Hello
Friends!
During
this week’s gathering, we’ll continue to work our way through the book written
to the Galatians as we consider
the ONE and ONLY saving “salvation” message of “Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent
Epistle – “Only ONE Gospel!”
Galatians: Only ONE Gospel! (Chapter 4:8-20)
8 Howbeit
then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no
gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are
known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye
desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months,
and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed
upon you labour in vain. 12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I
am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye
know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the
first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised
not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where
is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had
been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to
me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the
truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they
would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good
to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present
with you. 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth
again until Christ be formed in you, 20 I desire to be present
with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you –
Galatians 4:8-20
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The Apostle Paul has
been writing extensively through a series of “doctrinal”
addresses to the “believers” in Galatia
concerning the Biblical ANTITHESIS of “salvation”
by “faith” ALONE
verses a “faith” PLUS “works”
through the fallen “flesh” of man. And one
poignant point we are “considering”
here in chapter 4 is very powerful
pertaining to the “adoption” of “Christians” by God. Thus, Paul is “beseeching” the Galatians of whom have been “adopted”
as “justified” and “sanctified”
eternally secure “sons of God” with all the rights
and privileges
that come with SONSHIP itself. Paul asks them WHY they are going “back” to the “weak
and beggarly elements” of which are the “shadows”
of better “things” to come, rather than
the saving “substance” from God Almighty
– Foolishness!
Incidentally,
Paul is the ONLY writer of whom utilizes the word “adoption” in the New
Testament books of Romans and Ephesians then here again in the book of Galatians. The word is simply a compound
word in the Greek language: huios meaning “son”
and tithmi meaning “to
place.” Thus, “adoption”
means “to place someone as a son”
into a family. And that is exactly what “God” does with “us”
as His own – ADOPTION!
Inheritance NEVER Lost!
Now
here in this poignant passage, Paul makes this stinging statement concerning
their past PAGANISM and asks a RIDICULOUS accompanying question:
Howbeit then, when ye knew not
God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that
ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak
and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe
days, and months, and times, and years – Galatians
4:8-10
In
other words, Paul says: “Are you going back
to your old spiritually impoverished and debt-ridden, sin-loaded life?”
They could NOT possibly WANT to
go BACK to
that idolatrous “no gods” nonsense! And
besides, they were rightly “known of God”
as “promised” earlier in this “epistle” and elsewhere throughout
the New Testament itself…
I am the good
shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine – John 10:14
For they
themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God – 1 Thessalonians 1:9
Incidentally,
the “religious” system of “Judaism”
consisting of REQUIRED obligation to “observe”
certain “days, and months, and times, and years”
themselves WITHOUT true “worship” unto our “Lord
Jesus Christ” is actually a “weak
and beggarly” form of PAGANISM.
And this is how “God” views ANY man-made
system of “religion” that REQUIRES human RITUALS whether it be beads, prayers,
sacraments,
penance
or ANY other
“kind” of external DUTIES touted as necessary to be “saved” by God. There’s only ONE actual
“living and true God” in
the universe and HE is the “God and Father”
of our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself.
And the ONLY way to “know God”
and be “known of God” is to “come” to Him through – Jesus Christ ALONE!
POIGNANT POINT: Many people talk about “God” in token generalities. And
they often “pray” pious platitudes such as:
“God bless you” or even: “I
believe in God and am a very religious person!” However, they do
NOT at
all intimately “know God” Himself. And
sadly, these folks are NOT savingly “known of God”
either! In fact, the eerie entity of which they refer to as “God” is ACTUALLY the diabolical “devil”
himself! The lost “world” is frightfully FULL of
folks who speak about a quasi “god”
of rank ”religion” or one of their OWN making.
However, they are woefully “worshiping”
at the “synagogue of Satan” instead – The PURVEYOR
of all FALSE religion!
And unto
the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the
last, which was dead, and is alive. I know thy works, and tribulation, and
poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they
are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan – Revelation 2:8-9
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: Our “Lord
Jesus Christ” does indeed “know”
them who are TRULY His
unto “eternal life” given of His “Father” and He “keeps”
them ALL forever:
My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father,
which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out
of my Father's hand – John 10:27-29
However,
according to the book of Revelation
there are specific “sinful”
steps of PROGRESSION
concerning this “known”
ungodly DECEPTION within the
fellowship:
STEP ONE: Revelation 2:9 =The “church” in “Smyrna”
was assaulted by a “synagogue
of Satan” ~ The “Jewish”
unbelievers!
