Emancipation from Sin

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?”

Galatians 4:8-9

To make his point clear, Paul would give an illustration as an analogy for the Jewish Christians to understand. A son who is an heir to an inheritance is no different from a slave. The heir is subject to his parents until the time is set where he inherits his father’s estate. We are the same as that son who is an heir to a wealthy father. We were under the slavery of the spiritual forces in this world but when the right time has come, Jesus was born, died on the cross, resurrected, to redeem us under the law. When we are adopted into God’s family, we receive the Spirit within us. Paul had a concern however. When we did not know God, we were slaves to the world. Yet now we know God but for some reason, we are turning back to the world. Paul asked if we wish to be enslaved by the world again? They are free from what kept them back before, why go back to it?

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation that essentially declared that millions of African-American slaves, who were living under strict and dehumanizing laws with no rights or freedom of their own, were free and no longer enslaved. This declaration became known in history as the “Emancipation Proclamation.” This executive order declared the freedom of all enslaved African-Americans in the Confederate states that were in rebellion against the Union. It would pave the way for the 13th Amendment eventually which abolished slavery throughout the entire United States. This allowed many slaves to no longer be enslaved under the bondage of slavery but gave them freedom as citizens of the United States.

If you were to ask any normal and sane person, would we ever go back to pre-American Civil War where we allowed slavery to exist in the United State, they would obviously say no way. No one wants to go back to the time where individuals were not considered a full human but only 2/3 of a person when it comes to the census of human population. The Emancipation Proclamation was a proud declaration that transformed our nation for a greater good, no one wants to return to how it was before. 

Likewise, Paul is worried that the former slaves of sin and this world would wish or desire to return after they were declared free from the proclamation made on the cross by Jesus. Why would they want to return to their old lifestyle where they were slaves to sin and held in captivity under the bondage of this world? 

Let us be reminded of the wonderful blessing we have in the freedom that has come upon us when we were adopted as God’s children through the cross. Let us not fall into the temptation of the world once again for we know we are no longer slaves to that life any longer.

… What you have seen with your eyes 8 do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?

Proverbs 25:7b-8

When there is a matter that comes up, we must search the matter thoroughly. We can’t just come to a conclusion of a matter immediately without taking time to process and thoroughly search it out. Solomon writes the importance of not bringing a matter that you have seen hastily to the court because what would happen if you shame someone for something they are innocent of? This takes self-control and we must learn to cultivate this discipline. A city whose wall are broken through is likened to a person who lacks self-control or discipline.