This is a part of a sermon series for Christmas 2024. You can watch more here.
This morning we will kick off a short series called “Light into Darkness.” We will be in Galatians 4. You can turn to page 74 in our devotional or you can turn to Galatians 4 in the New Testament.
If you didn’t know, it’s December 15th! Ten days till Christmas! You know that joke about two types of people. People who think there are two types of people and people who don’t. People who love Birkenstocks and people who think they exist to torture feet.
And there are people who love the festivities of Christmas and those who see the festivities as demonic. Right? There are those who start listening to Christmas music in August and there are those who think December 25th is a pagan holiday hi-jacked by consumerism. I get it!
Full disclosure, we just set up decorations in our church this week but our family set up decorations before Halloween. You can judge us! We even have two Christmas trees that are about 10-feet apart, so you know what camp we fall into but at the end of the day none of the decorations, lights, and presents matter because what we are celebrating this morning is the mind-bending truth that God became flesh. Amen?
God not only speaks creation into existence, has all of humanity slam the door in his face and then humanity comes up with this crazy claim that God isn’t real and humanity is really the center of all things, and yet the God of Scripture still breaks into human history with His birth as an infant! Merry Christmas!
The reason we are here this morning isn’t because we are all best friends. It isn’t because we all look like, vote alike, talk alike or even agree on every issue in existence but the reason we are here is because we are men and women whose hearts have been captivated by the glorious truth of Immanuel – God came near.
Maybe you don’t understand that? Maybe you don’t believe that? Maybe your heart has grown cold toward that glorious truth but we are going to look at God’s Word this morning to be reminded or to be made aware as to why Jesus’ birth is the most important event in human history. Let’s look at Galatians 4:4-5:
Galatians 4:4-5, “4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Do you know the book of Galatians? Galatians is in the New Testament. The New Testament is divided into three parts. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Then the second part of the New Testament is stories of people’s lives changed by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. These are called epistles or letters written from the Apostles to people just like us.
Then the third part is Revelation and it’s all about the promise of Jesus’ return. That’s the New Testament; Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, people changed by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and the promise of Jesus’ return.
The book of Galatians is one of those letters written to a group of people just like us today. These are normal men, women and children whose lives have been transformed by grace through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Literally, the Apostle Paul had seen Jesus with his eyes, been sent out by Jesus, would go into towns to talk to people about Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, so that in those conversations with those people God would become real, personal, meaningful and then a new church would be started in the Galatian region, which is modern day Turkey.
A great question for all of us to ask ourselves this morning is, “Has God become personal in our life through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection?”
I don’t care if you have gone to church your whole life. I don’t care if you have taken classes on the Bible. I don’t care if you think you’re a good person. None of that matters. It only matters if God has become personable and knowable by grace through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
This happened in my life when I was 18-years old. I didn’t grow up around Jesus, His church or His Word, and yet, like the Apostle Paul of old, someone came into my life and talked to me about Jesus, called me to believe in Jesus, follow Jesus and in that moment, God became personal and knowable for me.
I started talking to God through prayer. I started reading God’s Word. I starting singing out in worship and clapping my hands. I used to think people who went to church were stupid but now I wanted to go to church, I wanted to be around other Christians. I wanted to talk about God and His Word. I wanted to obey God’s Word, because God had become personable and knowable, therefore, we need to be asking ourselves, “Has that happened in our life?”
In verses 4-5 the Apostle Paul is using words to describe HOW our relationship with God becomes personable and knowable but to fully understand the context of verses 4-5 we need to back up to verse 1.
Incidentally, anytime you look at a verse in the bible you always want to look at the context of the verse to understand it’s meaning. Anytime you are watching something on social media and someone pulls out 1-2 verses, always think to yourself, “What’s the context of those words?” Look at verses 1-2:
Galatians 4:1-2, “1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.”
Doesn’t that help? Stay with me. The “I” in verse 1 is the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Paul is writing to these new followers of Jesus to help them understand spiritually how far they were from God in the past and now, in the present, because of their faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, now they are close to God. Does that make sense? (Hands: They were far…now through faith in Jesus they are near.)
In verse 1 the Apostle Paul is going to use this language of “heir” like when a family member passes away and you inherit some property or some money. Does that make sense? You are an “heir” to that property.
My mom passed away in 2021 and had about $50K left in her estate but she never left a will, so at this point we have spent $35K in legal fees to determine who the “heir” of her $50K. Get a will!
