Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Galatians chapters 3 and 4. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- According to Holy Scripture, every human being is under one of two authorities and one of two kingdoms, either that of the devil or that of Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Colossians we read: “But He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
- We don’t want to look at things this way. Instead, we prefer to think that there is this great huge “in between” area that most human beings inhabit. At one extreme are those who intentionally choose to be evil and to align themselves with the devil. At the other extreme are the “pious” ones who are rabidly devoted to God. We may not have devoted ourselves entirely to God, but we sure haven’t consciously chosen to align ourselves with the devil. So, we think, we are in the middle, leaning toward the side of God.
- However, this is not in keeping with truth. To be lukewarm in relation to God is to be against Him. We read Jesus’ Word in the book of Revelation: “’I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” [Rev.3:15,16]
- While it is hard for us to grasp and apply this reality, Paul makes clear in our text that:
I. Like The Gerasene Demoniac, We Were Once Enslaved To The Principles Of This Fallen World – Held Captive Under The Law
Text: “Before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. . . . In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.”
Eph. 2:1-3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.’
Statement: This is true of all who have no faith in Christ. Though they engage in sinful behavior they do not repent and turn to God for gracious forgiveness and mercy. Rather, like Isaiah describes them, they say “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.” [Is. 65:5] So they remain under God’s Law and under condemnation. For as Paul wrote: “By works of the law no one will be justified in God’s sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” [Rom. 3:20]
Application: It should be obvious that a person in this condition – denying their sin, denying their need for God’s gift of salvation, and trumpeting their own goodness – is possessed by evil and under the power of the devil. Unfortunately, when in this condition we think that we must be good and must be arguing for our goodness. We think that there is no other hope, so long as we remain in unbelief. And so we must argue our case.
This is how the devil keeps those unbelievers who have not capitulated entirely to him within his control and enslavement. He encourages them to believe that they are plenty good enough without Christ, without God, even more pious and holy than you church people. However, it is just the opposite with believers. With us he tries to convince us that we are such miserable sinners that we couldn’t possibly be children of God. He lures into that big middle ground where we think we can avoid hypocrisy, but where he can erode away our faith in Christ. It is quite clever and insidious! However, all of this is so unnecessary and foolish, for according to our text:
II. We Have Been Purchased By God
A. Christ Has Redeemed Us From Sin And The Law’s Condemnation
Text: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.”
B. We Have Been Brought To Faith By The Holy Spirit
Text: “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying ‘Abba, Father.’”
C. Now We Are Sons Of God, Adopted Children Of God
Text: “So, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. . . . In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
D. We Are Baptized Into Christ Jesus And Are Now Clothed With Him
Text: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
E. Therefore We Are Now Heirs Of God
Text: “You are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Statement: You see what God has done for us. It is everything! And He wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Christ took away the sins of the world. There is nothing to hinder anyone from coming into the kingdom of God – except ourselves, our stubbornness, perhaps our pride, or perhaps a flawed humility. But His good and gracious will for all people is clearly seen in what He has done for us in Christ – redeeming us; and also His eagerness to bring us back into His family! Our sins are forgiven, Christ is now our righteousness, our clothing, and we are children of God and heirs of God! It is marvelous!
Application: But let us see and understand that what God has done for us puts us “all in.” He does not bring us to a place of neutrality, or call us to “straddle the line.” No, He has gone “all in” in bringing us into His family, and His love for us is such that He brings us all the way in to His kingdom, “from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
Conclusion: We do not always see violent and vicious evidence that unbelievers are under the control of the devil. He has to some degree changed his method of afflicting human beings. His strategy today is more of a “stealth mode,” convincing people he doesn’t exist and that they are not really evil. In our day and time, this seems to be fairly successful in keeping people away from God and His redemption.
Still, God continues to have His good news preached to all the world. He is eager to bring us to faith in His love, so that we be at peace with Him, through a life of repentance and joyful faith in His forgiveness and mercy. He is eager to cover our sin and cloak us in the righteousness of Christ by baptism. He is eager to free us from bondage to sin and evil, and to bring us into His family. He earnestly desires to have all of us as His children and His heirs!
And when we come to faith, we become possessed by God – He not only owns us once again, but He indwells us – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! This is a blessedness unknown to unbelievers. And remember, nature hates a vacuum, especially in spiritual matters. So, where the Spirit of God doesn’t dwell, evil and satanic forces do indwell.
There is no middle ground. Only unbelievers can assert that there is, and that they are in the middle, and by themselves no worse than anyone else. This in itself is a grotesque evil and rejection of God and good.
Thanks and praise that God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. As Jesus said: “He that hears My Word and believes in Him Who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.” [John 5:24] Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.