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SEPTEMBER 26
7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling
Is he who gives honor to a fool. 4:5 those…under the law.Guilty sinners who
9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of are under the law’s demands and its curses
a drunkard and in need of a Savior.the adoption as sons.
Is a proverb in the mouth of fools. “Adoption”is the act of bringing someone who
is the offspring of another into one’s own fam-
Galatians 4:1–31 ily. Since unregenerate people are by nature
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a children of the devil, the only way they can
4 child, does not differ at all from a slave, become God’s children is by spiritual adoption.
though he is master of all, but is under
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guardians and stewards until the time appoint- then an heir of God through Christ.
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ed by the father. Even so we, when we were 8 But then, indeed, when you did not know
children, were in bondage under the elements God, you served those which by nature are
of the world. But when the fullness of the time not gods. But now after you have known God,
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had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a or rather are known by God, how is it that you
woman, born under the law, to redeem those turn again to the weak and beggarly elements,
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who were under the law, that we might receive to which you desire again to be in bondage?
the adoption as sons. 10 You observe days and months and seasons
6 And because you are sons, God has sent 11
and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have
forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, labored for you in vain.
crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you 12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me,
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are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son,
for I became like you. You have not injured me
at all. You know that because of physical
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infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the
first. And my trial which was in my flesh you
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4:4 the fullness of the time. In God’s did not despise or reject, but you received me
timetable, when the exact religious, cultural, as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
and political conditions demanded by His per- 15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For
fect plan were in place, Jesus came into the I bear you witness that, if possible, you would
world.God sent forth His Son. As a father set have plucked out your own eyes and given
the time for the ceremony of his son becom- them to me. Have I therefore become your
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ing of age and being released from the enemy because I tell you the truth?
guardians, stewards, and tutors, so God sent 17 They zealously court you, but for no good;
His Son at the precise moment to bring all yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be
who believe out from under bondage to the 18
law—a truth Jesus repeatedly affirmed (John zealous for them. But it is good to be zealous
5:30,36,37; 6:39,44,57; 8:16,18,42; 12:49; in a good thing always, and not only when I am
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17:21,25;20:21).That the Father sent Jesus into present with you. My little children, for
the world teaches His preexistence as the whom I labor in birth again until Christ is
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eternal second member of the Trinity. born of formed in you, I would like to be present with
a woman. This emphasizes Jesus’full humani- you now and to change my tone; for I have
ty, not merely His virgin birth (Is. 7:14; Matt. doubts about you.
1:20–25).Jesus had to be fully God for His sac- 21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the
rifice to be of the infinite worth needed to law, do you not hear the law? For it is written
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atone for sin. But He also had to be fully man that Abraham had two sons: the one by a
so He could take upon Himself the penalty of bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But
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sin as the substitute for man. under the law. he who was of the bondwoman was born
Like all men, Jesus was obligated to obey according to the flesh, and he of the free-
God’s law. Unlike anyone else, however, He woman through promise, which things are
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perfectly obeyed that law (John 8:46; 2 Cor.
5:21; Heb.4:15; 7:26; 1 Pet.2:22; 1 John 3:5).His symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the
sinlessness made Him the unblemished sacri- one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to
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fice for sins, who “fulfilled all righteousness,” bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is
i.e., perfectly obeyed God in everything. That Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jeru-
perfect righteousness is what is imputed to salem which now is, and is in bondage with her
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those who believe in Him. children— but the Jerusalem above is free,
which is the mother of us all. For it is written:
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