GALATIANS BIBLE STUDY GALATIANS 4 8 11 A

GALATIANS BIBLE STUDY

GALATIANS 4: 8 -11 (A CHOICE TO MAKE: WHAT’LL IT BE, A SLAVE OR A SON? ) � � � Review Question: “What’s the main topic of the book? ” The danger of “External religion” is that it appears Godly. Fisherman know the appetites of the fish. Satan knows the appetites of men. The teaching of 4: 8 -11 is preempted in 3: 3 -5: “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? ” This rebuke is what launched all that we’ve looked at in the past few weeks. The problem in the Galatian churches is a “Turning from grace. ” � The Judaizers were perverting the Gospel in many ways. � Legalism was endangering their liberty. � They had indeed “Received the Spirit, ” 3: 2. � 4: 6 says, “…because you are His sons…” This language is all over. Falling from grace (i. e. their sin in these things) does not necessarily mean losing salvation. It might expose a false faith, but Paul’s dealing with them as believers. It’s like he’s rebuking them because of their abuse of liberty in

VS. 8 � � “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ” How can Paul say, “Formerly [They] did not know God? ” “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse, ” Romans 1: 20. This is the difference between what’s called general and special revelation. By just the criteria of the affirmation of historic Biblical truth, I’d say there actually two valid religions on earth. What do you think they are? Seven areas of measure System Christian Catholic Muslim Satanist Mormon United Pentecost Justification Scriptur by faith e Trini ty alone Virgin birth & sinlessness Exclusivit y of Jesus The Resurrection Their God or god actually exists and they serve without delusion

VS. 8 CONTINUED � � � “…you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ” “…by nature…” There is only one God both by and of nature, but we can “Make gods” out of anything. Isaiah 44: 9, 14 -18. Idolatry is dumb. I was an idolater. In Corinth this problem was illustrated: “Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons, ” 1 Corinthians 10: 18 -21. Serving false religion actually always equals serving a demon or Satan himself. How many times have you heard someone say, “god, to me, is…”?

� � “But now that you know God—or rather are known by God— how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? ” They were “Turning back. ” It wasn’t new. Externals is what all men do when they 1) don’t know the Gospel, 2) are unsure of the Gospel, or 3) (kind of like 2) are wavering for a time in their growth in the Gospel. � � VS. 9 1) Anathema to false Gospels and its teachers. Galatians 1: 8 -9. 2) Growing into maturity means learning. Hebrews 5: 12 -14. Discernment gets stronger! Consider bank tellers. 3) We may all do this at one time. Hopefully this is the Galatians and Paul is holding out hope to them. He’s bearing with them. Vs. 19. In Galatians 4: 3 he uses one of the same words as here in Vs 9: πτωχός (ptōchos) means beggarly or weak or even worthless things. στοιχεῖον (stoicheion) means like elemental or basic rudiments. The idea is that these things were the substance of, and not the reality of Jesus is not

VS. 9 CONTINUED � � � “Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ” This is amazing! For the Galatians to now apply Jewish principles for salvation (circumcision, feasts, observances) could possibly equal a service rivaling that of serving a demon! Judaism, having rejected Jesus, is tantamount to Satanism. Paul observed many things as was his custom, but he understood the difference between justification and sanctification. Do we understand why we work for God? John 8: 31 -47. How Jesus relates falsity to fatherhood.

IT WAS MORE THAN JUST CIRCUMCISION VV 10 -11 “You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. ” � There are seven Pentateuchal feasts: Sabbath, New moon, Passover, Weeks, New year, The Day of atonement and Tabernacles. There also two postexilic feasts today: Hanukkah and Purim. Every feast was a festival, but not every festival was a feast. � Nothing external necessarily proves our salvation. � This is what men do. It is so easy to do. � Do you know what “Proves” our election? It is nothing but long term consistent growth. � The true fruit of the Holy Spirit that we’ll talk about later in Galatians will be evident more and more in our lives. �

US TODAY SO MANY PEOPLE TODAY IN CHURCH TODAY THINK HEAVEN IS “ATTAINABLE” BY EFFORT � � � We too can get caught up in a works mentality just like them. We must seek Him. The problem often needs to be addressed. Listen to Paul’s admonition/warning to the saints in Colossians 2: 16 -23: 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. We are disciples of Christ, not only Christ’s teaching! By becoming truly spiritual we turn from weak and beggarly things into the things that do truly mature. What’ll it be for you? Slavery or sonship? Learn of Christ!

Upcoming video May 13 th, 20 th & 27 th � � � Todd Friel video from Wretched Radio. Facilitated by Mr. Ricardo Jimenez. www. wretchedradio. com. � What the Reformers Would Say to Us Today. Bad News: Missiles are being launched at Christianity. Good News: Our Christian ancestors have already faced the same assaults. � YOU’LL SEE: The stake where Jan Hus was burned to death. The prison where William Tyndale translated the Bible. The courtroom where John Wycliffe was called “monstrously wicked. ” YOU’LL VISIT: The home of Martin and Katie Luther. The field where George Whitefield preached to 30, 000 people without a microphone. The outdoor pulpit of the Thundering Scot, John Knox. Along the way, you will be motivated to follow in the footsteps of spiritual giants. �

GALATIANS BIBLE STUDY See you next week. Invite a friend. 29 Apr 11