February 3 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Paul writes that when God sent Jesus into the world, He was made of a woman and made under the law. The fact that He was made of a woman proves His humanity. The One Who was to bruise the serpent's head was to be the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). The Messiah was prophesied to be of the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18). We know that the Redeemer had to be human in order to die for humanity,

"for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins" (Hebrews 10:4).

"As one of the human race, partaking of human nature, He was subject to the law of God. As a man He was bound by its requirements, and subject to its control. He took his place under the law, that He might accomplish an important purpose for those who were under it. He made himself subject to it that He might become one of them, and secure their redemption."

In verse 5 Paul writes that God sent Jesus in this fashion so that He could redeem those who were under the Law, and turn them from servants into sons. Remember the purpose for Paul's letter to the Galatians: the Judaizers wanted to put the Gentile Christians back under the Law. Paul says that Jesus came to buy those who were under the Law back from its bondage, and give them the privileges of sonship. It is worth noting the the Greek verb that is translated "to redeem". The mood of the verb means that the action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances. In other words, Jesus was the Redeemer effectively only for those who received by faith God's offer of the gift of redemption and with it eternal life. Jesus was not sent to force redemption on those who did not desire to be redeemed. The price has been paid, but the individual has to choose to accept it. When someone receives Christ, he also receives "the adoption of sons". This expression is one word in Greek, and literally means, "to place as a son." Warren Wiersbe has an interesting observation on this when he writes,

"We do not enter God’s family by adoption, the way a homeless child would enter a loving family in our own society. The only way to get into God’s family is by regeneration, being 'born again'. The New Testament word for adoption means 'to place as an adult son.' It has to do with our standing in the family of God: we are not little children but adult sons with all of the privileges of sonship....We enter God’s family by regeneration, but we enjoy God’s family by adoption."

In verses 6-7 Paul gives some of the benefits of sonship. He opens by saying that God sends the Spirit of His Son to His children. This would refer to the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 reads,

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.",

"For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ".