What responsibilities come with being "a son and an heir" in Galatians 4:7? Our New Identity in Christ “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” – Galatians 4:7 Being called “son” in Scripture is not gender-exclusive; it speaks of legal standing and full familial privilege. Yet with privilege comes holy responsibility. Freedom from Slavery, Call to Obedience • We are “no longer slaves” to sin or law-keeping for acceptance (Galatians 5:1). • Freedom isn’t license; it is empowerment to serve in love (Galatians 5:13). • As obedient children we refuse former passions (1 Peter 1:14) and choose Spirit-led living (Romans 8:14). Family Resemblance: Reflecting the Father’s Character • Sons bear the family likeness: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). • The Spirit cries “Abba, Father” in us (Galatians 4:6), prompting intimacy, reverence, and daily consultation with our Father. • We walk in love as Christ did (Ephesians 5:1-2), showing mercy, truth, and purity. Guardians of the Inheritance • An heir guards what is entrusted. Faith, the gospel, and spiritual gifts are stewardships to manage wisely (1 Timothy 6:20; 1 Peter 4:10). • We invest our resources—time, talents, treasure—so the household wealth multiplies (Matthew 25:14-30). • We protect family unity, refusing gossip or division (Ephesians 4:3). Active Participants in the Family Mission • Heirs aren’t idle beneficiaries; we are ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). • We proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us (1 Peter 2:9). • Sharing the Father’s heart means caring for the lost, the poor, and fellow heirs (James 1:27; Galatians 6:10). • Suffering with Christ is part of heirship, producing glory (Romans 8:17). Living with Expectant Hope • The inheritance is “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). • This hope purifies our present conduct: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). • We set our minds on things above, treating earthly possessions as temporary (Colossians 3:1-3). Embracing sonship means walking in Spirit-empowered freedom, mirroring the Father’s heart, stewarding His riches, advancing His mission, and pressing on with eyes fixed on the coming inheritance. |
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