July 5, 2009
Evening Service

Galatians 4

 

Review:

1.      This morning we saw how the Apostle Paul used the illustration of God blessing Abraham, because of his obedience to God’s Word.  He said Abraham received the promise of all people being blessed through his Seed, before the law was ever given. 

2.      God made the promise to Abraham that all people would be blessed through Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

3.      The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to this knowledge of Jesus Christ.  After we have attained this knowledge, we no longer need the schoolmaster, or the law.

 

Let’s see what is in store for us this evening.

 

Gal 4:1-31  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;  (2)  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.  (3)  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 

• Isn’t that a powerful example?  So simple, yet understandable.
• Under tutors, and governors, or the law; 
• Until the time appointed of the father.  Probably 18, or 21.
• In bondage under the elements of the world;  when we were young we didn’t think of anything serious, just live, and let live.  Do what feels good to the flesh.  Do what comes natural to a natural man.  UNDER BONDAGE, not knowing what to do, or how to do it.  Going with the flow.  Yielding to peer pressure.  The natural man.

(4)  But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

• TO REDEEM, OR TO BUY BACK.  Those under the law.
• Upon redemption, we become adopted sons of God.

(6)  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  (7)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

• Again we look to the Roman letter for clarification.

Rom 8:6-17  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  (7)  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  (11)  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  (12)  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  (13)  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  (14)  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (15)  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  (16)  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  (17)  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Back to Galatians:

(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? 

• Diana of the Ephesians to name one.
• Known of God, or accepted the gospel message.
• Why do you want to go back to being in bondage to all the things they required of you.

(10)  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 

• This is what the law requires.  You must do them if you are going to keep the law, or you are a transgressor.

(11)  I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor 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. 

• Paul was sick, and detained among them, when he first preached the gospel to them.

(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. 

• Temptation does not mean, tendency to an evil habit, as we use it today, but a bodily trial.

(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. 

• And this statement leads some people to think that his bodily trial was that of his eyes.  Also, the infirmity that he sought the Lord three times for, and God told him that His grace was enough for him.

(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.          Listen to this translation.

Gal 4:17  Those heretical teachers go to great lengths to flatter you, but their motives are rotten. They want to shut you out of the free world of God's grace so that you will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important.

(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, 

• Paul is in great pain, and remorse because of their accepting this heretical teaching.

(20)  I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.  (21)  Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?  (22)  For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.  (23)  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.  (24)  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engendereth to bondage, which is Hagar.  (25)  For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 

• Paul must have thought, WOW,  when God revealed this to him.  Just as we should when we understand what Paul is giving us.

(26)  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  (27)  For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband.    (Isa. 54:1)

 

(28)  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 

• Christian, this should make you feel wonderful. 
• Remember the promise, “through your Seed, shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”   All us gentiles, and whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Such wonderful, and great promises.

(29)  But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 

Gen 21:5-11  And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.  (6)  And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.  (7)  And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.  (8)  And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.  (9)  And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.  (10)  Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.  (11)  And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

(30)  Nevertheless what saith the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.  (31)  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

• Because we are the adopted children of promise. 

 

Oh how beautiful, and simple the Apostle tells it.

 

All this builds our faith that we are the children of God.  Not because we are under the law of Moses, but because we are believers in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  We have received His Spirit, whereby we cry abba Father.

 

May God add His blessings to His Word.