Living Free
Galatians 4:1-11
Intro.
* Illustrations are almost always a necessity when it comes to getting a point across
* Not only did Jesus frequently use illustrations but the Apostle Paul did as well.
* Sometimes a single illustration is worth a thousand words.
* Preachers sometimes struggle with communicating clearly the message of Scripture
(Joke – Penguin Breakdown) We preachers are sometimes like the …(A) truck driver had to deliver five hundred penguins to the state zoo. As he was driving his truck through the desert, the truck broke down.
After waiting by the side of the road for about three hours, he waved another truck down and offered the driver $500 to take the penguins to the state zoo for him.
The next day, the first truck driver arrived in town and saw the second truck driver crossing the road with 500 penguins walking in single file behind him.
The first truck driver jumped out of his truck and said, "What’s going on? I gave you $500 to take these penguins to the zoo!"
The second truck driver replied, "I did take them to the zoo. And I had money left over, so now we’re going to see a movie."
********************************************************************************
Joke – Occasionally, I feel like the message just didn’t get across.
(I read about) A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly cold winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon forty years earlier. Now, because of their very hectic schedule, it was difficult to coordinate their travel plans. So the husband left Minneapolis and flew to Florida on Friday, and his wife was going to fly there the following day. The husband checked into the hotel, but unlike when they were there the first time forty years earlier, there was a computer in the room and he decided to send an email to his wife. As he typed out the address, however, he accidentally made a
one-letter mistake in the email address.
Meanwhile, in Houston, Texas, a Baptist pastor had just had a heart attack and died. His wife returned home from the funeral and decided to check her email, thinking that there might be messages from relatives and so on. After reading
the first message, she screamed and fainted dead away. The widow’s son rushed into the room and found his mother on the floor. He then saw the computer screen, and here is what it said:
"To my darling wife, I know that you are surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you’re allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I’ve just arrived and checked in. I see that everything’s been prepared for your
arrival tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing you then. I hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
"P.S. It sure is hot down here!"
**************************************************************************************
* I trust Paul’s message will be simple and easy to understand. I do pray for the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of our heart and let us see clearly this message from Paul to the Galatians.
* In this chapter Paul will show the great advantage we have now, under the gospel, above what they had under the law.
* He begins with the illustration of a child under the age of receiving an inheritance.
* Though by birthright he owned the whole estate, nevertheless he was kept in subservience like a slave in that he enjoyed no freedom and could make no decisions.
I. Our Past v. 1-3
* Children in bondage and in spiritual and intellectual darkness
A) Days of darkness v. 1
* Children have limited insight and knowledge.
* Living under the law was like living with limited knowledge
* The law was holy, just, and good, but it was incomplete.
* There were things the law could not do.
* The law was not God’s final revelation, it was a part of God’s progressive revelation of Himself.
* The primary purpose of the law was to show sin to be exceedingly sinful that we all would know we are guilty before God and to motivate us to pursue the grace of God.
Rom 7:7-13 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (8) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. (9) For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10) And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (11) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. (12) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (13) Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Henry - Thus sin by the commandment does appear sin (Rom_7:13); it appears in its own colors, appears to be what it is, and you cannot call it by a worse name than its own. Thus by the commandment it becomes exceedingly sinful; that is, it manifests itself to be so. We never see the desperate venom or malignity there is in sin, till we come to compare it with the law, and the spiritual nature of the law, and then we see it to be an evil and a bitter thing.
* There is greater light and greater liberty under the gospel than under the law.
B) days of bondage v. 1, 3
* v. 1 – servant (slave) picture of bondage, restriction, limitation
* v. 3 – bondage under elements
* "elements" – literally –"stoic"
- idea of basic principles, fundamental, rudimental, the ABC’s
* Letters are the elements of words and speech. You have to understand letters before you can comprehend words.
* The law is basic and fundamental in the sense that it declares us all to be sinners first. Before a person can be saved, he must first admit that he is lost.
* OT days were days of darkness and bondage compared to the days of the NT.
