In Jesus Holy Name March 22, 2020
Text: Galatians Series Galatians 4: 15a Redeemer
“False Friends Causes the Loss of Joy”
May the grace and mercy or our risen Lord bring comfort to you in these days of “sheltering in”.
Have you ever tried to stop someone you loved from doing something really stupid? “like going out in public when they are supposed to “Shelter in”. Well that is the conversation from my sons encouraging me to “shelter in”. They don’t want me to be foolish. A few days “sheltering in” is OK but weeks… I will have to suppress my urge to venture out and not be foolish.
There may have been other times when you and I have tried to stop a friend from making a foolish choice, a dumb business move, or it might have been a relationship that was obviously bad for the person. Perhaps you saw a friend starting to be unfaithful in marriage or perhaps that person wanted a divorce for a trivial reason.
Whatever it was, you saw it and you tried to step in and help them see the light. You wanted to save them from making a terrible mistake. No matter how much you talked or pleaded or argued or yelled or reasoned with them, they just didn’t get it. I suppose all of us have been there.
Whenever we get in that situation, two things generally happen:
1) The friendship is strained
Passions rise on both sides
2) The conversation might go like this:
“Get out of my life.”
“I’m only trying to help you.”
“If you want to help me, leave me alone.”
“I’m your friend.”
“You’re no friend if you act like that.”
That’s precisely where Paul found himself with the Galatians. Paul had preached the Gospel there. They took care of him when he was ill. (read 4:13-16)
Paul is a parent in pain. He loved them as his spiritual children and they looked to him as their spiritual father. And now the Judaizers had entered the picture. These false friends had seduced the immature Galatians into adopting the practices of Judaism. Now they were on the verge of turning from the Lord. When Paul calls them to account, they get angry at him for butting in. “Who is Paul to tell us how to live? Why doesn’t he mind his own business? Leave us alone.”
.. What do you do when the people you love reject your advice? What do you do when they get angry when you try to talk to them? If you say nothing, things will get worse. But if you try to say something, things may get worse anyway.
In these situations we find ourselves saying things like: “Go ahead. Be a fool. Jump off that cliff. See if I care. I warned you. I hope you hit the bottom hard so it knocks some sense into your head.”
In chapter 3 Paul called them “Foolish Galatians”. They were leaving the freedom and joy found in the Gospel and returning to the practice of keeping the Jewish laws for their salvation. Trying to keep the law, the ten commandments, the extra Jewish laws…is impossible and it causes the loss of joy.
This was Paul’s lament in chapter 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel….” What is that different Gospel? The challenges came from Judaizes, Jewish Pharisees who demanded that Gentiles follow Jewish customs and rules… otherwise they could not be saved. They were adding to the gospel, grace alone.
Last week I noted that our human nature tells us that the good news of God’s grace is too good to be true. Our human nature, our cultural work ethic slips into our theology and we begin to think that we must do good deeds to earn God’s love and forgiveness. Our pride wants to take credit for our salvation.
In the Garden of Eden when Satan tempted Adam and Eve, His suggestion, His conversation went something like this:
“ Eve, the fruit on that special tree looks really good. Have you tried it?” Eve responds. “No of course not. God said that if we touch it and eat the fruit on that tree we will die.” It’s the story of “Snow White” all over again. Snow White had no idea that the Evil Witch had poisoned the apple.” But it was shiny. It was attractive. Satan responds: “Eve, You will not die…. God is holding out on you. You can’t trust God.”
Now that Eve has extended the conversation, Satan, like the great puppeteer contolling the strings on a puppet…pulls the one string that pushes Eve closer to the shiny, forbidden object. “human pride”. “Eve, you can not trust God, for God knows that when you eat of the fruit on that special tree your eyes will be opened, you will not die but you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” And Adam agreed!
Human pride. I can do this myself. I don’t need your advice. The Judaizers have told the Galatians that “grace alone” is not enough. The Judaizers have told the Galatians that the death of Jesus on the cross is not enough to totally erase all their broken commandments. Jesus is not sufficient.
Their conversation goes something like this: “Yes, God loves you very much. Yes, Paul is correct, Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave. But you still need to keep the Jewish laws in order to be “real” Christians.” Human pride will always try to take credit. Luther saw the same problem when Johann Tetzel came to town with his band and puppet show, singing: “When the coin in the coffer clinks the soul from purgatory flies free.”
The coins made Rome wealthy, and made the people poor. They gave the money because personal pride said they could not trust the words of Jesus to the thief on the cross. “At the moment of death…. “today you will be with me in paradise.” The Judaizes thought Paul’s gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone was inadequate. So they added their own Jewish requirements.
Paul’s frustration shows in v. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” “What has happened to your joy?” He knew them well and prayed for them by name. He rejoiced in every victory won and wept over their struggles. He loved them as his spiritual children and they looked to him as their spiritual father. And now the Judaizers had entered the picture. These false friends had seduced the immature Galatians into adopting the practices of Judaism.
The law says DO….. Grace says It Is Done
The Law says, continue to be holy…. Grace says, It is finished.
Christians can be fickle. Every pastor and every church leader learns this sooner
or later. Howard Hendricks likes to say, “If you work as a shepherd, you’re going
to get sheep dung on your boots.” There are always some who will not endure sound doctrine. They want their ears tickled or they want to feel good or they want to hear about the latest fad or they want health and wealth and prosperity gospel which is no gospel.
In his letter to the Christians in Ephesus Paul writes: Let us encourage each other to grow up and become mature in the faith…” then we will no longer be infants. Tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and the cunning and craftiness of men on their deceitful scheming…”
The Judaizers said, “Join us and forget about Paul. Be part of our group.” Paul responds with a stern warning: “They treat you like royalty now but soon they will enslave you!” He paints a picture of a classic dysfunctional relationship. The Judaizers pretend to be your friends but they want to control you. You will loose your joy.
Paul is trying to rescue the Galatians who don’t think they need to be rescued?
The Apostle Paul wrote: “For a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having “itching ears’ they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Even as the betrayal kiss of Judas hurt the Savior, the words and actions of these individuals pulling on the strings of human pride in the Galatian church were drawing people away from the hope and joy offered by Jesus.
Paul knew that the Judaizes were pushing doctrines which are no where to be found in the Bible. Like a lamb Jesus was sacrificed, but unlike a lamb who doesn’t know what is coming, Jesus knew exactly how His life would end. Jesus carried everyone of your broken commandments to the cross and left them there.
This is the good news that brings joy to the soul, peace in life. Don’t let anyone steal your joy.
Prayer
