Sons Not Slaves

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 4:1 Now i say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is a master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, werein bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 3:26-4:7

Beloved, the most wonderful, incredible thing has happened! Did you know that? You and I as believers in Jesus Christ have entered into something that I don't believe we even realize. Do you want to know what it is? I thought you would never ask. Are you sitting down? Of course you are! You are reading this on your computer! Okay. Are you ready? Here it is. You and I were once slaves to sin. We were in bondage to it. Maybe we didn't even know we were. We were slaves to the sinful nature in us, doing things just because we didn't know anything else. And then the law comes into our lives, and we realize right from wrong, but we just cannot default to the right, because there is something in our lives that is so strong, compelling us to do wrong things. But then the light and love of Jesus Christ comes into our lives. The chains of sin fall off, the bondage to sin is broken, and it is at that time that we realize just how bound we were, because now we have been set free. One who is born into slavery knows nothing but slavery, until they have been set free. Then, how great is that freedom! That was me. That was you. We have been born into slavery, but now are set free by the grace and mercy of God through His Son Jesus Christ. And when the Son sets you free you are free indeed.

In Bible times, sometimes slaves were welcomed in to families, and treated like part of the family. But they were still slaves. They had no rights, no privileges, because they were slaves. But if they were adopted by that family, they are no longer slaves, and have all the rights and privileges of a son (or daughter). Beloved, you and I as believers in Jesus Christ, when we became born again, entered into the family of God as sons (and daughters). That makes us a joint heir with Jesus Christ. Did you get that? We have all the rights and privileges of sons and daughters. Just wrap your mind around that for a minute. Just pause right now, and let that sink in. You are an heir of God through Jesus Christ. Wow. That's huge! And God has put His Spirit within us, that is crying out to God, "Abba" which means "Daddy," and "Father." We get to call the God who created the universe and everything in it, "Daddy, Father!" That is so cool. That is so incredible. That is so humbling to me. I never had a very good relationship with my earthly father, because he left when I was twelve. So, for me, to be able to have a relationship with the Creator God, and to be His son, and to call Him "Daddy," well, that to me is so unbelievable.

So, beloved, don't go around living like a slave. Allow Him to lift up your hands that are hanging down. Allow Him to strengthen knees that are weak. He is the lifter of my head. Allow Him to do that for you today. Do not fear, for the Lord your God is with you, today, and every day. Amen? Amen.