Galatians 4:8-11 “Back to Slaves – How Can it Be!!??”

Good place to reflect – I have taught 20 lessons on Galatians (then took a month off). 

This message is going to be dealing with "legalism" as have many others, as this was the Galatian believer's problem.

I thought it would be good to start off with a good clear definition of what legalism is, and then ask ourselves 2 questions as we start back in our Galatians study (verse by verse).

Legalism defined: Legalism...is essentially any attempt to improve on what God has done for us by adding things that we do for Him... It is any attempt to earn approval from God with our imperfect actions, rather than accepting and being pleased with the approval that He freely offers us because Jesus has earned it for us with his perfect sacrifice. Legalism is always doomed to failure because we are imperfect and the God that we seek to impress is perfect. It robs us of peace and joy.  (Definition by Mike Taylor)

I think the following statement by Jerry Bridges on legalism is worth our attention.

"Legalism insists on conformity to manmade religious rules and requirements, which are often unspoken, but are nevertheless very real… There are far too many instances within Christendom where our traditions and rules are, in practice, more important than God’s commands."

The question we must ask ourselves.

1. How many of us still have not come out of legalism?

2. How many of us are slipping back into legalism?

Legalism is always a step backward in your walk in Christ. 

On the positive, praise be to God for those who are free and staying free, AMEN!

Now, let's look at today's passage:

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.  Galatians 4:8-11

⁸ But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.    

When they were ignorant sinners (before salvation), they had served their false pagan gods (really demons). As it states in 1 Cor. 10:20, “…what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God.”

⁹ But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn [turn is in present tense, meaning in the act of turning] again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Here we are now looking at the Galatian believers (saved).

Knowing God is not your great accomplishment, but the Lord’s doing. Our knowing God is conditioned upon His prior knowledge of us. Paul makes sort of a correction to his first few words, and to make sure there is no misunderstanding, he makes it clear  “rather are known by God.”  God has taken the initiative in grace to incorporate them into His family. We should be excited, not just that we have come to know God, but that God knows us!!! (also see 1 John 4:10)

Then, they go backwards to the weak and beggarly elements and become slaves again!!!

They were giving up the power of the Gospel for the weakness of law.

How were they doing this?  

By putting themselves under the law. Then, it goes into specifics in verse 10:

¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years.   See Rom. 14:5-8

"One of the tragedies of legalism is that it gives the appearance of spiritual maturity when, in reality, it leads the believer back into a 'second childhood' of Christian experience." (Wiersbe)

We are not to legislate religious observances for each other.   This is the way of legalism!

No doubt the Judaizers were trying to convince the Galatians that their salvation was not complete unless they honored Jewish holy days.  WRONG!  WRONG!  WRONG!  If you think you are saving your soul or growing in God’s grace by religious observances, then you are guilty of legalism!

Legalism caters to the flesh, leads to pride (look at what I’M DOING) and really makes an outward observance replace the work that the Lord wants done in our hearts.

¹¹ I am afraid for you, lest I have labored [literally "to labor to the point of exhaustion"] for you in vain.

What we proclaim from our heart of the Lord, even if people don’t listen, is never wasted in His eyes. But how often are we afraid for the person falling backwards?  In the human sense it would be in vain (wasted time). 

Were these converts under Paul's ministry in Christ going to go from having faith in Christ for salvation to putting themselves under the law and legalism in their walk with God? To do so would be a step backwards.

   

Closing Illustration – The religious John Wesley, becomes the Christian John Wesley!  

     John Wesley was an honor graduate of Oxford University, an ordained clergyman in the Church of England and orthodox in theology. He was active in practical good works, regularly visiting the inmates of prisons and workhouses in London and helping distribute food and clothing to slum children and orphans. He studied the Bible diligently and attended numerous Sunday services, as well as various other services during the week. He generously gave offerings to the church and alms to the poor. He prayed and fasted and lived an exemplary moral life. He even spent several years as a missionary to American Indians in what was then the  British colony of Georgia. Yet, upon returning to England, he confessed in his journal, “I who went to America to convert others was never myself converted to God.” Later reflecting on his preconversion condition, he said, “l had even then the faith of a servant, though not that of a son.” Wesley tirelessly did everything he could to live a life acceptable to God, yet he knew something vital was missing. It was not until he went “very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street” one evening that he discovered and claimed true Christian life. “I felt my heart strangely warmed,” he wrote. “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”  He was no longer just a servant. Now, he was a son!

  Closing thought:

Whatever leads one away from sole reliance on Christ,

whether based on good intentions (or not), is of disastrous results.

