by Timothy W. Burnett
When we let God�s word simply speak for itself concerning the Father and son relationship between Him and Jesus Christ, then everything becomes perfectly clear concerning the relationship between God�s children and God.
Recently we noted a verse in Romans chapter eight which says, �The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ� (Romans 8:16-17).
The same kind of language can be found in Galatians 4:6-7, �And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His son into your hearts crying, �Abba, Father.� Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son. And if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.�
The spirit of His son must refer to the spirit that carries all the true spiritual authority in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:27 calls it, �Christ in you, which is our hope of glory.� Romans 8:16 distinguishes between �the Spirit itself� and �our spirit.� The words �the Spirit itself� refers to God Himself who is spirit and is the giver of holy spirit. The words �our spirit� refers to the gift of holy spirit from God.
Returning to Galatians 4:6-7, it says that God sent forth the spirit of His son crying �Abba, Father.� It is the spirit of �Christ in you� which is said to be crying �Abba, Father.� Guess who else cried out �Abba, Father?� If you guessed Jesus Christ, step to the front of the line. Go to Mark 14:36, �Abba, Father, all things are possible unto you. Take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.� The only one who had the authority to call God in heaven by �Abba, Father� was our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let�s follow the context of liberty through chapter 4 starting with verse 1, �Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child differs nothing from the servant, though he be lord of all.� Here, the �heir� refers to Abraham�s child from the freewoman, Sarah along with his descendents. They were under the ordinances of law until the appointed time. Their relationship with God was more as adopted children.
Continuing with Galatians 4:9-10, ��you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days, and months, and times and years.� There were certain people in the Jewish sect who sought to bring the children of God back under the bondage of the law. The law included keeping special days.
Next, we learn about how Isaac was not born of the woman in bondage like his half-brother Agar, but was born of the freewoman who was Sarah. Verse 31 says, �So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.� Jesus Christ was of the line of Isaac and not of Agar.
Alas, we come to Galatians 5:1, �Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.� Talking to the born-again Christians, Paul was exhorting them to not return to the law that they were formerly under as descendents of Israel, but to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ made them free. As heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus, God�s children have great liberty!
With this in mind, we can understand a little better the words found in 1Peter 2:9, �But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.� As seen in the rest of chapter 2, with true liberty comes great responsibility.
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