Joint Heirs with Christ

Today we pick up our study in Galatians 4:7 which says, “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” We are no more a servant because we have matured. We are no longer infants under the Law. Paul said in Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ…” In other words, we are going to share in Christ’s inheritance.

Notice vv.8-9, “Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” The point is, “What are you doing?” You want to go backwards? Legalists are trying to put you back into pampers!

Notice vv.10-12, “Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” He is calling their salvation into question. “Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.” In other words, let’s think alike on this subject.

Also, vv.13-15, “Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” They had a wonderful relationship and he didn’t want his infirmity to come between them. This reference to the Galatians giving them their eyes speaks to the fact that Paul did indeed have an infirmity in his flesh with his eyes. As a matter of fact, Paul most likely spoke of this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 when he said, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”