Galatians
Chapter 4
Dennis Costella
Galatians 4:1-7
An Heir of God Through Christ
THE
believer in Jesus Christ is an heir of God and
will receive his appointed inheritance when Christ returns (3:29 cf.
Rom. 8:17). This heritage includes the blessings of reigning with
Christ in the millennial kingdom to come and of dwelling forever with
the Lord in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 20, 21).
In the earthly realm, when an heir is but a child,
he is treated no differently than a common household servant. Like the
bondsman, the young heir needs instruction and must obey the rules of
his father’s house (vv. 1,2). "Even so we" (v.3), prior to
salvation, were in bondage to the Law of God because It revealed our
inability to meet the Divine criteria for sonship in the household of
God. Man's sinful nature prevented him from fulfilling the Law's
demands. But at God's appointed time, He "sent forth His
Son" to provide mankind with the Redeemer who would not only
cancel man's guilt and penalty of sin under the Law but also provide
him an inheritance with all the privileges and promises of a son (vv.
4, 5). How vastly better it is, for both believing Jew and Gentile
alike, to be the sons of God than slaves under His Law.
All who become heirs of God by faith in Christ (Jn.
1:12) also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (v.6). The
"earnest of our inheritance" is the Spirit's seal upon the
believer guaranteeing that he will receive all that is promised in
Christ (see Eph. 1:13, 14). No longer under the curse of the Law, the
saint is now a son, "an heir of God through Christ" (v.7).
In this intimate relationship with his Lord, the child of God can cry
from the heart, "Abba, Father." What could possibly be more
glorious?
Galatians 4:8-11
Why Go Back?
THE
heart of the Galatian believers' problem
concerned the heretical notion that they could, in some way, enhance
their salvation by returning to a religious system of works through
their attempt to conform to the Law of Moses. As unbelievers, the
Galatians had served heathen gods (v.8), and even though they were now
believers in Christ, they were again turning to a false system of
works. The Judaizers had deceived the Galatians into believing that
they needed to keep the Law as a part of their salvation (v. 9).
However, Paul had previously proven beyond any doubt that keeping the
Law was no longer necessary. Any '"heir of God through
Christ" (v.7) is liberated from the Law and possesses a future
inheritance that has nothing in common with "the weak and
beggarly elements" of any form of "works salvation."
What is, and is not, required for salvation is the basic issue at
stake here.
False teachers taught that observing tenets of the
Law of Moses would in some way add grace to the believer's standing
before God (v.10). But Paul assured the Galatians that the Christian
is regenerated by faith alone in Jesus Christ, and thereby, becomes a
son of God (v.7). The believer's standing is perfect before the Father
because he stands in the imputed righteousness of Christ. No good work
or sacrament can "keep" a person saved or improve his
prospect of getting into Heaven. One who trusts his works for
salvation is not trusting Christ; thus, Paul feared whether such an
one had really been saved in the first place (v. 11). His evangelistic
efforts in Galatia were vain to those who trusted their works rather
than Christ's perfect work.
Galatians 4:12-16
Why the Change of Heart?
"BRETHREN, I beseech you, be as I am" (v.
12a). Paul pleaded with the Galatian believers to be like him by
standing fast "in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made [them]
free...[from] the yoke of bondage" (Gal. 5:1). Why did Paul plead
with them? He explained, "For I am as ye are" (v. 12b); in
other words, Paul desired God's best for them because they were his
brethren in Christ. He was not offended by the opposition he faced due
to the false teachers' adverse affect upon the Galatians' attitude
toward him. Truth was the issue, not vindication or hurt feelings.
Paul then reminded the believers of their gracious
reception when he had initially preached the Gospel unto them (vv.
13-14). Their appreciation of the apostle did not result from his
magnetic personality, his charismatic presence, his dynamic oration or
his culturally sensitive presentation. Moreover, Paul's physical
affliction (perhaps his poor eyesight or frailty—v. 14a cf. 2 Cor.
10:10) did not hinder his acceptance. The Galatians had lovingly
embraced the apostle because he faithfully served as an ambassador for
Christ (v. 14b cf. 2 Cor. 4:5-7; 5:20). The message of Truth was of
primary importance, and Paul did not get in the way of the Spirit's
work through him. The Galatians had previously been grateful for
Paul's ministry to them (v.15).
Why did their heart change at this point? It is
because false doctrine destroys spirituality. How tragic it is when
our brethren in Christ turn away from the Word to something
"new," for true fellowship is then broken. Speaking God's
Truth may cause offense and, sadly, might even lead one to be labeled
"an enemy" (v.16).
