Pastor John
I was reading something where the author was saying that being born of the Spirit is a distinct experience from receiving the Spirit and he cited Gal 4:6 as support. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
His point being that this verse says that it was because they are sons that God sent the Spirit. Now when you read the similar things in Romans 8 Paul lays it out in the order we believe, and I believe verses such as Galatian 3:26-7: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” and 4:7: “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” [These verses] make it difficult to hold the author’s point but nevertheless v6 is a bit odd.
I have been considering the context of Gal 4. It seems Paul is speaking of the Jews in verses 1-7 and then makes a comparison to the Gentile situation from v8 onwards. Verse 5 seems clear in this regard, “To redeem them that were under the law,” but then you might expect in verse 6 something like “and because they are( or were) sons” rather than “and because you are sons”. The grammar seems awkward. “You are sons” would appear to be directed to the Gentile Galatians.
If Paul is speaking of the Jews that would help explain his wording in v6. Faithful Jews were sons of Abraham and for that reason were fit to receive the spiritual adoption which is to receive the Spirit.
Am I missing something here?
Damien
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Hi Damien:
That verse is a reference to the foreknowledge of God. Because God knew He had chosen them before the foundation of the world to be His sons, He sent the Spirit of His Son to them, to bring it to pass. That view of Galatians 4:6 brings that verse into line with everything else Paul ever wrote.
Pastor John