What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "How is Galatians 4:4-6 to be understood?"
Answer
Galatians 4:4-6 describes that God sent His Son to redeem all those who were “under the law”—which means that they, as transgressors, were under the condemnation of the law. Through this redemption the believers receive adoption as children and are led out of the slavery of sin into a life of obedience, in which God’s law dwells in their hearts. As a seal and guarantee of this sonship, God gives the Spirit of His Son into their hearts, testifying that they are His children and co‑heirs of the promise.
Redemption from condemnation and adoption as children
»“To redeem those who were under the law.” – He does this in the most practical and real way. Whom does He redeem? – “Those who were under the law.” [...] To be “under the law” means, as we have already seen, to be condemned by the law as transgressors. However, the law condemns no one except those who are subject to it and ought to keep it. Since Christ thus redeems us from the law, from its condemnation, it follows that He redeems us to a life of obedience toward Him. “So that we might receive adoption as children.” [...] As He becomes our representative [...], literally taking our place—not in place of us, but by entering into us and living His life in us and for us—it necessarily follows that the same law must be in our hearts when we receive adoption as children. The Spirit is the mark of sonship.«
The Spirit of the Son as the guarantee of the inheritance
»Look further in our letter and see what is said about redemption and the Spirit: “God sent His Son, born of a woman, placed under the law, so that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as children. Because you are now sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, who calls: Abba, Father.” [...] The inheritance belongs to all who, through faith in Christ Jesus, are children of God; and the Spirit, which marks our sonship, is the promise, the guarantee, the firstfruits of this inheritance. Those who receive Christ’s glorious deliverance from the curse of the law—a redemption not from obedience to the law, for obedience is not a curse, but from disobedience to the law—taste in the Spirit the power and blessing of the world to come.«
The Incarnation of Christ for liberation from the slavery of sin
»Through His death He paid the penalty for all sins actually committed and can therefore lawfully grant His righteousness to all who wish to receive it. And by condemning sin in the flesh and abolishing hostility in His flesh, He frees from the power of the law of inheritance [...]. And so it is written: “When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman and placed under the law, so that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as children.”«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
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