Day 166 – Wednesday, August 20, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Galatians 4

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

Heirs

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 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, were in 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 4:1–7, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul uses an analogy of a child to demonstrate the plight of man as long as he is unsaved. A child is no different than a slave in the master’s house until he becomes a man. Then, the child has the privileges of a son or daughter.
• In the same way, the sinner is under the bondage of the world until he or she is saved. Then, the individual becomes a redeemed person with the blessings of salvation and covenant with God.
• True sons or daughters of God have His Spirit, and can call Him Father.

Fears for the Church

⁸ But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

¹² Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. ¹³ You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴ And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷ They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. ¹⁸ But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹ My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰ I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you. 

(Galatians 4:8–20, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Sinners who do not know God, serve the weak elements of this world. But when saved, a person should serve God. Paul asked why they would turn back to the bondage of worldly things.
• For Paul, those who still live by the law are in bondage to the law. Paul reminded them of the gospel he preached and their acceptance of him. He asked if they had begun to consider him an enemy and accepted another way.
• He called out the false teachers and told his disciples that they will lead them into error, to destroy them. He expressed great doubt in their ability to stand for the faith.

Two Covenants

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. ²³ But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, ²⁴ which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—²⁵ for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—²⁶ but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷ For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren,

You who do not bear!

Break forth and shout,

You who are not in labor!

For the desolate has many more children

Than she who has a husband.”

²⁸ Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹ But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. ³⁰ Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” ³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. 

(Galatians 4:21–31, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul then addressed the difference between the law and grace.
• Paul reminded them of the different plights of the house of Hagar and the house of Sarah. Ishmael was in bondage and Isaac was free.
• Even in the days of Paul, he pointed out that the Jerusalem of earth was in bondage, but the Jerusalem in heaven is free.
• Paul quoted the prophet to show them that a new people has been made more numerous than the people of the law.
• Those who believe in Christ are children of the freed, whereas those who live by the law are the children of the bound.

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.