Heirs of God’s Salvation

As long as an heir is under age, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. Galatians 4 verse 1.

Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Heirs of God's Salvation was written by Matt Lucas and read by Wes Ward. Galatians chapter 4 verses 1 through 7. 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.

The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were under age, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the spirit of his son into our hearts, the spirit who calls out, Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but God's child. And since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Heirs of God's Salvation written by Matt Lucas. When Abigail's parents died tragically in a car accident, she inherited a large real estate portfolio. She also learned that her parents had arranged to place the portfolio in a trust. For the time being, she could access only enough money for her college tuition.

The rest would come when she was older. Abigail was frustrated, but she later realized her parents wisdom in planning a measured delivery of the inheritance. In Galatians 4, Paul uses a similar example to illustrate Israel's situation in Genesis 17 as promised heirs of God's covenant with Abraham. God had made a covenant with Abraham to bless him, and circumcision was a sign of that promise.

However, the sign wasn't the promise. Abraham's descendants would await a future descendant who would fulfill it. Isaac was born and pointed to the future birth of a son who would redeem God's people. Israel, like Abigail, had to wait until the time set by his father. Only then could Israel take full possession of the inheritance. What they wanted immediately would arrive in due time with Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection.

All who put their faith in Christ were no longer slaves to sin, but God's child. A new covenant has been established. We have access to God, and we can call him Abba Father. Let's pray. Abba Father, we do thank you for sending your son to fulfill your promise and to redeem us as your children. Help us to live in the freedom of your grace, trusting in your perfect timing and unchanging faithfulness. And it's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. As you go about your day, reflect on these questions. If you profess Jesus as Savior, how are you no longer a slave to sin, but a child of God? What does it mean to know him as Father?