Free Heir – Galatians (NIV)

Free Heir – Galatians (NIV)

Galatians 3 goes back to Paul questioning why the change? You started in the Spirit, why go back to the Law to move forward?

He gives an argument that most Jews probably wouldn’t have thought of. It’s right there in their scriptures: the righteous will life by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). As was spoken to Abraham by God that it was reckoned to him that Abraham was righteous. The Law came centuries later so he couldn’t have been justified by the Law.

Paul, I believe, is arguing that the purpose of the Law was to show us our sin, to expose and convict us of being imperfect. And to live by the Law is to certainly fail. But with God, it’s a promise, not an agreement. The promise of blessing all nations.

And once we believe in Christ, we are baptised and clothed in Him. We are all His children and no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. We are children and therefore heirs. Why would we turn back to being slaves under a contract we can’t fulfill?

Paul makes the comparison to Hagar/Ishmael and Sarah/Isaac. One born in the flesh according to man’s efforts in agreement of slavery between 2: the Law. One born as a promise from God a free heir.