Gospel Outreach International

What does it truly mean to be called a child of God, and how does this unique relationship free us from the bondage of rules and regulations? This Bible study on Galatians 4:1-7 explores the extraordinary privilege of our adoption as God’s children and the freedom we’ve been given through Christ. Drawing from both Jewish and Roman cultural practices of the time, we’ll discover how God’s perfect timing brought about our redemption and what it means to cry “Abba, Father” with childlike trust.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, Galatians 4:4

• Paul argues that the Old Testament law was always defunct as a means of relationship with God because it was based on law rather than faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God
• In Jewish practice, sons learned their father’s trade from birth, then at age 12-13 began serious business of learning the trade, and at age 30 the father would publicly announce the son as his true heir
• Jesus followed this Jewish pattern perfectly: at age 12 He said “I must be about the Father’s business,” and at age 30 at His baptism, God declared “This is my son, in whom I find my delight”
• Being called children of God makes us unique and gives us the only true right we have as Christians—the right to become children of God
• The term “Abba” represents unreasoned trust and childlike simplicity, appearing only three times in the Bible, expressing an intimate father-child relationship
• Children often grasp biblical truths more quickly than adults because of their simple, implicit trust
• As believers, we are “unleashed” and set free from both the Jewish law and Gentile idolatry, though this freedom is not license to do whatever we like but freedom to follow the one true God
• Churches often introduce restrictive rules that can become like “miry clay” that bogs us down, but Christ lifts us out of these petty regulations
• The law acts as a guardian and tutor, teaching and protecting, particularly referring to the moral law rather than ceremonial law
• God’s timing is perfect—”in the fullness of time” God sent His Son, and everything works according to His appointed timetable, including Christ’s return
• God has already set the day, year, and hour of Christ’s return, though it’s unknown to angels, Jesus, or humans—only the Father knows

So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:7

So there you have it—we’re not just religious rule-followers trudging through a checklist of dos and don’ts. We’re children of the living God with an “Abba, Father” relationship that’s built on simple trust, not complicated regulations! The beauty of this study is seeing how Jesus walked through every stage of Jewish custom perfectly, from declaring He must be about His Father’s business at twelve to receiving the Father’s public declaration at His baptism: “This is my son, in whom I find my delight.” That same Jesus bore all our sins on the tree—not just one or two, but all of them—and because of Him, we can cry “Abba” with the unreasoned trust of a child jumping into their father’s arms. We’re unique, we’re unleashed, and we’re walking in fellowship with our wonderful God. That’s not just good news—that’s absolutely out of this world!

Bible References

• Galatians 4:1-7
• John 1:12
• 1 John 3:2
• Mark 14:36
• Romans 8