SSL 5 - Galatians 4:8-20
Last week: In Galatians 3:23-29; 4:1-7, Paul told us there's no longer a need for the Law because all Christians have become the "Children of God" through faith. He said being under the Law was similar to having a guardian to teach and oversee us as children until we come of age, then after we are saved by faith-come of age-we have "put on" Christ and no longer need a guardian. The three main points of application were: 1. We Christians, who have been baptized into Christ's death no longer live under the law but have been clothed in Christ and made one in him as children and heirs of God's promise. Faith in Christ brings us to a spiritual "coming of age" where the guardian-the Law--is no longer needed. 2. Being "one in Christ Jesus" means that all the barriers that divide people have been abolished. Besides the divisions we experience in our own churches, we are divided into denominational camps and other ethnic and racial camps. Can we/should we do better? 3. Jesus came to purchase us out of a slave market and free us from our bondage to the sin of the world so that we can be adopted as sons of God. Whereas we are all "God's offspring" in the general sense according to Gal. 3:29, above, under this principle, we are specifically members of God's family as co-heirs of Jesus Christ in God's Kingdom for all eternity, true sons and daughters.
This Week: Moving to Gal. 4:8-20, we will hear Paul speak about the Galatians' misguided desire, short of being circumcised, to put themselves into bondage by observing Jewish holy days. Next he talks about their past and present relationship with him, specifically, their distant attitude toward him now, contrasted to their previous appreciation of him as God's messenger. In one place, he pointedly asks them if he's become their enemy because he only tells them the truth, as opposed to the charm and flattery they were receiving from the Judaizers. He concludes by telling them his feelings for them are like a mother who's anticipating new birth.
Read Gal. 4:8-11 - LIVING UNDER THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD OR AS A SON OF GOD
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
v. 8: "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods" - Paul is referring to the Galatians' previous lives when they worshipped pagan gods and were completely ignorant of the one true God; they were serving a falsehood, living a lie.
v. 9: "9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?" - Paul makes a vital point with the phrase "rather to be known by God." It means that we have an intimate personal relationship-we know God and God knows us, too. The different religions around the world have knowledge of God, and even many of those who are unsure, have some intuitive knowledge of God; however, a person is not "known by God" until he or she is saved by faith alone in Christ alone. The elementary principles Paul speaks of is a metaphor for the legalism of the Judaizers which he says is now just as invalid and irrelevant as the pagan rites and rituals they practiced before they accepted Christ as savior. His basic question: If you have been freed from one oppressive religion, why on earth do you want to be enslaved to another one?
v.10-11: "You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain" - At the urging of the Judaizers, the Galatians had begun observing the Jewish religious holidays and festivals. Paul feared that this trend toward legalism could lead them to stricter observance of the Mosiac Law. If they abandoned grace and the sanctification of their lives through Christ and the Holy Spirit, Paul felt that all of his efforts with them had become purposeless.
TRUTH 1: A person isn't known by God until he or she is saved by faith alone in Christ alone. The "elementary principles" Paul speaks of in v. 6 is a metaphor for the legalism of the Judaizers which he says is now just as invalid and irrelevant as the pagan rites and rituals they practiced before they accepted Christ as savior. His basic question: If you have been freed from one oppressive religion, why on earth do you want to be enslaved to another one?
Read Gal. 4:12 - BECOME AS I AM
12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
v. 12: These words from Paul might seem strange at first: I mean, why would he point to himself rather than to Christ? But look closely: he didn't say "I'm perfect" or "follow me instead of Jesus"-not at all. He's asking them follow Jesus the same way that he does. The Galatians had started out with the right understanding of the gospel, because Paul had led them into the right understanding. When Paul says "I also have become as you are," he means He has abandoned Law-keeping and become, in effect a Gentile, like them. He was not bound by the law that separated Jews and Gentiles, so why should they be bound by it? In saying "You did me no wrong," Paul seeks to assure them he doesn't take this as a personal offense but is genuinely concerned that they are moving dangerously away from the true, Christ-centered Gospel truth that he had taught them.
