1. Galatians Chapter Four
Galatians 4:1-2 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

2. Outline of Galatians Chapter Four:
vv 1-7 Continuation of the Metaphor of the laws of Roman will and Roman adoption
vv Paul’s Personal Appeal
vv The Allegory of Sarah and Hagar

3. Galatians 5:1
For freedom, Christ has freed us, therefore stand firm and do not be entangled again with the yoke of slavery

4. THE ROMAN LAWS OF ADOPTION:
1. The ceremony of the Will included the ceremony of adoption, this adoption occurred when a son reached the age of 14
2. The Roman Law of adoption was not limited to natural born sons
Galatians 3:28 that there is neither Jew nor Gentile.
3. The wise Roman aristocrat would adopt the person he thought most worthy as we are worthy in Christ

5. THE ROMAN LAWS OF ADOPTION continued:
4. Adoption gave special privilege and equal opportunity regardless of physical birth
5. In Roman adoption, the one adopted received a toga of virtue, a signet ring and a new name and all debts were canceled
6. Once adopted as the heir, you could not be disinherited
7. The adopted man never looked back to his roots; all handicaps of birth, environment, education were offset by the Father

6. THE ROMAN LAWS OF ADOPTION continued:
8. Under Roman law only males could be adopted but Galatians 3:28 There is neither male nor female
9. Roman adoption anticipated blessing and responsibility as God's adoption of us looks ahead to us utilizing all of God’s grace assets
Romans 8:15 you have received a spirit of adoption as sons
Romans 8:23 waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body

7. THE ROMAN LAWS OF ADOPTION continued:
10. Adoption took even the most common of person and made them aristocracy
11. In Roman society not every one who was adopted fulfilled the wishes of the father
12 Paul uses the metaphor of adoption, to remind us of everything we have as part of salvation has been bestowed on us by the Father

8. APPLICATION THE ROMAN LAWS OF ADOPTION:
1. God has bestowed upon you the highest honor, the honor of adoption
2. The humanity of Christ secured royalty by His work at the Cross, our royalty is not by our works but by adoption
3. Whenever you feel down, useless, insignificant, realize God has lifted you up to a position of son, of child, the very heir of all he has
4. When others put you down, realize God has put you up
5. Be challenged and motivated by the potential of adoption but also be comforted and be made secure in this life by the fact of adoption

9. Jude 10-11a But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain . . .
Colossians 2: If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch! (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using)-- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?

10. Romans 2: For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them

11. . . . alternately accusing or else defending them.
Accusing if evil has been done
Defending if good has been done

12. It was then that God sent His Son
In all history the moment Christ came into the world was perfect:
1. The Roman civilization had brought peace and a road system which facilitated travel
2. The Grecian civilization provided a language which was adopted in the whole the empire
4. The Jews were proclaiming monotheism and a messianic hope in the synagogues of the Mediterranean world.
It was then that God sent His Son

13. Greek Words for Redemption
agorazo to be purchased but remain in the slave market. All mankind is agorazo.
But ex+agorazo is to be purchased and removed from the slave market. Only through faith in Christ are we exagorazo

14. Romans 8:14-16
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God