Slices
Prepare
I am a child of God! How can this be? Ask God to help you, by his Spirit, to understand more as you read his Word today.
Bible passage
Children of God
23 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. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is under age, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were under age, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Explore
Good news! The guilty loads we carry are dealt with. No longer do we need to feel imprisoned by past failures (vs 23–25).
The Old Testament Law had been like a guard keeping God’s people from displeasing him, teaching them to be holy but requiring sacrifice and death when they sinned (v 24). But that Law could never save people. When God sent his Son Jesus, he did something revolutionary – stepping into our shoes and taking the punishment for our sin. Faith in him brings birth into God’s family (vs 25,26). Whoever you are – whatever race, status or gender (v 28) – if you belong to Christ then you are, like Abraham, a child of faith, a child of God (v 29).
The Galatian ‘deserters’ (1:6) were being confused by people teaching that submission to Moses’ Law was necessary alongside belief in Christ. Their false teaching left would-be Christians imprisoned by sin, denying the redeeming work of Jesus (4:4,5). No! says Paul. It’s through Jesus alone, we have been made right with God, drawn into relationship with him by his Spirit (4:6). Miraculously, God has made us his children – and now, we are heirs of all the riches of our heavenly Father (4:6,7).
Respond
Thank God that in Christ you have been freed from the law of sin and death, and now you have been adopted into God’s family.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Leviticus 13,14; Matthew 8
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that Young Leaders’ Enabler Rachel Blake will have God’s wisdom and discernment as she develops resources and training to help equip young leaders who take part in SU’s holidays and missions.
Using Sport to Share the Good News of Jesus!
Even the least-sporty person can, with the help of our dedicated SU Sports Team, develop simple, fun games and physical activities through which they can engage the 95, all whilst sharing the good news of Jesus!
