Outline: Joint-Heirs with Jesus

Text: Galatians 4:1-7

Introduction:

The inheritance of the believer is settled because of his standing in Christ.  As a child of God we are heirs in Jesus Christ through the Spirit of adoption.

1. The Adolescents of God (v1-3)

A. The Standing of the Child– “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a    servant, though he be lord of all;”

B. The Season of the Child– “But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.”

C. The Similarity of the Child– “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

2. The Advent of God (v4-5)

A. The Grand Appointment- “But when the fulness of the time was come,”

B. The God Appearance- “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

C. The Grace Accomplishment– “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

3. The Adoption of God (v5-7)

A. The Sonship of the Heirs– “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

B. The Spirit of the Heart- “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

Conclusion:

Our ability to serve is directly related to our association with the Almighty.  We have been made joint-heirs with Jesus, and should embrace the responsibility to being His child.