“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you now are considered a son and daughter of God. You have been baptized into His Name, and brought into His Family. He is your Father in Heaven who watches over you and cares about every detail of your life. In the Gospel lesson for today, Jesus taught us that the Father even knows the number of hairs on your head! Through faith in Christ, God is your Father in Heaven; you are a son and daughter and you have an inheritance in God’s Family!

The Holy Spirit has been given to you so that you not only know God is your Father in Heaven, but you can approach Him in prayer as children normally approach their fathers. “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!'” Galatians 4:6

You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:6

A heir gets an inheritance. And inheritance is something you get when someone dies. God dies on the cross and you get gifts. Because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, you receive all the blessings of eternal salvation. Your inheritance is described as the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and all of God’s promises of salvation. It is described as a living hope, confident faith in the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day. The Holy Spirit living within you is the down payment; the assurance of your inheritance!

Through faith in Jesus, you are considered part of God’s family! You are a son or daughter who has complete access to the Father in Heaven! You are an heir — all the blessings of salvation have been given to you because of Jesus’ death on the cross!

Amen!