4:1-7 How are we to understand this passage?
4:1-7 How are we to understand this passage?
Here Paul is contrasting believers' lives before they were saved - as children and servants - with their lives after they were saved - as adult sons and heirs of God (cp Ga 3:24-26).
Before salvation, sinful men are like children - spiritually and intellectually immature.
They are in bondage to the elements, or spiritual forces, of the world. In God's appointed time He sent Jesus to redeem fallen man and bring Him into sonship.
Once repentant sinners become sons of God, God sends forth the Holy Spirit into their hearts, and they are no longer slaves to sin, but heirs of God through Christ (cp Ro 8:12-17). Abba Father means "Father, my Father" (cp Mk 14:36).
Abba is a sign of unreasoning trust, and the two words together expresses love and intelligent confidence in God. Ga 4:4 also proves the pre-existent deity of Jesus (cp Ga 4:4).