Digging deeper into Galatians Chapter 4a (v.1-12)

1-7 Sons and Heirs Through Christ

Abba Father!

Previously we saw the following facts in Chapters 3a+3b.

1. It is  Faith, Not Law, which brings the Spirit

Paul asks: “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (v.2).

The Galatians began their spiritual journey through faith, not rule-following.

This sets the tone: salvation is by grace, not performance.

2. Abraham is our Model of Faith

Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (v.6).

Paul shows that true children of Abraham are those who live by faith—not ethnicity or law.

     3. God’s Promise to Abraham

The promise made to Abraham was based on faith and came before the Law.

Paul emphasizes that the Law, introduced 430 years later, does not nullify God’s covenant of grace.

4. The Law’s Temporary Role

The Law was given to expose sin and function as a guardian until Christ came.

It was never meant to be the final solution for righteousness.

    5 Unity .and Identity in Christ

Through faith in Jesus, believers become children of God.

Paul declares radical equality: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female”—all are one in Christ.

    6. Heirs of the Promise

Those who belong to Christ are considered Abraham’s offspring and heirs to the promise.

This inheritance is spiritual, not based on ethnicity or legal status.

Now as we proceed to study Galatians chapter 4, we find the Apostle Paul at his most earnest in pleading with the Galatians not to trade their spiritual freedom for religious bondage. Here is the essence of the chapter:

1. From Slaves to Sons: Paul begins by comparing believers to heirs who, before maturity, are like slaves under guardians. But through Christ, they are adopted as sons and daughters of God, receiving full rights and inheritance.

2.Freedom Over Law: He warns against returning to the old ways—living under the law and its rituals (like observing special days and seasons)—which he calls “weak and worthless principles”.

3.Personal Plea: Paul reminds them of their love for him when he first preached the gospel and expresses heartbreak that they are now turning away from the truth.

4. Allegory of Hagar and Sarah: He uses the story of Abraham’s two wives to illustrate two covenants—Hagar represents slavery under the law, while Sarah symbolizes freedom through God’s promise.

We now consider chapter 4 on a verse-by-verse basis.

Galatians 4:1

“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all.”

Paul uses the analogy of a child heir to show that before spiritual maturity, believers—though destined for inheritance—are under restrictions, much like slaves. They lack authority despite their future promise.

Galatians 4:2

“But is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.”

Just as a child is supervised until a set time, believers were under the law (guardianship) until God’s appointed time—when Christ would come and fulfil the promise.

Galatians 4:3

“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.”

“Elements of the world” refers to basic religious principles or legalistic systems.

Paul says we were spiritually immature, enslaved to these external rules.

Galatians 4:4

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”

At the perfect moment in history, God sent Jesus—fully human and subject to the law—to redeem those under it. This marks the turning point from law to grace.

 Galatians 4:5

“To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

Christ’s mission was to buy back (redeem) those bound by the law and elevate them to full family status—adopted children of God, not just rule-followers.

Galatians 4:6

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”

This verse emphasizes intimacy. “Abba” is an affectionate term like “Daddy.” The Spirit confirms our new identity and relationship with God—not distant, but deeply personal.

Galatians 4:7

“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

The conclusion of vv.1-7 is that Christian believers are no longer enslaved to law or sin. They are sons and daughters of God, with full rights to God’s inheritance—freedom, grace, and eternal life.

This passage is the peak of Paul’s argument that believers have come from bondage to belonging, from law to love.

Ch 4:8-11 Paul’s fears for the Church [1]

Galatians 4:8

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods’’. Spiritual ignorance: Paul reminds the Galatians of their past—before they knew the true God, they were spiritually enslaved. False gods: These “not gods” refer to pagan deities or spiritual forces that held sway over their lives. Paul emphasizes their powerlessness and false nature. Bondage: The term “enslaved” suggests a lack of freedom, being dominated by religious systems or superstitions that offered no salvation.

Galatians 4:9:

“But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more’’?

Transformation: Paul highlights the radical shift—they now know God personally, and more importantly, are known by Him. This speaks to intimacy and divine initiative.

Warning against regression: Paul is astonished that they would consider returning to “elementary principles”—basic, worldly religious practices that are powerless to save.

“Weak and worthless”: These are harsh words. Paul sees the law (when used as a means of salvation) and pagan rituals as equally ineffective compared to the grace found in Christ.

Slavery again? He is rhetorically asking: why go back to bondage when you have been set free?

 Insights

Paul is not just talking about paganism. He is also critiquing legalism—specifically the Judaizers who insisted on Torah observance for salvation. His point is that any system that replaces grace with works becomes a form of slavery, whether pagan or religious.

Galatians 4:10

“You observe days and months and seasons and years!”

Religious calendar observance: Paul is referring to the Jewish ceremonial calendar—Sabbaths, new moons, festivals, and sabbatical years. These were part of the Mosaic Law.

Concern about legalism: The issue is not the observance itself, but the motivation behind it. Paul fears they are doing this to earn favour with God, rather than living by grace.

Echoes of paganism: Ironically, Paul sees this return to religious rituals as similar to their former pagan practices—both are forms of spiritual slavery when used to justify oneself before God.

Galatians 4:11:

“I am afraid I may have laboured over you in vain.”

Emotional plea: Paul expresses deep concern and disappointment. He has poured his heart into teaching them the gospel of grace.

“In vain”: This phrase reveals the gravity of the situation. If they abandon grace for law, it undermines everything Paul taught and worked for.

Pastoral anguish: Paul’s tone here is not just theological—it is personal. He is worried that their regression means his previous efforts to teach the Gospel were fruitless.

Paul’s warning is timeless: rituals without relationship can become chains. Whether it is ancient festivals or modern religious routines, the danger lies in thinking these practices can earn salvation. Paul’s gospel is clear, that faith in Christ alone is what saves, not calendars or customs.

 Galatians 4:12

 Verse 12: “Become as I am…”

Paul’s plea: He is urging them to live in the freedom he now enjoys—free from the law.

“I became as you are”: Paul reminds them that he once adapted to their Gentile ways to reach them with the gospel. Now he asks them to reciprocate by embracing his gospel of grace.

“You did me no wrong”: He is softening the tone, affirming their past kindness and respect toward him.

Amen and Personal Prayer

Next time we pick up our verse-by-verse study in Galatians at 4:13.

Materials consulted R L Solberg Galatians Lessons 1-5 YouTube.

David Pawson Unlocking the Bible Galatians Part 1 and 2.