STEP TWO: Revelation
2:13 =The “church” in “Pergamos”
was literally in the “Satan's seat” ~ The “Gentile” unbelievers!
STEP THREE: Revelation
2:24 = The
“church” in “Thyatira” plummeted to
the “depths of Satan”
~ The “doctrine”
of unbelievers!
When
true LOVE for the “Lord” is left behind, COMPROMISE will follow and
eventually leads to a full scale TOLERATION of “false doctrine”
itself. And when you “love”
your “Lord” less,
you will “love” the “world” more and “sin” will inevitably infiltrate your
life. However, “Jesus Christ” demands His “bride” be properly – PURE!
Then,
after all the loving “labour”
lavished on the Galatian fellowship of “believers”
through the “preaching” and “teaching” of the Apostle Paul, he further
responds in utter anguish:
I am afraid of you, lest I have
bestowed upon you labour in vain – Galatians
4:11
The
point here is that Paul was “afraid”
for their spiritual condition. WHY?
Because they thought it was possible to somehow EARN their
“salvation” through various “vain” efforts and adherence to rank
“religious” rites. However, they were
deceptively “being” brazenly… BEWITCHED!
CLING to the Gospel!
Up
to this point, the faithful “Apostle Paul”
has been a theologian reasoning in solid theology. He has been a lawyer
defending his firm case. He has been a biblical scholar skillfully
expositing the Old Testament texts. And he has done ALL
of this to build a reasonable, rational and biblical
foundation for “salvation” by “faith” absolutely ALONE. And
as a result, Paul has been engaged in a BATTLE for the
“thinking” of those who have been cleverly “caught up” in
erroneous “error” and to “preserve” God-authored and ordained “gospel” truth. In fact, Paul even seems to be somewhat impersonal
at times. HOW?
So far in this magnificent letter, he appears to have preferred TRUTH over friendship
and FACT over fellowship and PRINCIPLES over people. But, is this really true
of Paul? – NOT at
all!
Conversely, this faulty assumption readily changes here, as we now find a LOVING move towards the
battered “Brethren” through Paul’s “beseeching” appeal…
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I
am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all – Galatians 4:12
The “Gentiles” were NEVER under “Jewish” ritual “law” of man.
And sadly, these folks have fallen into the hands of
the “Judaizers” who are trying to “put” them “under” that “law” from
which the once “zealous” Paul the “religious” jaundice
“Jew” has been “set free” by “Jesus
Christ” unto God. Therefore, Paul says: “be as I
am; for I am as ye are” now. WHY? Because
they are now FREE from the “law” through
the “gospel” of God’s great GRACE! And
he also says: “ye have not injured me at all” through
their ONCE sincere – Love FOR Paul!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: In God’s PROVIDENCE
through “preaching” the “gospel” message, Paul appears to have
contracted
some kind of physical illness per his “infirmity
of the flesh” unveiling. Perhaps originally, Paul did not
plan to stay in Galatia nor to travel there in the first
place. However, by “God’s” direction under the GUIDANCE of the “Holy
Spirit” Himself, Paul “went”
there. In fact, some scholars & historians suspect that there may have been
an epidemic of malaria in the adjoining lowlands. We don’t know for sure.
Either way, Paul was indeed PHSICALLY sick due to an “infirmity of the
flesh” as he mentions…
Ye know how through infirmity of
the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which
was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of
God, even as Christ Jesus – Galatians
4:13-14
But
WHY was
Paul’s “infirmity” in his “flesh” touted a certain “temptation” as such? The first-century “Jews” had “believed”
in a “religious” trite tradition
of which they referred to as a “theology of trouble”
in that if someone suffered from an illness of sorts, it was due to the judgment
and punishment
of “God” upon their life. And perhaps this is WHY Paul had
this to say to the “carnal” folks in Corinth
concerning his infamous “thorn in the
flesh” of which made his “life”
and “ministry” unto the Lord VERY difficult:
And lest
I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations,
there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet
me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me – 2 Corinthians
12:7-9
Succinctly,
Paul’s statement to the Galatian “brethren”
proclaiming “ye despised not, nor rejected; but received
me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus” definitely DEMONSTRATES the supernatural
wonderful WORK of the “Holy Spirit”
on the “hearts” of these waning
people – Amazing!
