How does it Enslave You and Me?

Galatians 4:1-7

Have you ever given thought to being the heir of an estate, not if you grew-up on Liberty Drive, at the end of the street with the small circle and the big and small Mesquite trees.  A nine hundred foot house with two mortgages is not an estate, so maybe that is why this Gentile boy does not grasp what Paul is teaching to the churches of Galatia.  Shall we eavesdrop on the words of Paul; “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. 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.” (Galatians 4:1-5, ESV)

Now lets forget about vast sums of money and big houses full of all the goodies this world can provide, for we are told that they will not last and you cannot take them with you.  So what is this heir stuff all about; it is about a relationship with God the Father and being a co-heir with Jesus Christ.  But before you go bonkers on me, we need to examine these elementary principles of the world that enslave us and keep us from enjoying what is ours.  The apostle Paul has discussed this subject with most of the churches he has set-up, so what is it and how does it enslave you and me?  We find this in Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Now Paul asks this question: “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20-23, ESV)
What my friend Bill Gillham taught about flesh; “If your self-acceptance is tied to the flesh, it is only a matter of time until you encounter a crisis.  God never intended for you to get your needs met through your own resources.  The flesh is incapable of supplying what God intends to supply Himself.”  Do you recall these words from the apostle Paul, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” (Galatians 5:17)  If you are under the false concept that now you are in Christ, have a personal relationship with Christ and your flesh is better flesh, you are so, so, wrong.  God is not into flesh redo, His only plan for the flesh is death, and that is very clear in Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Now the best of news: “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.” (Galatians 4:4-7, ESV)  So act like who you are, anything less is living enslaved.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice