In his letter to the congregation in Galatia, Paul urges them to grasp the freedom Christ has provided, reminding them that they are no longer bound by the slavery of sin or the burdens of the law. He illustrates this by comparing an heir to a vast inheritance with a slave: as long as the heir is underage and not yet of legal standing, he remains under guardians and trustees, no different from a servant, until the time appointed by his father.
In the same way, before Christ, God’s people lived under the guardianship of the law, the prophets, priests, and kings. These served as guides and mediators, but they were only temporary measures, pointing forward to the One who was to come. With the coming of Jesus—the promised Prophet, the true High Priest, and the eternal King—the time of guardianship ended. In Him, we are no longer slaves but children, adopted into God’s family, with the direct privilege of approaching Him as sons and daughters.
Paul warns the Galatians—and us today—that even though Christ has purchased our freedom, many still choose to go back to living as though they were bound, submitting again to the controlling powers of this world or to their religions. His letter serves as a wake-up call: to stop surrendering the freedom Christ won for us and to live as true heirs of God’s promises.
Our Former Lives
When we did not know God, we lived as slaves to religion, culture, and tradition. We trusted in worldly rituals, thinking they would lead us to the peace and fulfilment we longed for, unaware that true peace had already been given to us in Christ. Yet even after coming to know God, we often struggle to release our former way of life and the practices we once clung to,
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? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Galatians 4:9-11 (NIV)
Even after encountering God, many continue holding on to their old practices and traditions because it feels familiar and comfortable. In the early church, Jewish believers still observed all their days of remembrance and festivals. Similarly, today we see the same pattern—harvest festivals remain the biggest events in our churches, and Christmas services still draw the largest crowds.
People often believe that by observing these festivals or performing good deeds, their sins will somehow be washed away. These practices may appear harmless, but over time they begin to overshadow the true purpose of God, consuming people’s faith and shifting their focus away from Christ. Festivals and traditions can become substitutes for genuine relationship with God, creating a false sense of security.
The heart of the issue is that human nature prefers rituals we can control, rather than surrendering fully to the grace of God. Real change only happens when people draw near to God and realize that their endless cycles of rituals and efforts cannot save them. It is only by embracing the freedom Christ has given—rather than returning to human traditions—that they can truly walk in the joy and liberty of being God’s children.
A Tale of Two Women
… brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4:31 (NIV)
Paul draws on the example of two well-known women from Genesis—Sarah and Hagar—through whom Abraham’s descendants were divided into two lines. His audience would have been very familiar with this story. Naturally, no one would have desired to be in Hagar’s position, living the life of a slave. Instead, they would have aspired to be like Sarah—free, honored as the wife of Abraham, mother of the heir, and in such a position of influence that she persuaded Abraham to send his first son away into the wild.
Paul reiterates that the story of Sarah and Hagar is more than history—it carries a figurative meaning that points to two covenants. Hagar represents the covenant from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to children in slavery, just as the present Jerusalem lives in bondage. The covenant of circumcision was first given to Abraham when his only son was Ishmael, born through Hagar.
In contrast, Sarah represents the heavenly Jerusalem, which is free, and she is the mother of all who live by faith. Through her lineage, God had promised the coming of the Deliverer—the One who would crush the serpent and free humanity from the slavery of sin. Believers, like Isaac, are children of that promise. And just as Ishmael, the son born by human effort, mocked and opposed Isaac, the child of God’s Spirit, so too Paul reminds us that there will always be conflict between those enslaved under the law and those walking in the freedom of God’s promise.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Cutting the Bond of Slavery
Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
Galatians 5:2-3 (NIV)
Following circumcision, or any outward ritual as a means of salvation, robs us of the freedom Christ has given. It shifts the credit of salvation away from God’s grace and onto our own actions. While such practices may seem harmless—after all, they were once commanded in the law and are still followed by billions today—they undermine the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice, making it of no value.
In Paul’s day, the Galatians were deceived into thinking their faith was incomplete without circumcision, just as many today are misled by religious distractions. Much like today, where outward acts such as baptism, communion, confession, or tithing can be used by the church or by tradition to create a false sense of security, leading people to believe they are doing “just enough” to be right with God. Yet God is not seeking ritualistic observance but a heart led by His Spirit.
Such practices may satisfy the flesh, but they cannot bring righteousness. Instead of being fooled by every snare the enemy places before us, we must test our beliefs and submit to the leading of the Spirit. Only then can we remain in the freedom Christ secured and live by faith expressed through love.
Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.
Galatians 6:13 (NIV)
For many, the sole reason for being baptised or confirmed is not out of genuine faith, but simply to conform to social or religious expectations—and at times, to avoid criticism or persecution. Paul points out that even those who are circumcised do not keep the whole law, yet they pressure others into circumcision so they can boast about outward signs in the flesh. In a similar way, baptism today can sometimes be reduced to a mere statistic—a head count, a performance measure for churches or workers of Christ—rather than a genuine testimony of faith.
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
Galatians 5:4 (NIV)
Today, many fail to recognize that they are alienated from Christ because they confuse outward identity with genuine faith. They claim the title of being His followers, yet disregard the very things He commanded. When His words and His ways are set aside—while still carrying His name—they deceive themselves into believing they belong to Him. True discipleship is not about labels, traditions, or rituals, but about living in obedience to His teachings, being led by His Spirit, and experiencing the true freedom found in Christ.
Discussion Questions
- In what way is a slave similar to an heir who is still underage?
- What keeps people clinging to their former way of life even after they have come to know God?
- Why does Paul use the account of Sarah and Hagar to explain the difference between the two covenants?
- In what way does circumcision (or baptism) rob us of the freedom we have in Christ?
The Jordan Valley 
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