Do you know how much God loves you? Do you understand that God will help you through every problem you face? Whatever you are facing or feeling right now, you are going to make it in life and see many future blessings. How you see yourself and how you act is of great significance in any area of life and particularly in the Christian life. That is also the theme of the book of Galatians which we are currently studying. We could title it: Free Christian or Slave Christian.  

In life everyone has mountain top experiences in one way and another. But how you think of yourself and how you act will determine whether you are on top of the mountain, or the mountain is on top of you. Every day you have a choice to be a victim or a victor, to be an overcomer or to let your problems and pressures overcome you. Whether you are younger or older, a new believer or a long time Christian, how you see yourself will greatly affect how you act and react, especially when you face trials and temptations.  

Many people struggle with low self-image and maybe that includes you. Maybe that’s because of how others view you or have criticised you. Maybe you have accepted a narrative that you are not important, and you are not loved. If that is the case, you are challenged to change the whole way you think, and act based on what God thinks and says about you. For God wants to raise you up in your life and calling and not let you get pulled down by negativity and the lies of Satan.  

The apostle Paul was so passionate about Christian believers living with faith and freedom that he wrote this very hard-hitting letter to the Christians in Galatia. He saw that they were being fiercely attacked by a traditional group of Jewish zealots who wanted to make all Christians follow Jewish laws and practices like circumcision. Paul was not happy about this (Galatians 5:12), insisting nothing must change the gospel message that salvation is through faith in Christ alone.  

In Galatians 4 he outlines in the most inspiring way how to live free as a child of God (Galatians 4:7). We see how you can be confident and clear in your identity as a Christian. 

1. Being a Christian means being freed from the slavery of your past (Galatians 4:7-11,22-31; Galatians 5:1) 

2. Being a Christian means that your present status is adoption as a child of God (Galatians 4:4-6; Romans 8:15; John 14:18) 

3. Being a Christian means that we have a powerful future inheritance (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29; Genesis 12:2-3; 1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:3-4; Luke 4:18; Ephesians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 3:17) 

Apply  

1. Being a Christian means being freed from the slavery of your past. This chapter is full of references to slavery and in particular the dangers of Christians living as slaves by becoming bound again by religious laws and festivals (Galatians 4:8-11). Living by the Old Covenant is like being slaves where you must strictly observe religious events. In the New however we are free through Christ to know God through inward personal experience. The apostle Paul highlights the differences between Ismael who was born to a slave woman and Isaac who was born to a free woman (Galatians 4:22-31). Are you trying to live under the old covenant with all its rules and regulations? Is your life overshadowed by guilt or grace? Are you constantly down on yourself and never feeling good enough or do you realise that Christ is with you, for you and has provided everything for you to conquer in life? Are you bound up in yourself or are you walking in the freedom, forgiveness and fullness that Jesus has purchased for you on the Cross? Well, here’s how you should be living: through Christ you have been set free from sin and from the fear and finality of death. So, you do not have to be enslaved in any way: not to fear, guilt, shame, addictions, despair, depression. Jesus is the saviour who forgives all sins and redeems from all bondage. And also He is the great shepherd who wants to guard us and guide us through every difficulty and danger in life. Just like the Israelites who were delivered out of the slavery of Egypt, you who have put your trust in Christ are no longer slaves but a free born-again men and women. Make sure then that you are not like those Israelites in the desert who wanted to return to Egypt. Don’t lose your freedom (Galatians 5:1).  

2. Being a Christian means that your present status is adoption as a child of God. Far from being slaves, God has brought us into his family as sons and daughters (Galatians 4:4-6; Romans 8:15). Best-selling author Warren Wiersbe says in his book ‘Be free’: ‘we do not enter God’s family by the way a homeless child would enter a loving family in our own society. The only way to get into God’s family is by being born again. We are spiritual babes who need to grow....the New Testament word for adoption means to place as an adult son. We are not little children but adult sons with all the privileges of sonship.’ Paul’s language about slavery, adoption and inheritance would have been entirely familiar to his readers. The difference is that most early Christians were of low birth, servants and slaves, who would never have dreamed of being adopted into a great Roman family. But Paul tells us that we can be “children of God, and of children, then heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ.” Through Christ you too have been adopted into the family of God. You are no longer outsiders and orphans (John 14:18). Because God in his love has adopted you into His family, you can live confidently with ready access to your heavenly father and every blessing He has for you.  

3. Being a Christian means that we have a powerful future inheritance. The apostle Paul says that we share in the sufferings of Christ now and will share in the glory of Christ later as His “co-heirs” or “joint heirs” (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29). The original promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 was not just for Abraham’s physical descendants but for all believers. This means that we will be blessed and become a great blessing and ‘all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ As heirs of the promise, we can also experience great multiplication and see our descendants blessed. Above all we can enjoy every blessing and inheritance that Christ has promised for us both in this life and the life to come (1 Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:3-4). This is your moment to understand who you really are because of God’s great love and mercy to you. Don’t let anybody or anything rob you of your identity in Christ. You are not a slave any more so stop living like one. You are adopted into God’s family as beloved sons and daughters, not through your good works but your faith in Christ. You are heirs of every blessing through Jesus. You have a great future ahead of you both in this life and in the life to come. Today step into your freedom and never step out (Luke 4:18; Ephesians 3:12). Give your life to Christ and be forgiven and freed. Thank God for the freedom Christ has bought for you and receive His Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17).