In Galatians 4 the Apostle Paul is going to draw a comparison to show there are two types of people in the world. There are those who believe Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and those who don’t.
There are those who follow Jesus and those who don’t? There are those who have experienced God in a personable, knowable way, through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and those who have yet to experience God in a personable, knowable way through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. There are two types of people!
In verse 1 the Apostle Paul is going to illustrate this truth through a comparison between a child, who is the heir to the estate, and a slave who works on the estate, to show that on the surface all people look the same but there is a spiritual reality that we are overlooking and we see this in a child and a slave illustration because both the child and the slave live on the property, right?
On the surface both the child and the slave benefit from the harvest. On the surface both the child and the slave benefit from the same roof over their heads. On the surface both people, child and slave, will benefit from the same layers of protection from the outside world, but in reality, both people are not the same because the “child is the technical owner of everything as the heir.” Does that make sense?
In the same way, those who are followers of Jesus and those who aren’t followers of Jesus look the same on the surface but there is a spiritual reality being taught in Galatians 4 to help us see the difference. Look at verse 3:
Galatians 4:3, “3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.”
In verse 3 the Apostle Paul is continuing the illustration of slave and child but showing before faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection we are all spiritual slaves of darkness. (Pause)
Remember, Galatians 4 is teaching us there are two types of people and our brain wants to see all people are the same. Sometimes you will even hear people say, “We are all children of God.” That’s not what God’s Word teaches.
We are all created in the image of God, and as a result possess inherit value but the title “child of God” is actually a special title, because verse 3 is teaching us that we are all born into spiritual darkness as spiritual slaves who are “held in spiritual bondage to the elemental things of the world.”
This might be new for some of us so I want to give us a second to process that statement, “We are all born into spiritual darkness as spiritual slaves who are held in spiritual bondage to the elemental things of the world.”
The phrase “elemental things of the world” means the wisdom of the day (movies, books, social media, etc.) is contrary to God’s Word and it’s possible you might be thinking, “I am not a slave to this world! I can do whatever I want!” (Any old time, because I am free! Soup Dragons – 1990’s)
Remember, this is hard to see; like the child and the slave both living on the estate, so we don’t see spiritual slavery, but try to stop eating fast food and see who’s a slave. Try to stop looking at your phone every 30 seconds. Try to start going to the gym and running miles. Go on! You’re free!
We might push back and say to ourselves, “Well, I don’t want to do those things.” Okay, try not to think about yourself all day. Try not to leave a conversation and wonder what those people think about you. Try not to beat yourself up when you make mistakes. Go on! You’re free!
God’s Word teaches us that we were created in freedom in perfect relationship with God in Genesis 1-2, but we rejected that relationship, so that all of humanity is born spiritually separated from God and born into spiritual darkness and spiritual slavery.
In fact, verse 3 is making this point so strongly that it attaches the word “bondage” meaning we are in spiritual chains to this world, like the ghost of Christmas past, so that we can’t help but pursue the “elemental things of this world” in our sin and darkness. Look at verses 4-5 again:
Galatians 4:4-5, “4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
The phrase “fullness of time” means once everything happened that was supposed to happen. It means Jesus’ birth wasn’t by accident. It means God has had this plan all along and throughout human history He has planned for just the right moment that God in the flesh would break into human history with His birth as an infant!
It’s not like everything was in chaos and then one day people came up with this idea that Jesus is God, but from the very beginning the plan all along has been that Jesus would enter into human history at an exact time and place, so that when we celebrate Christmas it isn’t just a holiday event with flickering lights and cocoa but it is a celebration of the most important event in all of human history.
The phrase “born of a woman, born under the law” is important but before we get there I want you to see the phrase “so that He might redeem those who were under the Law.”
When you see the phrase “redeem those who were under the Law” He is talking about those spiritual slaves in bondage and darkness who have become children of God by grace through faith in Jesus’ life death and resurrection. It’s called redemption!
The word “redemption” means to purchase, so that before faith in Jesus you are in spiritual darkness and spiritual bondage, but Jesus has come to purchase you and take you home, so that you belong to Him and adopted sons and daughters. Isn’t that good?
Do you understand outside of faith in Jesus we are slaves to the elemental things of this world? In our sin we are all born into spiritual darkness. In our sin we are all born into spiritual bondage. This is every child at every point in human history since Genesis 3 when sin enter into the world.
There is a reason we find ourselves thinking, “Why do I do the things I don’t want to do.” It’s because the world is layered in spiritual darkness.
