OUR FATHER BEFORE WHOM WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
In Galatians chapter 4 verses 1 - 20, the Apostle Paul continued expositing to the believers in Galatia the privileged position that their faith in Christ had made availabel to them.
He is alarmed about their vulnerability to false doctrine which was leading them to veer away from the riches to which they were heirsthrough faith in Christ and to veer towards legal frameworks to obtain righteousness.
1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
Paul explained that as sons of God, they were no longer slaves to the law such as the fulfilling of calendar dates and seasons. Paul expresses his concern because the Galatians, of all people, had been so hospitable to him when he came to them with challenges with his eyesight and they adored him so much that they would have, if possible, donated their own eyes so that he could see.
It is in this context that Paul reprimands them for heeding contrary voices and forsaking the true gospel that they had first believed. They were watering it down with elements of the law as though the law could suppliment what Christ had given them.
17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.
Amen.
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