Galatians 4:17-20
Affected by False Teachers
THE
Judaizers were zealous in their efforts to
"affect" or to influence the Galatians into embracing the
false teaching that born-again believers should add a measure of
law-keeping to their new status as "Christians" (v.17). But
Paul warned them that any departure from the apostolic instruction
they had received from him was "not well." In fact, it was
detrimental to their walk with God, for they were cutting themselves
off from the correct teaching they so desperately needed as new
believers. The Judaizers' goal was to ostracize the Galatians from
Paul so they would in turn "affect," or follow, the
Judaizers instead. We must never allow anyone or anything to separate
us from sound doctrine! Certainly nothing is wrong with zealously
striving to do what is right, but the believer needs to be very
careful to distinguish what is, in fact, light according to the Word
(v.18). The religious world today is full of supposed authorities who
are eager to tell believers what they need to zealously pursue, but as
Paul explained to the Galatian believers, the Christian must follow
only that which the apostles and prophets taught in the inspired Word
of God.
The Galatians' acceptance of doctrinal error grieved
the apostle, for the very ones who had previously given testimony to
being new creatures in Christ were now wavering in the faith they had
once professed to believe. What Paul heard from a distance regarding
the church of Galatia caused him to stand "in doubt" (vv.
19, 20) of their very salvation. He longed for the day when he could
talk with them face to face and know what they truly believed. Paul's
love motivated his deep concern.
Galatians 4:21-27
Do You Realize What You Are Saying?
THOSE
who teach that the believer in the Church Age
is obligated to keep any aspect of the Law of Moses, which Moses
received on Mount Sinai (v.24), evidently do not realize the
implications of such a claim (v.21). Paul admonished the Galatians to
reject the false teachings of the Judaizers. Likewise, we today need
to warn believers of the serious error in the teachings of those who
promote "Sabbath-keeping" and Jewish dietary laws.
Attempting to justify by Scripture the selection of only certain
components of the old covenant under the Law and then trying to
incorporate them into the new covenant of grace based on Christ's shed
blood is not only impossible, but such an action invites God's
judgment (3:10; Jas. 2:10).
The remainder of this fourth chapter contrasts the
bondwoman's son, Ishmael, with the freewoman's son, Isaac. Paul showed
the incompatibility between the offspring of Hagar and Sarah and used
this example as an analogy of the impossibility of mixing law and
grace, of placing the Law's yoke of bondage upon those who have
already experienced the wonderful liberty possessed by believers in
Christ's perfect work. As Paul previously revealed throughout this
epistle, Christ met all the demands of the Law and is now the Mediator
of a new covenant based upon God's glorious promise. Like Galatians,
the book of Hebrews also presents the annulment of the former Mosaic
system of Law and the subsequent institution of the perfect
mediatorial ministry of Christ (Heb. 7-10). By God's grace, believers
are no longer under bondage to the Law, for Jesus marvelously
fulfilled It in their place (vv. 26,27).
Galatians 4:28-31
Children of Promise
ALL who have trusted Christ in this Age of Grace are
the "children of promise"- "not children of the
bondwoman, but of the free" (vv. 28, 31). Just as God promised
Abraham a son by Sarah, though it took a miracle to be fulfilled, even
so God also pledges to all who believe the Gospel message that He will
likewise make them "children of promise," the spiritual seed
of Abraham. Israel, Abraham's "natural" seed, rejected their
Messiah at His first advent, thus delaying the promised Millennial
Kingdom. And now, "whosoever will," both Jew and Gentile,
can join the family of God by believing on Christ (Jn. 1:11, 12; Rom.
3:29, 30).
Carefully read Galatians 4:21-31 again. The Lord
designates Sarah as "free" because He promised to her
alone that Christ would come through her physical descendants (Gen.
12:3; 17:19). Hagar, the bondwoman, depicts man's efforts to devise
another way other than God's way to accomplish salvation. As was
stated in the previous chapters, being an "heir of promise"
comes solely by faith in Christ apart from law-keeping or works. We
are Abraham's seed, spiritually speaking, because we have exercised
the same kind of faith Abraham did when he became rightly remmlated to
God through faith in the Lord's promises (Rum 4:16-25). Believers must
be aware that antagonism will always exist between a Gospel of
salvation by God's grace and any false gospel of salvation by works
(v.29). The believer's liberty under grace does not permit lawlessness
(Rom. 6:1, 2; 1 Cor. 9:21), but rather, it delivers Jew and Gentile
alike from bondage to the Mosaic Law (vv. 30, 31 cf. Rom 4:14-16).
continue with your study:
[ Up ] [ 1 Peter Chapter 5 ] [ Comforting Words - John ] [ Ephesians Chapter 4 ] [ Galatians Chapters 1 to 3 ] [ Galatians Chapter 4 ] [ Prayer ] [ Revelation Chapter 9 ] [ Revelation Chapter 8 ] [ The Names of God ] [ Truth ] [ Until He Returns ] [ Watching,Warning,Waiting ]
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