* Under the Old covenant the Jews were tied to an enormous number of burdensome rites and observances
* They were kept in a state of subjection, like a child under tutors and governors.
* Some who taught you couldn’t be saved unless you were circumcised after the manner of Moses and you keep the law. Peter said, -
Act 15:7-10 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. (8) And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (9) And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (10) Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
* Living under the law results in darkness (living with limited light) and bondage.
* The law was the child guardian that disciplined the Jews and prepared them for the coming of Christ.
II. God’s Provision v. 4-6
A. His heavenly descent v. 4
* "God sent…"
* It wasn’t that Jesus did not exist before this time.
* It wasn’t that God created a son for Himself.
* Jesus descended from above… He left the portals of glory.
* As a human father chose the time for his child to become an adult son, so the heavenly Father chose the time for the coming of Christ to make provision for people’s transition from bondage under Law to spiritual sonship
* His descent was not an accident, it was providentially planned for a specific time
B. His human delivery v. 4
* "made of a woman"
* God was capable of fashioning his Son a body from the dust of the earth, without the need for a conception and birth through the virgin Mary.
* The Holy Ghost overshadowed her and she conceived
* The miracle was not in the birth of Jesus, it was in the conception.
* His birth was much like any other birth, it was how He was conceived that made Him unique.
* Paul here is pointing out the humanity and the divinity of Jesus.
C. His planned purpose
1. To redeem us v. 5a
* To redeem us from the curse and bondage of the law.
* Redeem = "to buy up", "to pay a ransom"
* Here it is to buy our freedom from the curse of the law.
* The sacrifice of His son was the payment that God required for our sins.
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
* He paid our debt in full.
* He’s not making monthly installments.
* He didn’t pay the majority of it on Calvary; He paid it ALL.
* His purpose for coming into this world was to redeem us.
* Jesus was born under the law, lived under the law, and died under the penalty of the law which we broke.
2. To adopt us v. 5b, v. 7a
* In Roman society a person could purchase a slave to keep for himself or he could set him free.
* Jesus purchased us so that we could be set free.
* He didn’t purchase us to make us slaves, but sons!
* M. Henry - This is a privilege that exceeds all others; it is more to be a son than to be a saint; angels are saints, but not sons, they are servants;
* We have been placed into God’s family as adult sons.
* Our "condition" when we are first saved is that of a spiritual infant. (babes in Christ, …BUT our "position" is that of an adult child.
* Paul here says that this makes us eligible to an inheritance from God.
* God didn’t purchase us to put us in bondage, but to liberate us.
* To be a son of God is a greater privilege than being the son of the richest most powerful man on earth.
III. Our Present v. 6b-7
A. Indwelt by the Spirit v. 6
* Jesus promised his disciples when he left He would not leave them as orphans
* He promised he would send the Holy Spirit so they would not be alone.
* Rom. 8:9 "…if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
* When saved, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
* There is no son or daughter of God who lacks the Spirit.
* The problem for most Christians is not the lack of the Spirit’s presence but the quenching and the grieving of the Spirit.
* Paul here stresses the closeness and intimacy of our relationship… unlike that of any slave would enjoy with his master.
* The law never brought about that kind of relationship.
Gal 4:6 You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!"
* God wants not only to indwell us but He also wants us to abide in Him.
-- He wants us not only to be indwelt, but also to be filled with the Spirit.
B. Heirs of God v. 7b
* We are rich.
2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
* We enjoy the:
1) Riches of his grace Eph. 1:7; 2:7
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 2:6-7 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
2) Riches of his glory Phil. 4:19
Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
3) Riches of his wisdom Rom. 11:33
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
4) Riches of eternity I Peter 1:3-5
1Pe 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
* We do enjoy some of the riches of God now, in the here and now, but there are other riches we will not enjoy until we leave this world.
* We are entitled to a heavenly inheritance where moth and rust do not corrupt.
-- Where thieves don’t break through and steal
-- Where there is no sunshine for the Lamb of God is the light.
-- Where there is no pain or sorrow
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
* Paul concludes that they are no longer slaves, but sons and heirs.
