In dealing with the
onslaught of ideas being promoted by Judaizers among the church
member of Galatia, Paul the apostle has given discourse after
discourse about the relationship between the law of God and the
promise of God. Paul has shown how the law served the purpose of
exposing sin in people, and the promise of God is the grace of God
for those who believe in Jesus and His substitutionary sacrifice for
their sins. In chapter four and verse one, Paul employs an example to
further demonstrate the relationship of the law of God to His promise
where he wrote:
Now I say, [That] the
heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant,
though he be lord of all;
In
chapter three we learned that those who believe in, rely upon, trust
in and cling to Jesus in faith, are the children of God and therefore
His heirs. Paul begins chapter four by stating, “Now I say, That
the heir, as long as he is a child...” which infers immaturity
and adolescence. There are rules put in place for a child's safety
and protection that may not later be necessary. Because the child's
judgment is not as clear as most adults, laws and enforcement of them
is needed even if there is no reason given for them. Explanation for
the rules comes later perhaps, but in the mean time for the
protection of the child, rules are in place. So it is with the law of
God. The law of God is meant for the time of immaturity, and until
the promise of God was fulfilled in Jesus, the law of God was and is
in place.
Paul
goes on to say, “...differs nothing from a servant, though he be
lord of all;” Even though the heir to a massive fortune, for
example, has the right to full inheritance, until the time he or she
is mature enough to manage the assets, they will not be able to spend
any of the funds. Therefore the child is treated in a similar way to
the servants of the household. He or she may have the title of heir,
but that is the only rights they enjoy while they are children. The
law of God was such. Until the fullness of time, Jesus did not appear
to satisfy the requirements of the law, and therefore people lived by
the law of God. But, when Jesus appeared, kept the law, and carried
out its every requirement, maturity appeared, and the promise of God
went into affect. The law was in place until the promise of God was
released.
This
example employed by Paul the apostle is shown to be just as effective
today. Until people understand the law of God, they will not know
their violation of it. When a person hears, “You shall not steal”
if they have stolen, sin is recognized and guilt and shame for
violation appears. When a person hears, “You shall not bear false
witness” if they have lied, once again sin is recognized and guilt
and shame for violation appears. The idea is that the law is in place
to bring about a mature reception of the promise of God's grace, but
before we go on with this thought much longer, perhaps we should
meditate upon it and learn more in the next verse at another time.
Next time we will
find the heir under tutors, so read ahead, and let us join together
then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look for
the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation
to Generation” in all major
bookstore
sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to
e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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