Enjoy this 10 minute video on

 Legalism and what Christianity is really about!

As we close, I encourage you to grow in the Grace and Liberty only found through Jesus Christ!


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“Paul shares his background...” Galatians 1:13-17

We ended last week with verse 12, I will cover verses 13-17 this week. I will try not to go over 1000 words per devotion, in the hope that they will be short enough for you to read and comment.

¹³ For you have heard of my former conduct [behavior, way of life] in Judaism, how I persecuted [and violently at that] the church of God [Gk. Ecclesia] beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

^{When Paul thought of Christians he did not think, “I wonder if Jesus is the Jewish Messiah?” No, rather he thought he was doing right by God by destroying the Christians (I Tim. 1:13) . He violently attacked the Christians and was himself responsible for many Christian deaths (Acts 9:1, 24:4-5, 26:9-11). He was even there when Stephen was martyred (See Acts 7:58,8:1 ).}

¹⁴ And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation,being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Studying under the well-respected Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), Saul (later called Paul) mastered the Torah and the entire Jewish law, taking his place as a Pharisee. Paul, like many today, was zealous in his religious Jewish ways.

^{To relate this to us, Paul was religious but not right with God. We have many religious people around us today who are bound by their man-made traditions, laws, and legalism, but they don’t personally know JESUS!!! This was Paul’s state.}

¹⁵ But when it pleased God, who separated me [set me apart] from my mother's womb [before I was born] and called me through [by] His grace,

The Bible comes back to this, we are for God’s pleasure “…when it pleased God…”

Then it goes on “…who separated me from my mother’s womb…” Paul was set apart – his life as a follower of God was predestined even before he was born (from my mother’s womb), and called Paul (as He does all of us) THROUGH HIS GRACE. Paul didn’t merit (work for) his salvation and neither do we!!! Note: For Paul’s conversion see Acts: 9:1-19

Side Note: This, among many other passages, gives us an understanding that life begins before we come out of the womb, and that abortion is killing a life. Paul was separated by God while in the womb. I believe when we are born (come out of our mother) we are really 9 months old. Life begins at CONCEPTION!

¹⁶ to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood [meaning no person],

^{What was God’s purpose for Paul? To reveal HIS SON, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in me (Paul).}

^{God has the same purpose for you and me. We were chosen by God to reveal His Son to a lost and dying world.}

^{Paul was chosen NOT for HONOR, but for SERVICE, NOT for EASE, but for BATTLES.}

^{So it is with us today, we are not chosen for HONOR, though so many seek it, but for SERVICE. Yes service!}

^{Also, we were not chosen for EASE. Our easy believism gospel of today is, “come to Jesus and He will take all your problems away and bless you with good things.” But in truth He has saved us to BATTLE. When is the last time you heard someone say, “come to Jesus and get ready for the battles!!!” Why not tell the whole truth to one coming to Christ! It won’t scare them off if the call has come from God to start with.}

^{To Whom was Paul called? To PREACH JESUS among the GENTILES. How ironic!}

^{Sometimes our calling includes a certain people group. It could be a country, a race, a certain group of people (homeless, prisons, drug addicts, the sick, shut-ins, etc.).}

^{Paul ends this verse by again reminding them that he did not get his message from any human (flesh and blood).}

¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

^{He didn’t go running off to the Apostles and ask them to get him grounded. God sent him off in the desert (Arabia). Paul had a lot of unlearning to do, and in his case the Lord did it. No one had claims on Paul but God.}

^{Note: God did a special work with Paul that resulted in 1/3 of the New Testament being written by him. We do well to heed his words as they are part of our Holy Canon of scriptures and are really written by the Holy Spirit through the instrument of a man called Paul.}

^{The Biblical manner by which God teaches us His will is by other mature believers, by studying the Bible ourselves, and by the Holy Spirit . ALL methods will be in line with the scriptures and never go contrary to scripture.}

^{Don’t be like the Judaizers trying to discredit Paul’s ministry (and failed miserably) or like some who almost deify him. He was a man just like you and me except chosen in a different way. But even with that in mind remember whatever the Lord has called you to do, it is the most wonderful path for you to follow no matter where it leads. May the Lord bless you all in your journey!}

^{Next week we will finish chapter 1, and spend March in Chapter 2. Don’t get in a hurry, but ask the Lord to make Galatians real to you.}

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"What Happened? The Devaluation of Human Life"

Today, we will look at the DECLINE OF VALUE put on a human life in our in SOCIETY.

I remember first studying the subject of "euthanasia (mercy-killing)." In my sophomore year of high school I was on the debate team against euthanasia. Basically, my views haven't changed, but what was mostly hypothetical at the time (1970's) is now a sad reality in our society.

