But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:4-7 NIV
In the Roman world of Paul’s day, adoption was primarily for obtaining an heir. Well-to-do families were generally small and did not always have a son to carry on the family name and inherit the estate. And when that was the case, adoption was used to provide the needed heir. Only free Roman citizens could be adopted. Although a slave could be purchased, set free, and then adopted. The adopted person would leave their old life and name behind, become a member of their new family, and come under the father’s authority.
Adopted as Heirs of God
And that is the picture Paul uses here to describe what God has done for us, although not because he lacked an heir.
- God redeemed us, paying the price for our freedom from slavery to sin.
- He then adopted us to sonship, making us a part of his family.
- God is now our Abba, Father.
- And we are now an heir of God.
We are no longer slaves. God has redeemed us from that life. Instead, we are children of God, adopted to sonship. And we are his heirs, sharing his name and the riches of his kingdom. What a blessing.
