Doctrine of the New Covenant, part 10.

Title: Doctrine of the New Covenant, part 10.  

Gal 4:1 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,

Gal 4:2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

Gal 4:3 So also we, while we were children [nepios], were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time came [incarnation], God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

Gal 4:5 in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law [a law], that we might receive the adoption as sons [placed as adult sons].

Rather, we live the ethics of the Mosaic Law as adults, whereas the OT saints, at best, could only do so as well behaved children.

Be very careful of your own self-justification. Paul stated that where sin abounded grace increased all the more and then he warned, shall we continue in sin so that grace will increase. It is our tendency to self-justify that leads to such antinomian conclusions.

In proof of this point, we read Rom 5:20-6:7.

We are adult sons under grace rather than children under law. We have the reality of the truth in Christ and the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit so that in wisdom we can make virtuous decisions from the position of an adult son. We are treated by God as adults. The seeming paradox is that we have the wisdom of spiritual adults and the faith of children. This is not at all a paradox. It is the best of the worlds of wisdom, decision making, and trusting.

Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Because we have been made sons by God's grace, God has sent His Spirit to indwell us.

The Spirit is sent forth into the hearts of the adult sons. Remember, the heart is the place of decision, wisdom, emotion, motivation, will, morality, etc. The Spirit is given to the son in order to control all of the heart, while without removing the self-determination and responsibility of the adult son.

The Spirit reveals to us the reality of our placing as adult sons and to not look at God as Judge, but as Father.

Rom 8:12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 

Rom 8:13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Rom 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

"sons" - ui`o,j [huios] = adult sons in the same context as Gal 4:5.

Rom 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"