As we look at our subject today, I would like to start with two scripture passages.

Genesis 9:6 - “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image."

This scripture is more than a prohibition on the taking of innocent life. Being created by God, we are stewards of our lives rather than owners. Created to be like God, our lives have an eternal purpose; set apart for, and owned by God. Since we are created in the image of God, our lives have intrinsic and immeasurable value. This is the source of the "sanctity of life" concept.
This (Gen. 9:6) is the recorded decree of God -- not because human life was cheap (the murderer's), but because human life (the victim's) was precious. This word from God bears witness to the value and sanctity of human life.

Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?g And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of MORE VALUE than many sparrows.

God values the sparrow, but He values you MUCH MORE. Human life is the most valued of all God’s creations!

I would like to share a recent e-mail from a friend of mine in Kentucky, he writes the following:

I thought some of you might find this interesting, I have Muscular Dystrophy, and I no longer qualify for physical therapy or water therapy because my illness is not "rehabilitatable.” Thanks to Obama's Health Care (Death Panel) Package...Since my disease progressively worsens, then they consider it throwing money away giving me therapy...Where will this lead to folks?

I don’t like to get into politics, and when I venture there, some wish I hadn’t – lol! But when I saw my friend post (above), it ticked me off how our government and society are becoming less and less concerned about people, and devaluing the worth of people by actually putting a price on when, what and why people should be helped or not. My friend’s case is not a rare occasion, but becoming the regular mind set.

Richard Land puts it so well:
"Denying life-saving health care to the elderly just because they're old, just because it's not cost-effective, is no less barbaric than leaving your elderly to die of exposure on an ice floe or out in the jungle. The only difference is the sophistication with which the elderly are dispatched. It's still barbarism and must be called as such..."

Also, our government has decided to move up the age for women getting breast exams, stating: “Potential harm of frequent mammograms outweighs benefit, task force says” [ I say it’s a bunch of hogwash!!) Later in the article, Daniel B. Kopans (radiology professor at Harvard Medical School) calls it like it is…"Tens of thousands of lives are being saved by mammography screening, and these idiots want to do away with it," "It's crazy -- unethical, really."

For full article see:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111602822.html

This is just the beginning of things to come. Now that the government is involved in health care, expect older people to be at risk of not getting treatment, more breast cancer, and also likely more abortions, and evaluating the treatment of others based not on saving their lives, but asking the question: Is this person worth the treatment???

Life is being treated more cheaply every day. Why? I will tell you why. One source on the internet put it this way (couldn’t say it better myself):

“What is a human being? There are two very different answers that you might hear to this question. The Bible says we are creatures that God made especially in His image. Jesus says that we are of much more value than the birds of the air. That is one answer.

There is a second answer to this question.
This answer says that a human being is a rather complex animal who descended from the monkeys (the brain-washing of otherwise intelligent people) that we are a chance mixture of the right molecules and chemicals that ages ago emerged from the primordial slime and climbed into the trees and viola! - here we are!

It is no coincidence that our attitude toward life has cheapened to the extent that we have rejected or ignored the fact of God. As we in the post-Christian West abandon our Judeo-Christian heritage, life is becoming cheap once again. In the last few decades the secular humanists have done everything possible to remove any thought or consideration of God from the public sphere. Schools are pressured to not even mention the subject of God or to even sing religious songs anymore. Children are systematically taught from k-12 that a human being is really nothing more than a glorified monkey (the brain-washing of otherwise intelligent people). As we are taught and as we believe that we are nothing more than an animal, it should be no surprise to anyone that we will treat each other more and more like animals and get away with it.

This is one reason it is for our good to believe in and to honor God. It is just as the Bible teaches. "The FOOL has said in his heart, 'There is no God.” [Psa. 14:1] When we devalue God, we devalue human life. When we honor God, we give value to human life.” - Unknown Author

That’s my brief thought on it! You who are thrilled with our new government “Health Care,” it isn’t what you think it is, and I hate to say down the road “I told you this government health care is a HUGE mistake”, so I’m saying it here in advance…I TOLD YOU SO!

It’s time like never before to pray for America and Christianity as they once went together, but now they are worlds apart.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we praise you for your amazing grace, help us see the VALUE of HUMAN LIFE is possible in YOU, not in our strength. Lord may your Word in today’s devotion speak to hearts, and bring not condemnation, but conviction, followed by repentance, followed by change to all who read this today. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

In His Service,
Pastor Jim Mazzulla (jim@biblefood.org)

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