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Galatians Study Part Eleven: 4:1-7

NLT: “Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world.

“4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.”

NASB: “Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”

Now that Paul established that we are Abraham’s descendants and fellow heirs, because we believed and had faith as Abraham did, he returns to the thought of slavery. He is going to start more directly addressing the specific problems among the Galatian believers. Keep in mind how in chapter two, he shared how false brothers in Jerusalem tried to pull believers into slavery, away from their freedom. The whole of chapter four speaks of slavery and freedom.

Paul contrasts a child waiting to become heir of an estate to people being children while under the law, being under guardians and no different from a slave. But at the right time, God sent his Son to redeem those under the law. This took people out of the slavery that came from being under the law and made them sons and heirs. (Remember the end of chapter two.)

Paul presses the thought that they are no longer slaves. That is, unless they decide to be pulled back into bondage and slavery.

Let’s look a little more at this thought of slavery. Romans 6 is good to read along with this as it mentions slavery several times, speaking of being slaves to sin or slaves of righteousness.

Another place where it is mentioned that we call out, “Abba, Father” is in Romans 8, “15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

If you go further back in Romans 8, it speaks of the law of sin and death and the law of the Spirit and life. These are the two choices people have. This is where we hear that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who have God’s Spirit. We have been set free from the law of sin and death. We haven’t received a spirit of slavery that leads to fear, which is what the law did.

Meditate on this some….a spirit of slavery leading to fear. This is the path that some in Galatia had moved to and caused them to lose their joy. Joy and fear do not mix. No wonder turning to trusting in our own works to make us righteous causes such fear. Can you not relate this to your own experience in an unhealthy church? Remember how you felt when you first turned to God and believed the gospel. There was joy. Some felt a lightness as their burden lifted. But as time went on and we were introduced to a performance based form of slavery, that joy started to lift. We became burdened with all the rules we must keep and how busy we had to be with church activities. We didn’t realize what was happening, but a trade off had been made- freedom for slavery.

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Galatians Study Part Ten: 3:26-29

NLT: “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.”

NASB: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

I don’t believe Paul could say it any plainer than he did when he wrote, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Those of us from unhealthy churches need to grasp this reality. No matter what we were told was necessary according to our former churches, this is NOT up to us. We don’t become sons of God any other way than through believing the gospel and having faith. It is so simple and yet so often people distort it by adding in their own conditions. People fight against the simplicity in this message.

When believers are baptized into Christ, they are clothed with him. We become one in the Lord. This truth goes along with what Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 12. God has combined us all together in one body, the body of Christ. It no longer matters our nationality, sex, or status in life – or any of the things that make us different from one another. We are one in Christ.

Some believe that baptism here means water baptism and I don’t totally dismiss the thought. I lean much more toward it meaning being baptized with God’s Spirit (and I am not referring to speaking in tongues). Let me explain why.

A person can be water baptized and yet go no further in their walk with God. They could get baptized in the heat of a moment or could be pressured to do so by family or friends. Some of us have heard stories of how, in an effort to win over someone they wanted to be with, a person would fake things such as being baptized. A person could be water baptized and yet, like Simon the sorcerer, not have their heart right with God (Acts 8). In any of those cases, could we say that the people had clothed themselves with Christ and become one with all believers? I cannot grasp that being the case.

Is it not the Spirit of God who baptizes us into the body of Christ? Consider 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” Note in this passage that Paul also makes mention of Jew and Greek as well as slave or free, just as he did in Galatians 3:28.

Ephesians 2:22 says, “in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Without the Spirit of God, we cannot be one in Jesus.

In the last verse of chapter three, Paul brings us back to the thought of our relationship with Abraham, that believers are the descendants of Abraham and are heirs, according to the promise. It is all because we believed and had faith, just as Abraham did.

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Galatians Study Part Nine: 3:21-25

NLT: “Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

“23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.”

NASB: “Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

“23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

Remember what we have discovered so far – that the law was not of faith and because of this, no one will be justified by obeying the law. It ONLY comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Christ redeemed us from the law so that we may live by faith.

Paul now poses the question of whether the law opposes the promises of God and his answer is no. If a law could have been given that would impart life and make us right, or righteous with God, then it would have been done. It did not happen.

What God promises is given through faith in Jesus to those who believe. Before this, the law held people as prisoners. They were constantly offering sacrifices and being reminded of their sinful ways. No matter how many rules they perfectly followed, it never changed them on the inside. No matter how many rules they were able to keep, if they messed up on one issue, they failed. The law was a continual reminder to them that they did not measure up. A sacrifice for their sin had to be made.

Do you remember back in chapter two, where Paul spoke of the false brothers who had infiltrated their ranks, spying on them? What did he proclaim about these cunning men? They were spying on the freedom the believers had in Christ Jesus and wanted to make them slaves. That is what returning to the law does. It makes you a prisoner, robs you of your joy, takes your focus off of God, places you under a curse and you become a slave.

