Sermons

ME, YOUR ENEMY?/GALATIANS 4:8-20

The Apostle Paul, in the section of Scripture, was defending himself to the people he loved and ministered to. Many of them had come to view Paul as their enemy because he spoke the truth to them. These he loved had abandoned what Paul taught them, and he had to warn them of the danger of abandoning God’s grace. This led Paul to say things like this: “I fear for you ...,” “I beg of you ...,” “I am again in labor ..,” and “I am perplexed about you.” Let’s listen in as Paul expresses his concern, and seek to apply what we learn. Paul begins by reminding the Galatians of ...

I) THEIR PAST–VV. 8-11

A) In verse 8, Paul reminds the Galatians that they were once slaves. They were slaves because they did not know (intimately know vs. knowing about cf. Romans 1:20 -21) the true God. They once were idolaters (worshiping anything other than the true God). Let’s remember Paul’s comment in verse 7. In verse 9a, Paul contrasts their prior condition as idolatrous slaves with their current condition ... intimately known by God. Paul highlights for the Galatians, and for us, how a person comes to be a “son,” and “an heir” of God. It is a work of God alone cf. John 14:6-10; 17:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6. Paul then asks them an important, and faith clarifying question in verse 9b: “How could you even think about going back to the ABC’s–the shadows of the Law, which is nothing less than a return to slavery? He questions their return to Old Testament observances in verse 10. All of this led Paul to rebuke them in verse 11: “I fear for you ...” He even questions the amount of time he spent with them: “perhaps I have labored over/for you in vain.” Paul was disappointed with them. It was a major blow to a man who loved them so deeply.

1) What should we learn from this? Know that your elders are concerned about you, as Paul was concerned about those he ministered to. Know that we are each in danger of going back to some sort of slavery, even though we have been saved by grace, which is God’s work alone. We must be diligent to care for one another, so much so, that if we see a brother or sister drifting away we must call out to them, and quickly. We turn our attention now to ...

II) WHAT’S AT STAKE–VV.12-20

A) In what follows, Paul begs and pleads with the Galatians. His plea is founded on his labors amongst them. He calls on them to remember what he did among them, and what they experienced as a result. He was seeking to reconnect with these he loved, as their love for him had grown cold because of the false teaching of the Judaizers. He begs them to become like him (v.12a). He meant to become free as he was free in Christ, no longer a slave to the Law as a means of salvation. He goes on to say that he had become like them (v.12b). This reminds us of Paul’s philosophy of ministry stated in 1 Corinthians 9:20 -22 and Acts 26:28-29. He goes on in verses 12c-14 to praise them for how they had loved him while with them. God had blessed them for their care of and love for Paul, but now they had lost the sense of these blessings (v.15). This led Paul to say, in verse 16 with great pain, Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth?

B) Next, Paul explains how it is that he came to be considered their enemy. The Judaizers, Paul’s constant enemy, and therefore enemies of the Gospel of Grace, were pursuing the Galatians. Paul says that their intentions were less than honorable (v.17). The Judaizers wanted much to be made of them, while Paul wanted only to make much of God’s saving grace in Jesus Christ (v.18). Paul’s concern was tied directly to their salvation–the hope of it, the assurance of it, and the reality of it. Much was at stake! He concludes this section by calling them his children, children he is going through the pains of childbirth again. Paul says, “I’m willing to endure the pain of spiritual childbirth, again and again, because of the fruit of such pain–“Christ ... formed in you.” What a love for the Galatians! Yet, he concludes by saying that he is perplexed about what’s going on. His message is to awaken them to their spiritual condition, and a call to find freedom in the grace of God found only in Christ.

1) What might these things have to say to us? If we feel a little disconnected from others for whatever reason, then it is good for us to remind ourselves of where we have been together. We need to remind one another of what we have seen God do in our midst (personally and corporately). As I’ve mentioned, we need to be aware of the danger of our love growing cold, and how easy it is to desire to hear what we want (to have itching ears), rather than what we need (the truth spoken in love). It’s a personal reminder to me of the need to seek to foster a deep love for each of you. A love that has as it’s motivation that Christ would be formed in you, a love that does not give up. We must also consider our own spiritual condition: Are we seeking to be saved by our works, by a combination of works and God’s grace, or by grace alone? Grace liberates, while works enslaves. Are you free today? Do you want to be? You can. In Christ!