Together in Christ: 'Valued in Christ as Fellow-Heirs' — Galatians 3:26-29, 4:4-7

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Merry Christmas!

We pray the Lord blesses you with the grace of Jesus' presence this Christmas!

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For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you.

. . .

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

— Galatians 3:26-29, 4:4-7 NLT

Key Thought

What Paul wrote to the Galatians about becoming Christians and creating a community of faith that honors God was revolutionary. He proclaimed that each person born by the power of the Spirit through faith and baptism is God's child. [1] Regardless of a Christian's worldly position — regardless of gender, racial or ethnic lineage, social or economic status, political affiliation, or anything else [2] — each is equally valuable to the Father as His child. In God's eyes, His children are "all one in Christ." Each of His sons and daughters is a full and rightful heir of all of God's love and blessings just like the first child, Jesus! [3] To help us be sure of our highly valued position in God's family and our rightful place as His beloved children, God sent the Holy Spirit to live in us and enable us to speak tenderly, and openly, [4] with God as our Abba Father. [5]

Paul's teaching means at least two essential things for each of us as God's child:

  1. We are precious to our Father regardless of how anyone else treats us or regards us based on our outward circumstances or social perceptions. We are children of the King of glory!
  2. We must treat each other in God's family as our precious sibling, valued highly by our Father and by us.
[1] 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Titus 3:3-7; John 3:1-7.
[2] This removing of earthly caste systems, positions, titles, prejudices, or inequities is the anticipation of this full of expression of heavenly unity in heavenly worship in Revelation 7:9-12.
[3] Romans 8:17.
[4] Romans 8:9, 15-16, 26.
[5] Abba is the Aramaic (the language Jesus' spoke) name for pappa or dada. The use of Abba for God shows our dependence, intimacy, respect, and love for God in the language of young child for a tender, protective, and loving father. Jesus used this word when He prayed to God (Mark 14:36), and we are given this right by the Spirit, Who testifies that we are God's children.

Today's Prayer

Abba Father, thank you for making me Your child. No words can ever express my deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for Your love and grace, which brought me into Your family. I offer my heartfelt thanks to You, Father, and commit to live in love with all my spiritual siblings. I pray through the intercession of my older brother in Your family, Jesus. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Romans 8:1-39
  • John 3:1-7, 7:37-39; Titus 3:3-7

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Illustration

Illustration of Galatians 3:26-29, 4:4-7 NLT — For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you. . . . But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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