Read Gal. 4:13-16 - THE WAY WE WERE
13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
v. 13: "You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first" - The exact nature of Paul's "bodily ailment" isn't known, but elsewhere where in Acts at this time he had been stoned at Lystra (Acts 14:19) and had been persecuted by Jews from Iconium and Antioch, so it's possible he might have recuperating at the time he first preached the Gospel to these Galatians. Some commentators suggest that he might have contracted Malaria when he was ministering in the marshy lowlands around Perga (Acts 14:24ff, see map).
v. 14: "and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus" - Even though Paul was in a debilitated state, the Galatians received him with decency and respect, which was unusual for both Jews or Gentiles of that day, who tended to view people with disabilities as being under some sort of curse or divine punishment. Instead, they received "as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus," which tells us that they embraced and responded eagerly to his message of grace and God's love through faith in Jesus Christ.
v. 15: "What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me" - "your blessedness" refers to the sense of joy and divine approval they experienced when the Galatians believed Paul's Gospel preaching and received the Holy Spirit. The phrase, "gouged out your eyes and given them to me," is an exaggerated figure of speech that meant they were so overjoyed by Paul's message they would have given him anything he wanted. This phrase has caused some commentators to suggest that Paul's ailment had something to do with poor eyesight.
v. 16: "Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?" - Paul gets right to the point. In view of the love and honor the Galatians had shown to Paul earlier, along with the great blessing they had experienced when they received the Gospel, Paul asks them if he is now their adversary because he's reminding of the truth. This is what false teaching, especially legalism, does; it alienates people from the truth and also sets them against any messenger who reiterates that truth.
TRUTH 2: Being kind and compassionate does not mean being soft on sin. Citing the love and honor the Galatians had previously shown him, along with the great joy of salvation they had experienced when they received the Gospel, Paul pointedly asks them if he's now their enemy because he's reminding of the truth. This is what false teaching, especially legalism, does; it alienates people from the truth and also sets them against any messenger who reiterates that truth. Therefore, correction sometimes need to tough and hard-hitting when we see a brother or sister headed in bad direction.
Read Gal. 4:17-18 - BEWARE OF THE CHARM AND FLATTERY OF THE LEGALISTS
17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,
v. 17: "They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them" - Many of the Galatians had been duped into following the Judaizers with smooth talk veiled with subtle intimidation. The goal of the Judaizers was to drive a wedge between Paul-discredit him--and his Galatian followers by turning them to a false gospel, a gospel based on works. The underlying motives of the Judaizers were sinful; they desired to place these new believers under authority that was similar to the priestly role of the old covenant, in effect, to give up direct access to God through Christ and turn to a legalistic system. Unfortunately, this can happen in churches today-people seeking to gain power through leadership roles so that they can "lord it over" others, telling them what to do and how to do it, in the guise of biblical leadership. Others, under the label of "disciple-makers," try to create dependency relationships so they can have others under their authority. People who do this are false teachers, too. This is exactly the type of man-made and man-pleasing gospel that Paul referred to in Gal. 1:10 in one of our earlier lessons
v.18: "It is always good to be made much of (or zealous [NIV]) for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you" - Paul is saying that being zealous is a good thing when you're doing for a good purpose-like sharing the Gospel. However, Paul warns them to beware of others, like these Judaizers, who are zealous, not only for a lie, a false gospel, but also to gain power over them.
TRUTH 3: As false teachers, the underlying motives of the Judaizers were sinful. They desired to place these new believers under authority that was similar to the priestly role of the old covenant, in effect, to give up direct access to God through Christ and turn to a legalistic system. Unfortunately, this can happen in churches today-people seeking to gain power through leadership roles so that they can "lord it over" others, telling them what to do and how to do it, in the guise of biblical leadership. Others, under the label of "disciple-makers," try to create dependency relationships so they can have others under their authority. People who do this are false teachers, too.
Read Gal. 4:19-20 - PAUL'S FERVENT FRIENDSHIP
19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
vv. 19-20: Referring to them as "my little children," Paul rightly considers himself to be a father to these Galatian believers. At the same time, he expresses great sorrow over what has happened to them in this relatively brief span of time. When he says he is "again in the anguish of childbirth," he means that they had regressed to the point that he feels they may need to be re-born-again. He's not saying they've lost their salvation, but they've been derailed spiritually. In closing, Paul wished two things: (1) He wanted to be with them; and (2) he did not like using such strong language with them, but that their sharp departure from the true Gospel has left him extremely puzzled.
TRUTH 4: Paul's dealings with the Galatians in this chapter shows us the power of personal relationships. Galatians 3 and 4 are both heavily doctrinal. Sometimes personal relationships are fractured by a brother or sister who deviates from sound doctrine (i.e., from the underlying tenets of the Baptist Faith & Message in our case), but Paul, approaching these Galatians with love, kindness, and true concern, show us how the power of a personal relationship can be used to restore wayward believers to the truth.
