- Popular Bible Verse Series
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. - Galatians 4:6-7)
If you use a photo app like Google Photos, it periodically creates slideshows with titles like “Colorado Trip,” “Family Together,” or “Cute Pets.” A few days ago, my app displayed a slideshow titled “Like Royalty,” featuring photos from a European trip my wife and I took years ago. The images showed us in front of palaces and castles. The app’s AI likely chose this title as a compliment, suggesting we resembled royalty due to the regal backgrounds, aiming to make us feel special and encourage app usage.
Are we merely like royalty? No, we are truly royalty! The app’s AI doesn’t know this, but God, the King of kings, declares in His Word that Christians are adopted sons and daughters of His royal family. In Galatians 1, Paul affirms that followers of Christ are indeed royal heirs of God.
I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 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, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:1-7)
Many Christians believe that whoever trusts in Jesus will receive eternal life and enter Heaven, a core doctrine found in John 3:16. When a person repents and believes in Jesus, they are saved and assured of Heaven after this life. This is because Jesus died on the cross, purchasing salvation with His blood for all who believe, granting them eternal life.
However, Scripture reveals that Jesus’ atonement accomplishes more than entry to Heaven. Christ’s blood not only secures our salvation but also establishes our identity in Him. We enter Heaven not merely as redeemed individuals but as adopted sons and daughters of God. As God is the King of kings and Lord of lords, His children are royal. In Galatians 1, Paul clearly explains that Christ’s redemption brings both justification before God and adoption into His family through the cross.
In his book Who Am I? Identity in Christ, the late Jerry Bridges identifies one of our identities as “an adopted son of God.” He supports this with passages from Galatians, Ephesians, and Romans, affirming our royal status as God’s children.
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,… - Ephesians 1:4-5
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. – Romans 8:15-17
As Christians, we cherish the truth of justification. Yet, Christ’s redemption does more than justify us before a holy God; it elevates us to sonship, making us heirs of God’s Kingdom.
For years, I have studied the Christian faith with a group of young people, repeatedly emphasizing that we lack nothing and should live with confidence. We are not merely believers but royal heirs of God’s Kingdom. The Creator of the universe is our Father, and we can cry, “Abba, Father,” as His adopted children. With our Heavenly Father, whom else do we need? With His Kingdom, what else could we lack?
I pray that all Christians hold fast to our identity in Christ as adopted sons and daughters of God, heirs of His Kingdom. This privilege carries great responsibility. Through our words and actions, we must glorify our Father in Heaven, never bringing shame to His name.
Comments