Young People's Group

BEING HEIRS OF GOD

by Pastor Mitch
March 22, 2009

Sonship Through Faith In Christ Jesus

False teachings can stop Christians from appreciating the salvation that we have in Christ. In the book of Galatians, there was a problem of the Church turning away to another gospel. False teachers were teaching that Christians must follow the Old Testament laws in order to be saved. Paul sought to refute this. He defended that true believers were already sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” 
Galatians 3:26

It is through having faith in Christ that we are justified. We are sons of God through believing in Him and not through doing the works of the law.

Adoption As Sons

“That we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God had sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!'” 
Galatians 4:5-6

The Lord Jesus came to redeem His people from the bondage of the law. We have been adopted by God through the giving of His Spirit. He leads us to having a close relationship with our heavenly Father. God sent His Spirit into our hearts that we may cry out to God, “Abba, Father.” We will recognize and call Him our heavenly Father.

Heirs According To The Promise

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” 
Galatians 3:29

Paul also established that if we truly belong to Christ, then we are of the seed of Abraham. He becomes our spiritual father. We are heirs of the promise that God gave to Abraham many years ago. God promised that through the seed of Abraham, Jesus Christ would come forth and all nations would be blessed through Him (Genesis 22:18). Because of Him, we are heirs according to the promise. We are greatly blessed.

No Longer A Slave But A Son

“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” 
Galatians 4:7

If we are truly sons, then we are no longer under the law. We do not need to live as if we are slaves under the laws of Moses. We are now sons of God. If we are sons, then we are also heirs of God through faith in the Lord Jesus. Let’s rejoice in this. Let’s seek to live as sons, not slaves. Let’s truly appreciate what it means to be an heir of God.

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