December 28, 2025 Text: Galatians 4:4-7
Dear Friends in Christ,
Have you ever thought about your identity and how many ways you have been identified over the years? This was a fun little exercise as I worked on this sermon. When I was born in 1965, I became a son, a grandson, and a nephew. A few years later a brother and then a cousin. I was also a friend and neighbor. When I got to school it was student and athlete. At Illinois State fraternity brother and TV-10 anchor. Shortly thereafter I was asked to be a sponsor and Godfather, which I have been blessed to do numerous times. At seminary I was a field worker and then a vicar and after graduation I became a husband. At age 25, we arrive in Texas and my identity becomes Pastor. Then I add uncle a few years later. Two years after that I take on the important identity of dad. A year and a half ago another identity when I became grandpa. I don’t see surviving to great-grandpa but I might make “the cranky retired guy that lives down the street.”
How do you identify yourself? How many different titles have you had? Do you ever ask . . .
“WHAT, REALLY, IS MY IDENTITY?”
It may be harder to answer than we thought. In the verse right before our text, Paul writes that we “were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.” (4:3). Do you identify with being “enslaved to sin?” Do you have any sins that chain you to this world? How about idolatry? Do you ever put things before your Creator? Does money, health, family, pleasure or recreation come before your God relationship? Do you ever get mad? Yell at another driver? Scream at a referee or your television? Do you have a rival, someone you hold a grudge against? Do you envy another’s spouse, job, kids, clothes, house, car? What shackles you? Are all these sins your identity?
When Paul talks about being enslaved in these verses to the Galatians he isn’t talking about slavery to sin. He is talking about the ways we try to free ourselves from our sin. We start the bargaining process to get in good with God. “Lord, I have done pretty good this week and really for a lifetime. Why give me these health problems and money challenges? Don’t I deserve better?” How soon we forget, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23).
Here is the Christmas induced announcement, being a slave to sin is not your identity. It was at one time but now Paul says in our text, “you are no longer a slave.” (v. 7a). You have been redeemed and set free. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law.” (vs. 4-5a). Jesus took that enslavement to sin. He walked it to the cross and He died there for you. You are free and forgiven of your sins. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 8:1)
Even better you are an adopted son of God, in baptism born again. You have a new identity placed upon your heart. Because you are a son, then you are also an heir. You belong in God’s kingdom. You are in that kingdom today as his child and in eternity when Jesus returns in glory, and you will be free from sin, accusation, suffering, pain, sorrow, and death.
Who are you? This First Sunday of Christmas there is a joyous answer, because God’s Son was born of a woman, born under the law, you have a newborn identity: sons of God and heirs of the promise. Or as our sermon hymns says so beautifully, “I am baptized into Christ; I’m a child of paradise” – now and forever.
Amen.