Sermon: Practical Christmas#5
Bible Passage: Gal 4:4-7

v4 … when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
v5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.
v6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”
v7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God

1. It is a trinitarian passage—The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
2. God the Father initiated a new relationship with humanity by putting to an end to man’s slavish striving to relate with Him (verse 4; cf. John 3:16)
3. To end the control of the world/systems over us

a. To “redeem” us from the world
b. To restore our birth right as God’s rightful sons/daughters
c. To have rightful inheritance which includes

i. A tremendous change in our relationship with God
ii. Familial intimacy with God “Abba”

4. Jesus facilitated the relationship

a. Jesus preexisted with the Father (verse 4 “God sent His Son” cf. John 1:1-2; Col 1:15-22)
b. At Father’s will, Jesus became 100% human while not renouncing His 100% Godhead (perfect hypostasis), was born as a Jew (verse 4; cf. John 1:14)
c. Jesus bought us back to God—”redeem” by His death, burial, and resurrection

5. The Holy Spirit sustains our relationship with God (ongoing)

a. The Holy Spirit is the pledge of our sonship (verse 6; cf. 2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:14)
b. The Holy Spirit enables us to “cry” Abba, a “cry” of our heart

6. Who are we? Result of God’s Christmas initiative

a. Liberated from legalism, religious systems, and failed self-striving religion
b. Children of God through adoption
c. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit so that we will continue to enjoy the fatherhood of God

Take Away:

1. Protect your life from spirit of slavery (the orphan spirit!)
2. Enjoy the new relationship with the adopted Father
3. Claim your rightful inheritance from God as your Christmas gift