Galatians 4.1-3
“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.”
Paul continues with the analogy of inheritance. A child who at some future date will inherit an estate is no different than a slave, for the obvious reason he will not inherit the estate until he becomes an adult. During his childhood he is under the authority and direction of “guardians and managers” until such time as the father decides he is ready to receive the inheritance.
Paul applies this analogy to make the point that the “childhood period” of Israel’s history is the period of the law and the “inheritance period” is the time inaugurated by Jesus Christ. Full rights do not come until after Christ’s work is done. The time of the law is a time of slavery; the time of Christ is a time of freedom.
The law is described as “the elemental principles of the world.” In other words, the law embodies basic moral standards. It represents the common sense rules and ethics for effective life and work. The law represents “the physics” of how life should be lived. However, in verse 9 Paul calls the law “weak and worthless.” It is weak because the law has no power to save us, and it is worthless because it has no wealth with which to bless us. This is not to say the law has no value at all, because Paul just got done telling us the purpose and utility of the law … it was a teacher and a guardian.
His point is that the law is weak and worthless with regard to salvation, which is why he is admonishing the Galatians not to succumb to the false teaching of the Judaizers.
Galatians 4.4-7
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
The law had a role in biblical history, and then something incredible happened. Paul says it this way: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” The world had been awaiting this event ever since Genesis 3. The words of Jesus himself reflect this same truth when he first announced his messianic ministry:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
The time of being a child and future heir is over. The time of being under a guardian and schoolmaster is over. The time of the kingdom of darkness is over. The time has arrived to become a son or a daughter and take ownership of your inheritance.
Note that Paul says Jesus came to redeem us so that we might receive adoption. We cannot become God’s children unless our sin is dealt with and paid for, and that is why redemption comes first. Once again, the law could not redeem us. That is something that happens only through Christ.