Incidentally,
we do know something more concerning malaria in TODAY’S medical world. It actually can attack the optic
nerves of the “eyes” and develop an
atrophy, ultimately causing blindness. Perhaps this is WHY
Paul made this statement in his bewilderment of the Galatian
“foolishness” concerning their ONCE firm “blessedness”
through a COMMITMENT to Paul and
the “gospel” message of “salvation”
unto them:
Where is then the blessedness ye
spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have
plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me – Galatians 4:15
In
other words, Paul is saying: “Remember those good
ole’ days, guys? What has happened with you? How did it all sink to this level
lunacy?” Thus, it is very reasonable to
presume that Paul had severely “suffered”
from some sort of an “eye”
disease. However, in his day, medical eye transplants were NOT possible. But, if it “had
been possible” to do so, these “Galatians”
would have at one time literally “plucked out”
their very “own eyes” for Paul’s sake – WOW!
QUIZZING QUESTION: Paul’s next question to these fickle
folks is absolutely remarkable:
Am I therefore become your enemy,
because I tell you the truth? – Galatians
4:16
HOW
can this possibly be? Would these “foolish”
folks now really consider Paul as their “enemy”
so to speak? YES! And the only conclusion
one can rightly derive is that they did NOT
want the “truth” of “God” anymore in their lives… UNBELIEVEABLE!
Therefore,
Paul continues
to address this issue by saying the “Judaizers” had
indeed “zealously” sought to “affect them” in his absence but “not well” at all, referring to a faulty “teaching” of their Mosaic LIES:
They zealously affect you, but
not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is
good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am
present with you –
Galatians 4:17-18
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: These
“countrymen” of
murderous menacing “Jews” will indeed “exclude
you” from the beautiful benefits
of eternal “salvation” in “walking” with “Jesus
Christ” through TRUE spiritual FREEDOM in Him ALONE!
For ye, brethren, became
followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye
also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the
Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have
persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding
us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins
alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost – 1
Thessalonians 2:14-16
And
WHY did these
self-righteous
fickle “Pharisees” attempt to co-opt
the “Gentiles” into becoming “proselyte” converts unto “hell” from within the “fellowship” of God? Our “Lord Jesus Christ” addresses this issue HEAD-ON concerning
these heretical “hypocrites” in the book of Matthew…
But woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye
neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses,
and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater
damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea
and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more
the child of hell than yourselves – Matthew 23:13-15
Ye stiffnecked
and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as
your fathers did, so do ye – Acts 7:51
The
reason was so that these “stiffnecked”
lying “children of hell” would
wickedly “affect” the UNSUSPECTING and UNDISCERNING immature “sheep”
unto “damnation”
through a rank
“religious” raw fervor and arrogance
of the “heart” and “ears” doggedly doomed unto – DAMNATION!
Conversely,
the Apostle Paul did NOT seek out the “Galatians” for
his own
advancement. Rather, he “zealously”
sought to SECURE them ETERNALLY unto “Jesus
Christ” our Lord. And as long as he was “present”
with them, he was “preaching” through “sound doctrine” the “gospel”
itself. And when Paul was “not present”
among them, he would do so through his loving “letter”
written TO them. Similarly, even though an “enemy” had also “zealously”
moved in and sought to negatively “affect”
them, the alienation by the Galatian “believers”
had begun to break Paul’s heart. Never the less, he CONTINUED to lovingly seek
them for the “sake” of “Jesus Christ” alone – NOT for himself!
IMPORTANCE of Sanctification!
Paul
had painstakingly
poured out his “life” at no small RISK into the establishment of
the “churches” throughout Galatia, pulling them
from the evil clutches of perverted PAGANISM. Akin
to the “birth pangs” of a pregnant
woman, Paul had “endured”
the AGONIES of
“preaching” the saving “gospel” message to these “brethren” as they were spiritually “born again” into the “kingdom
of God” anew. And Paul had “labored”
quite intensely and painfully to “witness” that happen. As a result,
these “brethren” became his
spiritual “children” and in a very
strange set of “sinful” circumstances, Paul
feels like he’s in bewildered “birth pain”
all over again! HOW? It’s as if he’s re-living
the “birth pangs” of which he had already
originally experienced by “bringing”
them the “gospel” that had resulted in
“spiritual life” through “Jesus Christ” our Lord. Thus, Paul is ENDURING the
type of “pain” that longs
for these “brethren” to boldly become
what they have NOT yet attained – SANCTIFICATION!
