What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬-‭25‬
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

This is such a great picture Paul lays out for us in Galatians of an Almighty, never-ending God, and his divine plan throughout the ages. Paul’s reference here to us as slaves is right. Before Jesus came, all mankind was under the guardianship of the elemental spiritual forces of this world and we were slaves to it. Elemental means basic or rudimentary. Spiritual life was not, by and large, mature. Sure, some of the prophets and leaders of Israel were exceptions to this, but for pretty much all of the Jews, this was the situation — basic spiritual life.

Now when Jesus came, he had to come under the law, as a human, in order to pay the price for our sins. He had to experience all of the temptations, hardships, and challenges of any of us. The parallel passage in I Peter describes this. And he was perfect, he did not sin. This passage reinforces this principle: “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬)

And so now that Jesus has come, died in payment for our sins, conquered sin and death, and has risen victorious and sits at the right hand of God the Father … we have a choice! We can choose to remain under the law and suffer the judgment that comes from a holy God who expects perfection and cannot look on sin, or we can receive the life-changing redemption Jesus offers us. We receive his sacrifice and his Spirit and we get to grow up in our spiritual life. We get to have a personal relationship with him. We gain access to his power. We get to share in his suffering and share in the joy of being able to love unconditionally with his grace and truth!

We have so much to look forward to walking with our Shepherd and Overseer, Jesus Christ. It is the adventure of a lifetime. Who’s in?

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness throughout the generations to redeem us by sending Jesus to pay the price for our sins and forgive us. Help me to live in this truth and freedom and embrace the responsibility serving you brings.