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Commentary on "From Slaves to Heirs"
Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, November 12, 2011 - Introduction
Overview
The memory text summarizes this title and emphasis well:
“So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:7, ESV).
What a great passage and what an outstanding message to consider throughout this week. God has, through Christ, made us His child and promised us an inheritance.
Observations
While the quote from Watchman Nee is an excellent story that makes the point of this passage well his theology and the churches that sprang from this theology are at least as controversial as Seventh-day Adventism itself. It is worth the time to read a little bit from both sides of the discussion on whether his churches should be counted among the cults. You will find many of the same issues that lead to mixed reactions in response to Adventism, so it isn't surprising that SDAs would be comfortable quoting one of his stories in their publication.
With that side issue behind us, let's continue to the real meat of this subject—our status as children and heirs. Consider the nature of a son. A son is always a son, not just when he does and says all the right things. A son doesn't have to continually prove that he is good enough to be kept as a son. A son doesn't have to demonstrate that he is "fit for sonship" like some teach that we must prove in this life that we are "fit for heaven". There is no discussion about whether a son has made himself ready to become a son like SDAs speak of needing to be ready for Christ's coming.
God has made believers His children. And He has promised, in fact He has guaranteed us that we will receive an inheritance from Him. As we consider the implications of becoming a child and heir of God it clarifies a number of false teachings about our salvation. A child in an imperfect family here on earth can expect something very different than an employee can expect, and certainly different from what a slave could have expected. Do you think a child with a Perfect Heavenly Father could expect more or less than an earthly child?
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised November 2, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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