Galatians 4:6
6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Truth to Learn
Through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ we can know the most intimate fellowship with the God of all creation.
Behind the Words
The word “because” is a translation of “hoti,” which can be used to mean as a proof that (demonstrative use) or as a result of the fact that (causative use). In this verse most Greek scholars agree that its use is causative, hence, the translation “because.”
The words “crying out” are translated from the Greek word “kradzō.” This is an onomatopoetic word, that is, a word formed by the sound that it represents. Our English words boom and whoosh are onomatopoetic words. In the case of “kradzō,” it means to croak like a raven. In its use here and elsewhere in Scripture it refers to a loud cry of exclamation.
“Abba, Father” is both Aramaic (the language of the Jews after the Babylonian captivity) and Greek. “Abba” is the Aramaic word for father and “ho patēr” is its Greek equivalent. “Abba” is used in several places in the New Testament where it is always followed by its Greek translation. Abba is a familial term of endearment which servants were not permitted to use in addressing the master of the family to which they belonged. In his prayer in the
Meaning Explained
In the previous few verses we have been told that God sent His Son to redeem us (purchase us and take us out of the market place) so that He might adopt us as His children. Now, Paul tells us that as a result of that adoption, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. There has been some debate as to whether Paul means the Holy Spirit or the spiritual quality of the Son of God. To me it makes the most sense to understand it as the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity.
Paul uses a similar expression in the book of Romans referring to Him both as the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ:
Romans 8:9 9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Only those who are saved during the church age, who believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for their sins, are said to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit. And, because of this amazing fact, we can refer to God with the most endearing term a child can possible use, “Abba, Father.” This is like a child today calling his father Papa or Daddy. Paul even tells us here that it is the very Holy Spirit of God which is proclaiming this familial endearment for us.
Application
Have you confessed your sinfulness before God and accepted the blood of Christ to pay for those sins? If so, then you can have the most intimate relationship possible with God.
I pray that you are experiencing this kind of relationship with your Heavenly Father right now.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2007 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, you can call the church phone (618) 614-3070 and leave a message telling us your name and e-mail address or you can send an e-mail to: