Galatians 4:4–7 (KJV) —
“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
The fullness of time and God’s sovereign plan
Paul declares that Christ came in “the fullness of the time.” This was not a random moment in history, but the exact point appointed by God. The law had done its work. It revealed sin, restrained evil, and showed mankind its need for a Redeemer. The prophets had spoken. The promises had been preserved. When the time was complete, God acted.
This truth affirms divine sovereignty. History is not drifting; it is moving toward God’s purposes. The coming of Christ marks the turning point of the ages. In Him, God stepped into human history to fulfill every covenant promise and to begin the transition from law to grace. This moment also foreshadows the end of the age, when God will again act decisively to bring redemption to its final completion.
Made of a woman, made under the law
The Son of God was “made of a woman.” This affirms the true humanity of Christ. He did not appear as an angel or a spirit, but as a man, born into weakness, subject to suffering, and fully identified with those He came to save. This also fulfills the ancient promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
He was also “made under the law.” Though He was the Lawgiver, He submitted Himself to the law’s demands. He obeyed it perfectly, something no other man had ever done. In doing so, Christ stood in the place of those condemned by the law. He did not abolish the law by ignoring it; He fulfilled it by obeying it and bearing its curse on the cross.
Redemption from bondage
The purpose of Christ’s coming was “to redeem them that were under the law.” Redemption speaks of purchase and release. Humanity was not merely weak; it was enslaved. The law exposed guilt but could not remove it. Christ entered that condition to free those bound by sin, fear, and condemnation.
This redemption is not partial. It is complete and final. Those who are in Christ are no longer under the law as a system of judgment. They stand justified, forgiven, and reconciled to God. This truth remains vital in the last days, as many attempt to return to religious systems that promise control but cannot give life.
The adoption of sons
Redemption is followed by something greater: adoption. God did not merely free slaves; He made them sons. Adoption speaks of position, identity, and inheritance. Believers are brought into God’s family with full rights, not as second-class members, but as true children.
Paul’s language is intentional. Sonship carries authority and inheritance. In Christ, both Jew and Gentile receive the same standing before God. This adoption points forward to the final revealing of the sons of God, when creation itself will witness the glory of God’s redeemed family.
The Spirit of the Son and the cry of “Abba, Father”
Because believers are sons, God sends “the Spirit of his Son” into their hearts. The Holy Spirit is the seal of adoption and the living witness that salvation is real. He produces a cry, not of fear, but of intimacy: “Abba, Father.”
This cry is not learned religion; it is spiritual reality. It reflects a restored relationship with God, where distance is removed and access is granted. In an age marked by deception and counterfeit spirituality, this inward witness of the Spirit remains a critical test of true faith.
From servants to heirs through Christ
Paul concludes with a decisive statement: “Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Service without sonship leads to bondage. Sonship produces willing obedience rooted in love.
An heir does not strive to earn what has already been promised. Believers are heirs of God’s kingdom, heirs of resurrection life, and heirs of the coming glory. This inheritance will be fully revealed when Christ returns and the sons of God are manifested before all creation.
Conclusion
Galatians 4:4–7 reveals the heart of the gospel. At the appointed time, God sent His Son to redeem those under the law and to bring them into His family. Through Christ, believers are no longer servants bound by fear, but sons filled with the Spirit and destined for inheritance. This truth anchors the church in every age and prepares God’s people to stand with confidence as history moves toward its appointed end in Christ.