Comforted by Abba (LD 8; Galatians 4:1-7)

Belgrade URC

In Galatians 4:1-7, Paul explains that believers in Christ are no longer like slaves with no real exercise of the inheritance. It is in Christ that we are children of God through faith. We are no longer under the tutor who would teach us to be adults and function at some point as an adult.

With Christ’s coming, however, believers are redeemed from this bondage. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are not only set free as adults walking in the Spirit but also adopted into God’s family. This adoption allows them to call God “Abba, Father,” a deeply personal and intimate term that conveys closeness. God is not a Roman Father who is harsh and unpredictable. Rather, he is a Father who shepherds his children desiring to see them grow in him.

The use of “Abba, Father” reflects a significant shift from a relationship based on law and obligation to one based on grace and family. It changes our motivation: we obey not out of fear but love and gratitude. With the Spirit within us, we can confidently approach God, not to earn favor but because we are already fully embraced as His children. This adoption and inheritance change everything, grounding our identity and security in God’s love rather than our performance.