Galatians 4:4-7: Mighty Unfair to Jesus

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

 "Because you are his sons...God has made you also an heir." That's pretty dang generous. I get the same status as Jesus, the same Spirit as Jesus and the same inheritance as Jesus. It seems unfair. Unfair to Jesus. Sure, he gets "the name above all names" and the "preeminence" but all of the practical benefits of being a child of God are mine now as well. He had to give up heaven and struggle and suffer and die. I had to get up this morning. Net result, I get all of the same things as Jesus even when I wasn't nearly as good as Jesus. That's unfair. But really, that's why he is a better person than me, because he doesn't feel the regret. I want to get to that state, where I don't count the cost of what I give away, but only the benefit received.

Galatians 3:23-4:7: Internalizing God's Guidance

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 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 3:23-4:7

When our children are young, as parents we were a sort of loving dictator. We laid down the law. Our kids knew that we loved them lavishly, but when we set boundaries, they crossed them at peril. But nowt hat they are branching out on their own as adults, our relationship changes. We still seek to guide them, but ultimately we have to trust that they will internalize our guidance and our love to live out godly and productive lives.

I think this is what Paul is saying about law and faith. God had brought his people through many times of plenty and many times of want. Israel knew that God loved them lavishly, but he had to set some boundaries, which they crossed at their own peril. As they approached the next phase of their life, marked by the advent of Jesus and the welcoming of the gentiles into the kingdom, God would guide them, but ultimately he would rely not on external rules imposed on them, but on the his guidance that was internalized in the hearts of his people to live godly and productive lives.

The life of the disciple is one of trying to reorder our inner lives so that pleasing God and following his guidance is the natural part of this new faith phase, with the help of the Spirit

Galatians 4:19: The Weight of Spiritual Formation

"Spiritual formation is, in practice, the way of rest for the weary and overloaded, of the easy yoke and light burden, of cleaning the inside of the cup and the dish, of the good tree that cannot bear bad fruit. And it is the path along which God's commandments are found to be not 'heavy,' not 'burdensome'" - Dallas Willard[1]

What does it look like to be transformed? Not merely changed, but improved. We are all in the process of being formed spiritually, but what shape are we taking? This process happens internally and, to my eye, it is not linear-no straight line from spiritual point A to spiritual point B. It feels erratic. I suppose it should feel that way: the result of the divine interaction between our cantankerous spirit and the spirit of God.

The pace is slow, but it is inexorable. I often wonder if God himself would echo the words of Paul, when he wrote: "My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you." (Gal. 4:19)

But I would not trade it for anything. Why? Because the type of person I long to be--indeed, the type of person I am becoming--lies along this path. Where I do good because I am good. Where my "want-to" wants the right things. Where what God wants is the natural overflow of who He has made me.

I have tried the alternative and I am sick of myself trying it. I long for health. "External manifestation of 'Christlikeness' is not, however, the focus of the process; and when it is made the main emphasis, the process will certainly be defeated..."[2]

Today, I am asking what I have asked for many times before: for the spirit of God to have his natural and normal result in me, calling on the promise of Jesus: "the water I will give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14b)

[1] Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart, p. 24
[2] Ibid, p. 23