April 22, 2014
OH, HOW QUICKLY THEY (AND I) FORGET!
Galatians 4:1–12
Richard Potts
Central Truth
God sent His Son to pay the price for our sins so that we might become heirs -- sons and daughters of the one, true King. Knowing this truth, how can we keep allowing ourselves to return to worshiping what the world tells us we should worship?
Key Verse | Galatians 4:9
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? (Galatians 4:9)
Galatians 4:1–12
Sons and Heirs
1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, 1 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7 though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles 2 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9 of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
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.
12 Brothers, 3 4:12 Or Brothers and sisters; also verses 28, 31 I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
Dive Deeper | Galatians 4:1–12
Paul is speaking to the church in Galatia, where some of the members were backsliding. They had heard the good news of the gospel -- that faith in Christ's redemptive work on the cross alone saves. They had matured spiritually. Yet, over time, they were deceived to believe that, in addition to grace by faith, they had to EARN their salvation through legalistic trust in rituals. Paul wonders whether he has wasted his time and whether the Galatians had returned to spiritual infancy.
Throughout my life, I had been exposed to the church and the Scriptures, but I never really gave them much thought. I believed that being a "good person" was what God must really want. I didn't think that things like greed, pride, pornography, etc. were that big of a deal. I never killed anyone. I didn't steal. I tried to be ethical. Even after placing my faith in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, I still lived with the same "good person" mentality. I didn't live like His sacrifice was enough for me and the fruit of that was obvious.
Three years ago, I started attending re:generation and a Bible study. After diving into the Word, I quickly realized that my concept of "good" behavior could never measure up to God's standard. Isaiah 64:6 says, [A]ll our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."
I still struggle with finding my significance in the things of the world like how many marathons I have completed, whether my sports team wins, how much money I have, etc. However, with an eternal perspective, all of these things are fleeting and meaningless. Being in the Word daily, serving and loving others, and sharing the gospel are what God calls us to do. So, daily, I seek to focus less on myself and more on pursuing a meaningful relationship with Christ. He promises that I am an heir to His glorious kingdom through His grace by my faith -- I am a NEW creation.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you trusted in Christ's redemptive work on the cross for your salvation? If not, seek out a believer you know or go to Watermark.org and select "Contact."
2. Is it hard for you to believe that salvation is a free gift and doesn't have to be earned? If so, why?
3. What things or character traits are important to you? How would your friends or loved ones answer this question about you? How does God values those things you listed?