The law was never meant to accomplish what was accomplished by Jesus. It demonstrated that all had sinned. The law was supposed to lead people to Christ. Then he came and fulfilled the law and redeemed us. Once this happened, the law was supposed to pass away and die as its purpose had been accomplished, so that faith in Jesus for our justification would take its place. It was a temporary guardian to lead people to Christ.

Consider also how that earlier in chapter three, Paul shares how the law was given to them through a mediator. God didn’t speak directly to all the people and share with them these laws. He spoke to them through Moses and he passed them on to the people. Yet with God’s promise to Abraham, he spoke to him directly and no mediator was involved. Contrast this with the issue of following the law/rules or allowing God himself to speak to us directly through the Spirit.

In addition, the law was conditional and pronounced blessings and cursing. It was up to each individual to work hard to learn and remember all the rules, and diligently follow them to the letter. Yet the promise to Abraham didn’t require him to perform any tasks, nor to keep any rules.

Think about how this applies to any rules set up by ministers, churches and anyone who would add to the gospel and distort it. “And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.” Let the truth of this passage sink in. Do we choose to live by a list of rules or do we choose to walk by faith, allowing God’s Spirit to lead, guide and teach us? If we are walking by faith, we no longer need the list of rules to be our tutor as we learn directly from God. Is the importance of this message becoming clear?

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This is a continuation of our coverage on former United Pentecostal Church pastor and presbyter, Robert Anthony “Tony” Langston, born November 9, 1964, who has been charged with sexual crimes against a minor in Colorado. Langston also had been the Colorado District Youth Secretary and the District Youth President. This is case number 25CR03894 in Denver County.

Back in 2000, we made two blogs about this, though no names were mentioned at the time as no arrests or charges had been made. You may want to read Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 3 and Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 4 for additional information. See also Part 1 and Part 2 of our recent posts.

The alleged crimes happened while Tony Langston was the youth pastor of Landmark Tabernacle, a UPCI church in Denver, Colorado. The pastor was Billy Hale, now considered the bishop, who was also the Colorado District Superintendent at the time. Hale’s son-in-law, Dannie Hood, is the current senior pastor. Some readers may recall our article about Dannie Hood refusing to testify in the trial of Jesse Klockenbrink, a twice convicted sex offender, in 2018. Klockenbrink still attends the church. See United Pentecostal Pastor Dannie Hood’s Refusal To Testify.

In our previous post, we shared the charges, bond, and a basic summary of what has happened since July 10 through July 24, 2025, as well as a rundown of his UPCI licensing and positions from 1987 through 2011.

In this post, we are sharing the four page supporting affidavit for his warrant, which gives more insight into the charges. It had already been redacted by the court but I redacted two things. Some may find it triggering.

You will learn that the SVU of Hudson County, New Jersey was investigating Tony Langston earlier this year for the sexual assault of a child. Due to that investigation, they discovered that there was an assault in Colorado during September or October of 1998.

In May 2025, the Colorado investigator interviewed the victim. The victim shared that while Tony was a Youth Pastor at the church, he took an interest in him and “started to mentor him.” They began to be together more and more, including him babysitting Tony’s young daughter. “Most of the time [name redacted] would be alone with Langston.”

Since Tony’s wife got a position working overnight, Tony would tell the victim that he was lonely and wanted company. On one of these occasions, Tony invited him to watch a vampire movie and while there, Tony asked “if he wanted to have some fun.

“Langston offered [name redacted] what he believed to be cough syrup or Nyquil. Langston told him it would feel good and he should try it, it was liquid Benadryl. Langston told him that it’d make him feel loopy. He poured [name redacted] a cap full and talked him into taking it. Later, Langston asked [name redacted] if he felt it, to which [name redacted] responded no.” Langston then gave him another and he started to feel sleepy, so Langston told him to go and lay on the bed and he’d finish the movie alone. The victim woke up to find Langston performing oral sex on him.

There is also a brief mention of an interview with another victim. They “stated that Langston appeared to prefer boys in the church who had absent fathers or were raised by their grandparents.”

Billy Hale was interviewed on May 20, 2025 and he shared he knew about the victim being molested. “Hale stated that he has heard other people hint about sex abuse by Langston, but no one has come out and said it. Hale stated he didn’t report the incident to police because he was under the impression that [name redacted] wouldn’t testify.”

The victim shared that he told a friend what happened, “who then reported it to Pastor Hale.” There was a meeting with Hale and it was shared that he attempted to contact the police chief. “Hale gave Langston time to gracefully leave the church but told him he could no longer be a youth pastor there.”

In our blog from 2020, where we initially did not name anyone, we shared what a former member of the church had witnessed at the time this was happening. Below is part of what she shared.

“Then…it happened again. It almost felt like a horrible déjà vu. A Sunday night service came and went without Youth Pastor Z one Sunday…and again the visitors were asked to leave the service because of an ‘all church meeting.’

“Youth Pastor Z was asked to resign and we were not allowed to have any contact with them. They were also leaving the state immediately. No details were given.

“I was so sick to my stomach. What happened this time? Why is our youth group cursed?

