Since faith has now come through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are no longer under the law (3:25). Does this mean that the law is not important? No! The moral standards of the law are still in effect because they are unchanging. The ceremonial law, driven by rituals and sacrifices, have been discontinued. Listen to what Paul says in Colossians 3:14, 16-17 "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us...having nailed it to the cross.... So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." When you , by faith, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ, you become the sons of God (3:26). When this is done, all of us become one in Christ Jesus (3:27-28) and we are no longer labeled by our nationality; in fact, "if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Although non-Jews can never be physical children of Abraham, we become spiritual children through Jesus Christ and heirs of justification by faith. In Galatians 4:1-7 Paul uses an illustration of a child coming of age to serve as a comparison of our life before and after coming to faith in Jesus Christ. As children, we were slaves to the elements of the world and Paul is specifically referring to a man-made system of works which supposedly bring salvation from God (4:1-3). However, Jesus came into the world, "born under the law to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Adoption carries the idea of bringing someone into a new family. Before Christ we were all a part of Satan's family and were condemned because of sin, but through Jesus Christ we were brought into God's family and have become His sons. Now He has "sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying out 'Abba, Father!'" The Spirit resides in our heart and gives us the ability to call God Abba. This word is the same as when we say "daddy" and is comparable of when children speak to their father. It is a term of endearment. What a privilege to be called the sons of God and to talk to God as our Father!

Dear God, thank You for adopting me into Your family and giving me a right standing before You!