“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. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." Galatians 4:4-7
THANKSGIVING/GRATITUDE is based upon the faithfulness and mercies of God in the past; while HOPE is looking towards the future with confidence and joy because of the Abba goodness of the Father, secured by the cross and resurrection of the Son, and applied to our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Fullness of time (v. 4).
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:16-17
God sent His Son.
The sending of the eternal Son of God was the culmination of a plan devised within the eternal council of the triune God before time began.
Born of a woman, born under the law (fully human and fully divine).
To redeem.
“Christ not only became man, bound to obedience… but he became a curse for us (Gal 3:10-13). He made our doom his own. He took on him not only the calling of a man, but our responsibility as sinful men; it is in this that his work as our Redeemer lies, for it is in this that the measure, or rather the immensity of his love is seen.” J Denney, New American Commentary by Timothy George
THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE ADOPTION AS SONS (v. 5).
“It is the Spirit of adoption who produces the highest confidence that it is given to men to exercise in relation to God. The people of God thereby recognize not only Christ as their Redeemer and Saviour, high priest and advocate at God’s right hand, not only the Holy Spirit as their sanctifier and advocate, not only the Father as the one who has called them into the fellowship of his Son but also as the one who has instated them in his family, and they enter into the holiest in the assurance that he, the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, will own them and bless them as his own children. No approach to God partakes of comparable intimacy, confidence, and love with that of the simple, yet unspeakably eloquent, ‘Abba, Father.’”
John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied
“...Those adopted enjoy the liberties and privileges of God’s children, have his name put on them, receive the Spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, and are able to cry, Abba, Father. They are loved, protected, provided for, and corrected by him as a father. Yet, are never cast off, however, and are sealed until the day of redemption and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.” Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 12, Adoption
1.
The Lord “allures and speaks tenderly” (Hosea 2:14) by the wonder of the substitutionary work of Christ on the cross.
“God has provided a Savior that woos in a manner that has the greatest tendency to win our hearts. His word is most attractive. He stands at our door and knocks. He does not merely command us to receive him; but he condescends to apply himself to us in a more endearing manner. He entreats and beseeches us by his word and by his messengers.” Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 2, pg. 156
2.
It is possible to understand the forgiveness of sins by the cross but NOT rejoice in the adoption secured by the cross. By this adoption “we cry out Abba Father and understand we are loved, protected, provided for, and corrected by him as a Father.”
"The New Testament message can be summarized in this phrase ‘adoption through the substitutionary work of the cross.’” J.I. Packer, Knowing God
3. The security of adoption involves the understanding that we can never be cast off but we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption.
4. The redemption and attendant adoption gives incredible hope and boldness (Hebrews 4:12-16).