Opening Up
Member testimony: have one member share his or her two-minute story of faith.
So far in Galatians, Paul has shown us how God’s inclusion of the Gentiles has been his long-term plan, all the way back to Abraham and the promises now fulfilled in Jesus. In today’s passage, we see the outcome of this—a striking equality between believers and intimacy with God.
Read
Galatians 3:26–4:7
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Digging In
In a world that was and remains highly divided according to race, gender and economic status, how does 3:26–29 reveal a unique equality or oneness? What is it based on?
Where do you see this equality and oneness in action within our church?
In 4:1-7, Paul describes the long story of God’s saving work as like a child growing to maturity. The infant heir is no different from the slave, except that the heir has a very different future.
What are enslaving “elemental spiritual forces” or principles (v.3, 8-10)?
Describe the extraordinary way in which God has made us his sons.
What are the intimate names you use or used for your parents, or the names your children use or used for you (if you are a parent)? Why don’t others use them when addressing your parents or you?
What happens when God sends the Spirit of his Son to believers (4:6–7)?
How does Galatians 3:26 – 4:7 shape the way we:
a. relate to one another in the church?b. relate to God?
In his great classic, Knowing God, JI Packer writes:
What is a Christian? The question can be answered in many ways, but the richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as Father.
Do you agree? How might this statement shape the way we share the gospel with others? Will we share our faith in primarily relational terms as God’s children, or in legal terms as the guilty who are now redeemed?
As we prepare our hearts and diaries for the Share Life mission, Growth Groups are invited to come together at church for Share Life Go.
We encourage every group member to do Study Six in their own time. Growth Groups recommence the following week with Study Seven.
Taking it with you
Share one thing from this passage and study that you can share with someone at home or elsewhere.