The slaves in a Jewish home know their boundaries. They do whatever their master tells them to do. They could not bargain or argue. The children of the master, however, are different. No matter what the children do, they still call their father, Abba (an Aramaic term for “father”). A slave, no matter how hardworking, can never call his master, Abba. Sonship cannot be earned, not even by hard labour, obedience, etc. Galatians 4:5b says that one becomes a child of God by receiving “theadoption of sons.” What is the significance of being able to call God, Abba?

1. Salvation (Gal 4:6)

On receiving Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, a person is adopted by God to be His child; and he can now call God, Abba. The knowledge and experience of sonship comes into his heart. He starts to experience the feeling of intimacy with God as he calls Him, Abba. Now as God’s child, he can go to God, his Father, anytime. When he sins and repents, he can go to God as His child asking for forgiveness from his Father, not as a criminal awaiting God’s judgment.

2. Service (Gal 4:7a)

In Revelation 22:3 and 9, notice the words “servants,” “serve” and “fellowservant.” This means that even in the new heaven and new earth, we will still be serving (i.e. worshipping) God. Galatians 4:7 tells us that from the point of our conversion, we are not to serve God with the mindset of a servant. We are to serve God as God’s children in our Father’s house. A servant may serve with murmurings and envy. As children of God, we must not murmur or complain as we serve God our Father, especially when things get difficult, or when we are disheartened or discouraged. We must be grateful that we can be children of God, and can serve God as His children. We continue to be diligent and sincere in our service no matter what the circumstances. We must serve together with other children of God as a family. This family mindset must prevail in the Church.

3. Hope (Gal 4:7b)

As a child of God, the believer is also “an heir of God through Christ” (Gal 4:7b). This means that an inheritance awaits every child of God. Thus, worldly, material things are to be considered vanities. What matters more is our relationship with God, and with our brethren. Our hope lies in eternity, in the new heaven and new earth. Eternal things must be what is dear to our hearts. And while we are still on earth, we must be a blessing to those around us. There must never be envying or murmurings.