IV. Galatian Problem v. 8-11
A Their past servitude v. 8
* Paul reminds them of their past servitude to those who weren’t really gods at all.
* While in their unregenerate state, they were in bondage to the gods of their own making or imaginations because there is only one TRUE God, that’s Jehovah.
* They may have been in bondage to the false gods Zeus and Hermes of Acts 14.
* Paul says, "Remember what it was like to live under the restrictions that your past religions placed upon you?"
-- "Remember the requirements that religion burdened you down with?"
Wikipedia - Jehovah Witness Visitation – "As their name implies, Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known for their intensive witnessing, or, proselytizing, efforts. Witnesses generally refer to their evangelizing activities by terms such as: "preaching," "disciple-making", "service," "the ministry," and, more formally, but less frequently, "evangelizing". All members (known as "publishers") who are healthy enough are strongly encouraged to go from door to door, participating in this activity to the extent that their circumstances allow, every week if at all possible. Even children are encouraged to participate, accompanied by their parents. A publisher who fails to participate for a month is known as an "irregular publisher"; publishers who have not compiled and turned in a field service report for six consecutive months are known as "inactive publishers". Witnesses who spend at least 840 hours of witnessing during a year (an average of 70 hours per month) are known as "regular pioneers". Witnesses who wish to spend 50 hours per month are known as "auxiliary pioneers" and can serve in this capacity either a month at a time or consecutively.
* I am not suggesting the Galatians were Jehovah’s Witnesses because that religion was not even around then, but they were a part of similar religions that burdened them down with works as a means to appease the god they worshipped.
B. Their present backsliding v. 9-10
* To go back to the law was to go back to slavery,…bondage.
* If a Christian lives a legalistic lifestyle, … if his focus becomes the law and his obedience to it,… and he takes his eyes off of Jesus… he is not going forward in his Christian life, he is going backwards.
1) It’s unreasonable
* Paul speaks with surprise that the Galatians would turn back.
-- "How turn ye… How could you?"
* It’s as though Paul is asking, "Are you crazy?"…"This doesn’t make sense"
* Why on earth would a former slave, after being freed, desire to go back into bondage?
* It’s not logical or reasonable that one would do such a thing.
* It’s not logical to leave the full and freeing light of the gospel for the limitations and bondage of the law.
* It’s like returning to the life of a slave, after one has been freed.
* Illus. - Why would a person who just graduated high school go back to the first grade and start to learn his ABC’s all over again? It’s not reasonable.
* Paul’s question – "Since Christ redeemed and set free those who were under the Law, why should Gentile converts now wish to be placed under it?"
* They were turning from grace to the law…from liberty to bondage.
2) It’s unprofitable
* You lose and there is nothing to gain by going back under the law.
* Judaizers were telling them that they could be better Christians by observing the law.
* The law can’t save us and the law can’t sanctify us.
* The law didn’t give us freedom, it brought bondage.
* The law didn’t give us the Spirit, it was by faith, not the deeds of the law - Gal. 3:2
* Why turn to weak and beggarly things that don’t have the power to cleanse the soul?
* The law was weak and incomplete…It could never do what Jesus did!
BKC - Under the influence of the Judaizers the Galatians had at least begun to observe the Mosaic calendar. They kept special days (weekly Sabbaths), and months (new moons), and seasons (seasonal festivals such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles), and years (sabbatical and jubilee years). They observed these special times, thinking that they would thereby gain additional merit before God. But Paul had already made it clear that works could not be added to faith as grounds for either justification or sanctification.
* Paul appeals to them to not return to a slavery similar to their former bondage in paganism.
C. Their possible failure v. 11
* Paul sees the Galatians as being in grave danger.
* He is not afraid "of" them but afraid "for" them.
* Their willingness to so easily turn from grace to law may be an indication that they have never truly trusted in the sacrificial death of Christ in the first place.
* … that their faith was more in themselves and their obedience to the law than it was in Jesus and his death and resurrection for them.
http://www.eaglesoartech.com/sermons/
