No More a Slave, But a Child of God (2)

Sermons based on the Letter to the Galatians (IV)

Galatians 4:1-20

God gave humanity a new chance. Here are some points:

1. No more children (1-7)

In the ancient world, the process of growing was different for each culture.

a- In Jewish families, when a boy arrived the age of twelve, the father took the child to the synagogue and recited these words:

“Blessed be thou, O God, who has taken from me the responsibility for this boy.”

On the other hand, the boy said, “O my God and God of my fathers! On this solemn and sacred day, which marks my passage from boyhood to manhood, I humbly raise my eyes unto thee, and declare with sincerity and truth, that henceforth I will keep thy commandments, and undertake and bear the responsibility of mine actions towards thee.”

b- Greek families kept the boy at home until 18 years old. Then the boy moved to the age of cadet, which means two years of service to the state. During that time, they cut the boy’s long hair and dedicated it to the gods.

c- The Romans did not have a fixed age for adulthood. But between 14 and 17, the day the boy became a man the family gave a big banquet and invited everyone. The boy wore a new gown which was a declaration for his manhood. And also the boys offered their toys like balls and the girls offered their dolls to god Apollo as a sign that childish days were finished.

Paul faced these cultures in his churches. When a boy owned property, he could not take any decisions. He was not in control of his life. Everything in his life was directed by someone else. He was like a slave. But when one become a man, he entered to his full inheritance.

-In the third chapter the law was a pedagogue, a tutor, tasdiarag in Armenian.

-In the fourth chapter Paul describes the law as elementary knowledge (things for boys.)

“So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. ⁴But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, ⁵to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

When we believe in Christ, when we have a relationship with God. God gives us “full rights of sons”. What a privilege and responsibility!

- I know a couple in Beirut who had a daughter and decided to adopt a son. Lebanon was in war and there were some unwanted babies. They took this son and raised him along with their daughter. I baptized both these children as adults. Let me tell you. The parents never differentiated between the two children. Both were cared for equally. Once you are adopted by a parent, you belong to that family. You have all the rights.

“…that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

Paul is challenging the Galatians. “Did you lose your mind?” Do you want to live in slavery? Do you want to stay in your childhood?

Paul loves this imagery. He uses it in 1Corinthians 13:

¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

Put away your childish life, and turn to you DADDY. Paul uses here the Aramaic word of Jesus when he was teaching his disciples the Lord Prayer, “ABBA.” The intimate relationship with our father, who cares for us.

⁶Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”(4-7)

2. I need your heart (8-11)

There is the trap of doing rituals without turning your heart to God. It is essential that we know God and we worship God with our hearts. In fact, God’s Spirit is available and knocking the door. We should learn to open the door.

“But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ¹⁰You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”

The question I have is, “How about us? Did we fall in the trap of ‘observing special days and months and seasons?’”

In one of my previous churches that I served we used to worship on Sunday at 9:30 am. The council decided to change the time to 10:00 am. Do you know how long it took to convince people to change the time? “For yeas we worshiped at 9:30, why do we need to change the time?”

One day a pastor came to visit me. He rebuked me that I distorted the worship service of the Armenian Evangelical church. I introduced Nor Yerk to the youth. I understand if some of us do not like the new style of worship songs, but can I remind you when Dr. Elmajian (Armenian hymnal) collected songs and translated some, there were those who also persecuted him for these new songs. Let me also remind you that J.S. Bach and other church composers were persecuted when they introduced polyphonic music into the church. Do you know how long took the church fathers to be convinced that the PIPE ORGAN is not from the devil?

Don’t be trapped in external religious practices which may become absolutes. Those can be obstacles in your worship life. God wants your heart.

Do you know that some people get upset if they do not sit in their seats at church?.

Do you want to experience freedom in Christ? Get rid of manmade laws and turn to your spiritual relationship with God.

2. Remember your first LOVE and JOY. (14-15)

Paul loves his people. Yet, where is their first love towards him? What happened to the joy?

“Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

“What happened to you? You loved me so much. You were ready even to tear out your eyes and give them to me.” Paul had many illnesses. His vision was bad. He had malaria. He was bitten many times. The Galatian church took care of him. However, somehow they lost that love.

It reminds me of the book of Revelations when Jesus spoke to the seven churches. One of them was the church of Ephesus.

⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Paul is reminding them, that there was a time when they lived freely, they lived as children of God. They had Joy and LOVE towards Jesus and towards him, as an apostle of Jesus. By obeying the law, where is that JOY?

-Do you know where that Joy is?

When we experience GRACE, when we experience forgiveness, when we know that we do not deserve it, but God through His son Jesus Christ gave us a new chance for reconciliation, there is nothing more joyful than living by GRACE.

Let me finish with an interesting illustration:

-A husband and wife were driving the 1965 old Chevy, eight cylinder, black outside, red inside. The car could seat six passengers, three fron and three back. The wife asked the husband, “Our marriage isn’t what it used to be. We used to hug and kiss all the time. When we used to go out on dates, I never sat over here by the passenger door.” After a pause the husband answered, “May I ask you, WHO MOVED?”

This can apply to both sides. Who moved?

Did we lose our first love towards Jesus?

By observing the “laws and regulations” did we lose our hearts and we do not worship God with heart, mind and soul?

What happened to us?

Are we slaves or free people?

Are we obedient to God who is inviting us to be his CHILDREN?

I urge you to examine these questions and see where you stand with God.

We have a prayer group that who wants to meet with you and pray with you.

Amen.