There is a reason it feels like we go through the same problems over and over in life. There is a reason nations war against nations. There is a reason the lion doesn’t lay down with the lamb. There is a reason nature is violent and unrelenting and it isn’t because of climate change.
But, at just the right time, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, promised by the prophets throughout the Old Testament that one day One would come, so that those who trust in Him can be redeemed, rescued from the domain of darkness and ushered into His Kingdom of Light, adopted into His Family. Amen?
It’s possible you might think those are just fuzzy warm phrases to think about in Christianity but that’s why we see the phrases “born of a woman, born under the Law” because the Apostle Paul is making the point that the glory of Jesus isn’t just warm fuzzies.
Jesus is God in the flesh who was born of a woman. Jesus could have just showed up in glory. Jesus could have just ridden down on a white horse surrounded by angels. Read Revelation! Jesus could have just turned His back and wanted nothing to do with us but Jesus is God in the flesh, born of a woman because He came to do what Adam could not.
Jesus came to walk in our shoes. Jesus comes to live the perfect life. Jesus comes to perfect the law and keep the law in every way, so that He might “redeem those who are under the law.”
So, we must ask ourselves, “Has God become personal in our life through faith in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection?” Have we been redeemed? Have we received our adoption and sons and daughters of God?
Look at verses 6-7:
Galatians 4:6-7, “6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
In the first century, if a wealthy person didn’t have any children they could adopt someone as an heir to inherit their estate.
This isn’t language as familiar with us today but in the first century they would have understood this language to mean the adoptee was taken out of their previous position and placed in a new position. All of their old debts were instantly canceled, so that the adoptee was starting a new life with a new family with new resources that they didn’t have earlier.
I have been walking with Jesus for 30+ years and I am still learning the depth of the adoption I have received as a follower of Jesus. I think in the beginning I assumed my response was to be thankful for Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and then I will let Him know if I need something.
I only thought of Jesus through the lens of Him taking my sin, which is awesome but Galatians 4 is teaching us that Jesus not only takes our sin but also gives us His righteousness.
In verse 4 the Son is sent into the world but in verse 6 we see the Spirit is sent into our hearts. Do you see that?
The Holy Spirit is given as a down payment that we belong to Him! Remember in the olden days when you go to buy a house you have to put down a down payment as a promise. The Holy Spirit is sent into our adopted hearts as down payments that our Heavenly Father will finish what He started. This is language of intimacy. He’s personable!
When you are followers of Jesus, indwelled with the Holy Spirit and you don’t feel close to God or you feel like your life is enslaved to those elemental things of this world, then you remember Galatians 4 and you cry out, “I am in Christ!” I have been adopted into His family! I am going to believe this is true and I am going to make decisions like this is true.
When you feel the temptations of this world. When those pictures show up on your timeline. When that message shows up in your DM’s. When that person says this or that. When those lies from your past show back up in your thoughts, you think of Galatians 4 and remember, “Oh yeah, the old things have passed away, new things have come!”
When you hit those road bumps in life, when your marriage goes side-ways, when your finances are short, when the politicians say this in our timeline and you feel this rush of fear to your heart then you think of Galatians 4 and you remember, “Oh yeah, I am not a slave, I am not in darkness, the chains have been broken, I am indwelled with the Holy Spirit, He will finish!”
After our worship service we are going to host a business meeting and talk about financial details and our hearts and minds are going to be flooded with thoughts like, “What does this mean? What happens if?” And in those moments, let us hold fast to Galatians 4 crying out to our soul, “In Christ, we are no longer slaves, we are sons and daughters of God.” Amen?
Are there are going to be times we fall away? Yes. Are there going to be times when we, like the book of Judges, do what is right in our own eyes? Absolutely! But the Holy Spirit indwelled in our soul says, “This isn’t who you are! You are sons and daughters of God!”
You see, He’s personal! The Spirit of God pokes at our soul, “What are you doing in this place? Why are you toying with these thoughts? There’s intimacy. There’s a whisper to our soul, “You are a new creation in Christ!” Why are you are rolling around in the mud and acting like the slave that you used to be? Don’t you see, don’t you remember, new things have come, turn to Jesus!
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
NVC Online
Unable to attend this Christian Church in Austin? Don’t worry, because, through God’s provision, we have created NVC online, an Online Church streaming a worship service every Sunday from 10:30am Central Time. You can also watch our short, powerful sermons on demand and follow us on Instagram for daily Christ centered content.