Paul explains the adoption we experience when we accept Christ as our Savior and the rights and privileges we receive as a result.

2. ● Legalism gives the appearance of spiritual maturity when it
actually leads to a “second childhood.”
● The Judiazers had convinced the Galatians that the Law
would make them better Christians.
● The Law let them do things and measure external results.
● As the measured themselves and their achievements, they
felt a sense of accomplishment, and perhaps pride.
● Paul took three approaches in this section to convince them
they didn’t need legalism in order to live the Christian life.
● They had all they needed in Jesus Christ!

3. ● God’s adoption (v.5) is different than earthly adoption; the only way
become part of God’s family is to be born again (John 3:3)
● The NT word for adoption means “to place as an adult son.” We are not
children, but adult sons with all the privileges associated.
● We are all (male and female) given all the legal rights and privileges as
sons.
● When a sinner trusts Christ and is saved, as far as condition, he or she is
a spiritual babe who needs to grow (I Peter 2:2-3), but as far as position,
he or she is an adult son who can draw on the Father’s wealth and
exercise all the privileges of sonship.
● We enter God’s family by regeneration, but we enjoy God’s family by
adoption. (v.7)

4. ● In Roman times, children of wealthy parents were raised by educated
slaves, and were not much different than the servant who guarded them.
● This was the spiritual condition of the Jews under the Law.
● By leading them back to the Law, the Judiazers were leading them into
religious bondage, moral and spiritual infancy, and immaturity.
● The word “elements” in verse 3 means “the basic principles; the ABCs.”
● The Law was the spiritual ABCs so Israel would be ready when Christ
would come.
● Example: If you saw a grown man you knew to be well-educated and
intelligent sitting in a library reciting the ABCs instead of reading the
great works of literature around him, you would think him to be
immature, ignorant, and unwise.

5. ● “Fullness of time” means the world was ready and
prepared for Jesus’ arrival.
● Old religions were dying, old philosophies were empty
and powerless to change lives.
● Rome built roads to connect the known world. Roman
laws protected the rights of citizens, and Roman
soldiers kept the peace.
● Latin and Greek were known across the empire.

6. ● Paul tells us who came: Jesus Christ (v.4) in
fulfillment of His promise to Adam and Eve (Gen 3:15).
● Paul tells us why He came: “to redeem them that were
under the Law.”(v.5)
● “Redeem” means to set free by paying a price. Jesus
paid the price to set us free at Calvary (Romans 6:23)
● Going back to the Law undoes what Jesus did on the
cross!

7. ● The son has the same nature as the Father, but the servant does not.
● When we trust Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, making us
“partakers of the divine nature” (II Peter 1:4).
● All the Law could do was reveal our desperate need for God.
● The son has a Father, while the servant has a master.
● With the Spirit in our hearts, we cry out “Abba, Father” (v.6). “Abba” is
Aramaic for papa or daddy. This shows the closeness of the child to the
Father. No servant has this.
● The son obeys out of love, while the servant obeys out of fear.
● Galatians 5:22; Romans 5:22

8. ● The son is rich while the servant is poor.
● As sons we can begin drawing on our inheritance right
now.
● God’s riches are mentioned in Ephesians 1:7; 2:7;
Romans 2:4; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:19; 2:3
● The son has a future, while the servant does not.
● There was no requirement for providing a retirement
for servants. The Father always provides for the son (II
Corinthians 12:14).

9. ● Paul refers to “weak and beggarly elements” and then
mentions observing days.
● Does this mean celebrating Easter and Christmas or
other holidays is wrong?
● If you do so hoping to gain some spiritual merit
(meaning it makes you a better Christian than
someone who doesn’t)? Yes. If you observe it to let
the Holy Spirit enrich us with His grace? No.

10. ● When Paul first visited these cities, they loved and accepted him despite
his appearance. Apparently, Paul had some ailment that disfigured his
face.
● In verse 15, Paul asks “where’s the love? Where’s the happiness
(blessedness) you experienced when you trusted Christ?”
● Paul had proved himself their friend, and now they were following false
shepherds.
● A true servant of God doesn’t use people to build himself up. Beware of
religious workers that want your exclusive allegiance because he’s the
only one who is right.
● A true servant and spiritual leader who helps people love and follow
Christ.