“This time, I didn’t hear for years whatever happened with Youth Pastor Z. This story was kept under wraps for a long time. He moved away and has since pastored a church in another state.

“…I have found out from a couple of the victims that after everything came out, the church pastor asked to meet with them and their parent/guardians. They were instructed not to involve the authorities in both of these cases because it wasn’t ‘biblical.’ The pastor said that he wanted to allow God to deal with them and that God’s punishment would be far greater than anything the law could ever do to them.”

This is not the only case where similar happened at Landmark Tabernacle under the leadership of Billy Hale. As you can see from our previous post, Billy Hale did not ask Tony Langston to turn in his license and obviously did not report the information to UPCI headquarters as Langston remained licensed for a decade after leaving Landmark Tabernacle. One wonders how many other allegations have been similarly mishandled.

Anthony Langston is the founder and former pastor of Tapestry Church, which in June 2025 became Freedom Church Jersey City, when Tony resigned and turned it over to former UPCI minister Wade Haskins.

I originally posted about this on  July 25, 2025 on our Facebook Page.

You will find a complete list of articles in this series by clicking here.

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This is a continuation of our coverage on former United Pentecostal Church pastor and presbyter, Robert Anthony “Tony” Langston, born November 9, 1964, who has been charged with crimes against a minor. Langston also had been the Colorado District Youth Secretary and the District Youth President. This is case number 25CR03894 in Denver County.

Back in 2000, we made two blogs about this, though no names were mentioned at the time as no arrests or charges had been made. You may want to read Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 3 and Colorado United Pentecostal Sex Abuse Cases Part 4 for additional information. See also Part 1 of our recent posts.

The alleged crimes happened while Tony Langston was the youth pastor of Landmark Tabernacle, a UPCI church in Denver, Colorado. The pastor was Billy Hale, now considered the bishop, who was also the Colorado District Superintendent at the time. Hale’s son-in-law, Dannie Hood, is the current senior pastor. (We previously wrote about Dannie Hood refusing to testify in the CSA case against now registered sex offender Jesse Klockenbrink, who still attends Landmark Tabernacle. See United Pentecostal Pastor Dannie Hood’s Refusal To Testify.) They have been aware of the investigation of Tony.

The case was entered into the court on July 10, 2025 and an at large warrant was issued. Tony Langston was arrested on July 23, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. He was charged with 18-3-405.3(1),(2)(a),(b) Sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and the victim is less than fifteen years of age and as part of a pattern of abuse (Class 3 felony) and 18-3-405.3(1),(2)(a);18-2-101 Criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and the victim is less than fifteen years of age (Class 4 felony). The charges go back to 1998.

We could possibly see additional charges in Colorado, as well as charges in New Jersey.

On July 24, there was an entry of appearance by his attorney Colleen Kelley, along with a motion for discovery, which is normal. Bond was set, though the judge approved a much lower bond of $50,000 than the asked amount of $200,000. $5,000 via a credit card was paid and Tony was released that morning. He had to sign a waiver of extradition as he lives out-of-state and a protective order was issued. You will see that his wife was involved and paid via a credit card. I have redacted their personal information.

In the afternoon, a motion was filed for him to relinquish his passport and it was granted. You may recall in our previous post that Tony Langston stated he and his wife planned to go backpacking in Europe in September.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 11, 2025.

Tony Langston first appears in the 1988 UPCI Directory with a general license and living in Federal Way, Washington, which is indicative of him having received his license in 1987. (The Directories are issued every January and can be more reflective of the prior year.) The 1989 Directory shows him living in Lakewood, Colorado.

Starting in 1990, he is seen in Brighton, Colorado and is likewise listed the same in 1991 and 1992. He is not listed in 1993. (I do not have Directories from 1994-1998.) In 1999 he is again not listed, but is seen in the 2000 Directory in Littleton, Colorado with a general license and also serving as the District Youth Secretary. The 2001 Directory shows him in Englewood, Colorado and he is listed as the District Youth President.

2002 finds him in Carmel, Indiana, with the 2003 Directory listing him in Bogalusa, Louisiana. 2004 lists him with an ordained license in Jersey City, New Jersey, with 2005 showing him as pastor of the International Christian Center. The same holds true for 2006. Starting with the 2007 Directory, he is listed as a presbyter of the New Jersey Metro District, now called the North/Central Jersey District. The 2008 issue has the church name changed to International Church and he is still a presbyter. It is the same in 2009.

The 2010 Directory lists him as a presbyter and shows the church name changed to Tapestry Church, and it remained with this name until Langston resigned as pastor in June 2025 and it became Freedom Church Jersey City, though that happened well after he was no longer licensed in the UPCI. Former UPCI minister Wade Haskins is the new lead pastor.

The last Directory in which he is listed is 2011 and he is no longer a presbyter. This could mean he stopped being licensed in late 2010 or any time in 2011.

Tony’s father, Robert P. Langston, also had been licensed by the UPCI. He used to operate a group home for minors in Canada and Colorado.

I originally posted about this on  July 25, 2025 on our Facebook Page.

You will find a complete list of articles in this series by clicking here.

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