Galatians Part 7 | Chapter 3:25-4:9

Last updated on Apr 20, 2026

Children of God | Galatians 3:25–4:7

Read Galatians 3:25–4:7

The scriptures in this section describe our relationship with Jesus Christ, now that we have been justified by faith through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. As Christians we are Abraham's offspring, heirs of Christ and sons of God. We have been adopted into the family of God and we now enjoy the benefits of being members of God's family.

Paul relates their lives before Christ as being that of a child or a slave — having no control. In chapter 4:1–3 Paul speaks of a child who, while having a birthright to receive an inheritance, has no control or say until the appointed time set by the father. In the same way, God at His appointed time brought Christ into the world to be the sacrifice for our sins. Prior to that the law was the guardian, and that could not be escaped. Just as children had to be under a guardian until the appointed time, so it was with the law.

Now the Time Has Come — God Sent His Son to Be the Perfect and Only Sacrifice

Now the time has come, and God sent His Son to be the perfect and only sacrifice that could redeem the world. There are three things that show that only Christ could have been the perfect sacrifice and way for the world to be forgiven of their sins through faith.

Galatians 4:4 — "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law."

Jesus was of God and divine — He IS God. Jesus's divinity is seen clearly in the Scriptures; He is not just a man, but He is God. Jesus was not created; He is God and part of the Trinity. The sacrifice must come from God who is divine and holy.

Jesus was born of a woman, showing His humanity. Jesus was not only divine but also human. This was necessary so that He could bear our sins upon the cross — to bear them as one of us.

Jesus was under the law and obeyed it perfectly. Jesus was also under the burden of the law, which He must perfectly obey — and He did. This is what makes Him perfect; He was the only one who could ever be without sin. This is why He alone could be the sacrifice that provides forgiveness for everyone.

Now Because of Christ's Sacrifice and Through Faith in Him, We Are Brought to Maturity as Sons of God

Prior to Christ we were enemies of God — alienated and hostile in mind.

Romans 5:10 — "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."

Colossians 1:21 — "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds."

This certainly identifies our life before Christ — living in unrepentant sin and doing things contrary to what God desires.

We Are Now in a New Covenant Relationship

Luke 22:20 — "And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."

Hebrews 9:15 — "Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant."

No longer are we enemies — instead we are now God's children, and as children, heirs of the promise.

This is the relationship that we as Christians now have with God. We are His children. This contrasts the legalistic views of becoming a Christian and the way the Judaizers were living their lives for God. It is a personal relationship, a family — not some code to adhere to.

This is very significant: we have gone from being His enemy to being His child.

Galatians 3:25–26 — "But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."

John 1:12 — "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

Galatians 4:7 — "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

We call out to God "Abba, Father" — the same term of endearment used by Christ to His heavenly Father.

Romans 8:15 — "For you did not receive the Spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father!" (Abba used in English would be "daddy" — signifying endearment, intimacy and trust.)

Mark 14:36 — "And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'"

This shows the intimate and close relationship we now have with God — just as Christ had.

As a child of God, He sees us even beyond anything we can conceive in a parent/child relationship. God's love for us is beyond anything we can imagine — His love for us is more than we could ever understand.

To be a child of God also means to be part of God's FAMILY. If we are His children, then that puts us in the loving family of God consisting not only of us but all Christians.

Galatians 3:28 — "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Family means we are not alone and that we have others who care, love and will look after us. This is what we all have as being part of God's family. We are all the same — God doesn't see us as anything different.

As children we are also heirs to receive the inheritance of salvation.

Galatians 3:29 — "And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."

Galatians 3:14 — "so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

💬 Discussion Questions

What does it mean to you specifically to be a "child of God"?
Do we have a legalistic relationship with God or is it deeper? (Ref: Abba, Father)

As Christians We Have Been Baptized into Christ and Have Received His Spirit — Proving We Are His Children

A benefit of the new covenant relationship is that we have the Holy Spirit living within us.

Galatians 4:6a — "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts..."

Romans 7:6 — "But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code."

As having our new relationship with Christ and being a child of God, we are baptized into the Holy Spirit and receive it within our hearts.

1 Corinthians 12:13 — "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and all were made to drink of one Spirit."

Galatians 3:26–27 — "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

To "put on Christ" had similarities to the Roman culture — when a child had "come of age" they would be given a special robe to signify they were now an adult. Similarly, when we become Christians we are putting on Christ and have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

This is our proof that we are Christians.

Romans 8:15b–16 — "...but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

💬 Discussion Questions

How does having the Holy Spirit "prove" that you are a child of God?
How might you describe what it means to "put on Christ"?

Being Now Known by God We Must Live Our Lives for Him and Turn from the Ways of the World | Galatians 4:8–9

Read Galatians 4:8–9

Paul said it's not only that we now know God, but that He knows us. While a Christian may seem to "find God," it is really God who finds us. God seeks, and we turn to Him — it is God who first loved us.

1 John 4:19 — "We love because he first loved us."

Now being a child of God, we must live our lives for righteousness and not turn back to live like the world. We do not become a Christian only to check a box and then live our lives any way we please. We become a Christian, become a child of God, and now desire to live our lives righteously for Christ. That is what a Christian who is under grace seeks to do. The Holy Spirit guides us and shows us what God wants from us.

The world for us today is full of evil and temptation and unfortunately it does draw many away. Paul called out the Galatians for turning back to things of the world — they had come from a world of false idols and religion, had turned to the one true God, yet were still tempted back towards the things of the world that were not of God.

Unfortunately, Christians today can also be susceptible to this. Those who have met the one true God and have His Spirit living within them can still be drawn to the things of the world and to the previous things they had sought to turn away from.

💬 Discussion Questions

Why is it we at times may turn back to the things of the world we sought to turn away from?

As One Who Has Received His Spirit and Become His Child, There Will Be a Change in Our Lives

The effect on the Christian who has become a child of God is a changed life. We now have the Holy Spirit living within us and our lives will begin to be purified — to look more and more like our heavenly Father.

The Scriptures tell us that the changed life will be present and visible in all those who are truly a child of God.

1 John 3:10 — "By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."

We are being transformed to look more like Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 — "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another."

As His Children We Must Be Imitators of Him

Ephesians 5:1 — "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children."

The best way that we can transform ourselves to look more like God is to imitate Him. Just as a child imitates their parents (for better or worse), we should imitate our perfect heavenly Father. He has given us clear instructions in the Scriptures and also through His Holy Spirit.

This is why prayer and reading the Scriptures are so important. If we want to imitate Him, we need to study His character and every instruction that He left here for us. By doing this we will grow to look more like Him.

When We Live Like a Child of God We Will Not Look Like the World

One key way to differentiate a Christian from the world is through their fruit and how they live their lives. A Christian WILL look different — they will seem to go against the grain and not appear to be of the world.

1 John 3:1b — "...The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

John 17:16 — "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world."

If our lives look no different than the rest of the world then we are not imitating Christ. Jesus was the most unique, significant and "different" person that ever lived on the earth. He didn't blend in to look like everyone else — He was different. He lived a perfect and sinless life and showed love, grace and mercy to everyone. This is the life that we are to imitate, the life that we are to live by.

💬 Discussion Questions

What is it that you do in your life to imitate Christ? To grow spiritually and to purify yourself?
What are the benefits to the Christian who strives to live their life to consistently purify and imitate Christ?