At
this time, it is Paul’s “travail”
of labor “pain” concerning the “Galatians” saving “birth
again” until “Christ be formed”
increasingly IN
them:
My little children, of whom I
travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present
with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you – Galatians 4:19-20
Notice
at FIRST mentioned
in this excellent “epistle” Paul says that his labor “pain”
was evident until “Christ is IN you!” through JUSTIFICATION
in their “salvation” glory. However, NOW Paul
“longs” that “Christ
be FORMED in
you!” In other words, Paul’s desire for the “brethren” was that they mature MUCH more in “Christ-like”
conformity through their solemn – SANCTIFICATION!
These
“brethren” are indeed true “believers” themselves, as that fact IS affirmed here in Paul’s
exposition. HOW? They have indeed “begun in the Spirit” and they are “in Christ”
through God’s “salvation” gift. However, “Jesus Christ” is NOT yet fully “formed”
in them as MATURE mindful “followers” and thus Paul must “change” his “voice”
in great veracity. And rather than pursuing their “sanctification” mandate, they are
caustically caught up in being factiously “foolish”
and thus became “bewitched”
by the fickle Judaizing “false teachers”
of whom are LEADING them to a
grave MISUNDERSTANDING of the “gospel”
and thus from “becoming” more “like” Christ. Thus, Paul is very perplexed
and he uses a very strong Greek phrase: “I
stand in doubt” meaning: “I’m at my wits end”
here! WHY? Because they are NOT what
they SHOULD be
and therefore they are NOT what Paul as a FAITHFUL
poignant “pastor” rightly wants
them to be – Christ-like!
In closing:
What
is the “sanctification” process
itself? The word means “to be separated”
and is the lifelong wonderful “work of God”
in every
true “believer” to “separate” them from “sin”
itself. Incidentally, “election”
is something that happened BEFORE creation and was solely the “work of God” Himself. And “justification” happened in a MOMENT of
time when “God” declared “us” to be “righteous”
in “Jesus Christ” by “faith”
in Him. And finally, “glorification”
will occur in the FUTURE tense. Thus, in BETWEEN our “justification”
and “glorification” we LIVE our “lives”
on this planet of which will define the character
of our “walk” wonderfully “lived” out before “men”
and – Before God!
Often
times, being in “ministry” with “sinful” people can be absolutely heartbreaking
at some points. WHY? Because the “fallen” folks of whom you “minister” unto and have invested
in the most, may somewhere down the road “grieve”
the “Holy Spirit” in their “satisfaction” process as they begin
to turn
against the very “brethren”
they once loved. And here in this looming “letter”
penned by Paul, we encounter this “quenching”
repulsive response to the “truth”
of “Jesus Christ” and His “Word” as brilliantly – Biblically portrayed!
It
is a deep
sadness and often a PAINFUL
part of meaningful “ministry” when those
who once loved you, lifted you up, admired
you and sought your assistance, for some strange reason TURN AWAY and become an “enemy” instead. And this poignant point is
so concerning
to Paul, it is exactly WHY
he exclaims: “I stand in doubt of you!” In
other words, Paul is saying: “I’m at my wits end
with you guys!” Perhaps Paul may even have wondered if ALL his
exhausting efforts were woefully – WASTED in VAIN!
The “word of the Lord” is God’s
eternal “truth” of which ultimately defines our FUTURE in “heaven” and it is
this matter of BEING like “Jesus
Christ” our eternal CONCURRING King that
represents the – Very NATURE of SANCTIFICATION!
And
this should be the concern of every FAITHFUL
caring “shepherd” felt for the “flock” entrusted TO
him by God. Thus Paul describes the “pain”
of the “ministry” in assisting
our spiritual “children” to become more – LIKE Jesus Christ!
ONLY what IS done FOR Jesus Christ
will LAST!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Beloved, may God give US the courage and boldness
to “contend earnestly for the faith”
that was signed, sealed and delivered
some – 2000 years ago…
Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints – Jude 3
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
With
these thoughts in consideration towards your own personal studies, please read
through verses 8-20 in the fourth chapter of
the excellent book to the Galatians.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
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