saved, then you are a real and authentic child of the King of Kings. Your identity is found in this relationship. God is your father now. But the Apostle Paul wants us to understand that God is not just holding the position of “Father.” He says that we can cry out “Abba! Father!” In the original Greek language this exclamation means “Oh, Daddy!” It is a personal phrase that a small child would use to refer to his or her father. It means that God desires to be intimately involved in your life. He wants to be your loving “daddy.” Because of this relationship God has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with you. God is a father who loves you and will never forsake you. When you’re hurting in life or you’re feeling confused God is a father that has all wisdom and a Spirit that comforts. His truth and his Spirit have the power to heal the deepest wounds if we will trust him to do so.

 

But as a father he also leads and disciplines his children. Hebrews 12:5-11 states: And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the ones he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (NIV). This passage of Scripture details the nature of how God disciplines the children he loves. He pushes us toward holiness. The fact that God disciplines us is an assurance of our salvation. God does not discipline those who are not his children. This discipline also reminds us that God loves us enough to continue to mold our lives after the image of Christ. Despite our struggles with sin he reaches into our lives, adopts us as his sons and daughters, and then begins to sanctify us. So, this discipline should not be viewed as a king who punishes a disobedient servant, but as a father who disciplines the child he loves. This form of discipline leads to a love and respect for our Heavenly Father.

 

There is one final note I would like to make. Experiencing such a relationship requires trust on your part. Many people have been hurt by others and as a result they have a hard time trusting God as a person. They believe the Bible and trust that what God says is true, but they have so many psychological “walls” around them that they deprive themselves of an intimate relationship with God. If such a person is truly saved, then God will not cease to work at breaking down these barriers in a person’s life. They will probably feel like they are living in heartache and hardship at times because of God’s discipline and the individual will probably fight God in the process. But to experience God intimately one must trust him. You must let God into every area of your life and trust that the change he brings is better than what you can be on your own. The more you resist God (live in unbelief) the more damage you do to your faith and your soul.

 

I implore you to trust God. Trust that he is not only the sovereign Lord, but also a daddy who loves you and wants to transform you into a person of holiness. Accept his discipline and allow him to mold you into a person who reflects his glory and honor. He loves you, and if you’re truly saved, he redeemed you. He has reached down into your depraved life and raised you up to be his adopted son or daughter. Praise God for his great love! Praise him from whom all blessings flow!