The day things Changed

 Read Galatians 4.

Apart from personal faith in Christ, people are doomed slaves to their sinful nature.  The Galatians made professions of faith in Jesus but then turned to the false teaching of the Judaizers.  The Apostle Paul labeled this religious enslavement.  He had to remind them that "you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" (v.7).  So, why are you not acting like it?

Here are the key questions.
Is not the Law given to Moses in Exodus and Leviticus, and then repeated in Deuteronomy, the very word of God?  Yes.  Not only on Mount Sinai but God spoke directly to Moses from the Tabernacle (Leviticus 1:1).

If we do not obey the Old Testament Law today are we sinning?  No.

What changed?
The redemptive plan of God was always that the Law would be temporary, not a permanent solution.  From the first sin (Genesis 3) and the choosing of Abraham (Genesis 12), there was a prophecy and a promise of a coming Messiah.  When He entered the world, things changed.

This is explained, step by step, in verses 4-5.
1. "But when the fullness of time had come"
Jesus was born right on schedule, in the exact city the prophets predicted, to the very nation, tribe, family, and couple to fulfill the covenants God made with Abraham and with David.
2. "God sent forth his Son."
The angelic announcement to Joseph (Matthew 1) declared that Jesus is "God with us."  The Apostle John opened his Gospel by unquestionably identifying Jesus as God in the flesh.  The Father's voice was heard from heaven declaring that Jesus is the Son of God.
3. "born of a woman"
Mary was sovereignly selected.  There was nothing special about her.  She was young, a virgin, and needed a Savior like everyone else (Luke 1:46-47).
4. "born under the law"
As Jesus grew up in the land of Israel, He obeyed the Old Testament Law.  He attended the synagogue and journeyed to Jerusalem for the various times for offerings and feasts.
5. "to redeem those who were under the law"
The primary reason for the first coming of Jesus was the redemption of the world.  He paid the price for all sin on the cross.  As the angel told Joseph, "he will save his people from their sins."
6. "so that we might receive adoption as sons."
Welcome to God's family!  "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12)

As a result, we have the confirming, indwelling, presence of the Holy Spirit to help us personally communicate with God (v.6).  He is not a distant, cosmic force.  He is indeed our loving, heavenly Father.