Sons and Heirs (Galatians 4:1-7 NLT)

1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3 And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How else does the Apostle Paul explain the purpose for the Law or what were we like when we were under the law? (v.1-3)
2) When did God send His Son and for what reason? (v.4-5)
3) What is the evidence that we are children of God and heirs to the promise of God? (v.6-7)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How do you know that you are a child of God?
5) Do you consider yourself to be a spiritual infant, adolescent, or adult?

LIFE LESSONS
6) Spiritual infants may still be slaves to the law.
7) Maturity in Christ is manifested by our freedom in Him.

The Law and the Way of Faith (Galatians 3:21-25 NLT)

21 Is there a conflict, then, between God's law and God's promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How are we made right with God? By obeying God's commands or by faith in Jesus Christ? (v.21-22)
2) Why was the law given? (v.23-24)
3) When do we no longer need the Law as our guardian? (v.25)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Are you still attempting to be made right with God by obeying His commands in your own minuscule strength? If so, why?

LIFE LESSONS
5) The only way to be in right relationship with God is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.