“Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God. Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all. But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain. I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!” Galatians 4:1–12

“But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces?”

As Lutherans we teach that salvation is all about grace that comes to us through faith, alone. As such, it is G-d who finds us; we do not find G-d. G-d extends grace to us; we have nothing to offer G-d except our prayer, praise and thanksgiving. When we return to the wrong notion that we can earn G-d’s favor, we turn back the clock spiritually.

Yes, there is always a tendency, a human desire to want to revert to the past. Somehow, someway, we want salvation or the Christian life to depend on us earning our way. That is a warm and wonderful feeling — but it is contrary to the Gospel.

Many people need to trade in their “religion” for the gospel of grace found only in the finished work of Christ on the cross. This is a bitter pill to swallow for those who are impressed with their self-effort — but it is a pill worth swallowing. Which is harder — knowing we have done enough to earn salvation — or trusting G-d that Christ has done it all? I know which one I will choose…..

Pastor Dave

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:23–29

Paul writes: “before faith came, we were held in custody, or imprisoned, and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our guardian or disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith”. The word translated “disciplinarian” in the NRSV is “paidagōgos” in Greek. In wealthy Greek and Roman families, a “paidagōgos” was a slave entrusted with the care and discipline of a child when the child was not in school, until the child reached the age of adulthood. The metaphor suggests that the authority of the law is transitory, lasting only until something is attained, reached – here it is understood to be until Christ came, so that then, once the law is abolished, we might be justified by faith.

“But now that faith has come,” Paul continues, “we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith”. The word translated “children” in the NRSV is “sons” (in Greek “huioi”). Sons would enjoy full rights of inheritance from their fathers. Yet it is clear that Paul intends the meaning to be gender-inclusive because, now that Christ has come, the rite of entry into G-d’s people is no longer circumcision (available only to “sons” or males) but the rite of entry is through baptism, available to all.

And then Paul says that when we are baptized into Christ we have clothed ourselves with Christ. Here Paul uses language from early baptismal liturgy, in which the newly baptized were clothed in a white garment, symbolic of the righteousness of Christ. All who have been baptized into Christ are clothed with him, wrapped up in him, and incorporated into him so that Christ becomes one’s primary identity marker. All other identifiers fall away, for “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”.

Here is where I wish more people could find their initial identity — as children of G-d. If we were to start there, would there be so many people who struggle to seek their identity — and choose paths that lead down difficult roads? I know identity is wrapped up in so many different thoughts and ideas today — it is too simplistic to think this would solve all of societies woes. But, perhaps, it might relieve some minds and a lot of unnecessary angst in our world.

Pastor Dave