Summary: Hey! Grow up!!

North College Ave Baptist Church

Galatians 4:1-7

"A Slaves’ Mentality or A Servants’ Heart"

November 28, 2004

1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

I. It’s time to grow up! Vs. 1

A. A look at the past

1. We used to be children

2. Look in a mirror (2 Peter 3:11)

a. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner

of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness

b. In the face of reallity, what do you see?

B. As children we were under tutors and governors. Vs. 2

1. Parents, teachers, preachers were accountable to God for us

2. Foundations laid or not laid, that time is past

C. We used to be in bondage Vs. 3

1. born that way

2. raised that way

II. Look around you!

A. We are no longer slaves

1. Time has come and is well passed

2. We have been purchased from our slavery

a. no longer under the law

d. why do we still behave as slaves?

B. A NEW tutor has come Vs. 6

1. Now the Holy Spirit has replaced the Law

2. No longer bond but free

III. As heirs we are held to a higher standard than slaves and servants

A. We are to carry on the family business

B. We are now in charge of teaching, training, etc.