PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE GALATIANS
TEXT:
Galatians 4:8-20
INTRODUCTION:
In these thirteen verses Paul expresses his concern for the Galatians.
That concern can be expressed in three ‘R’s.
They are REGRESSION, RELATIONSHIP, AND REASONS.
1. Paul was concerned about the Galatians REGRESSING back to the slavery of legalism.
2. Paul was concerned about the RELATIONSHIP between himself and the Galatian churches.
3. Paul was concerned about the REASONS why the Judaizers wanted the Galatians to follow their false doctrines.
I. REGRESSION (4:8-12)
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by
nature are not gods.
9 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 principles? Do you wish
to be enslaved by them all over again?
10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!
11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You
have done me no wrong.
A. “FORMERLY…YOU WERE SLAVES” TO FALSE GODS (v.8-9)
1. Before they were saved the Galatians had been slaves to false gods.
2. According to Acts 14, they had worshipped Zeus and Hermes.
3. But they had come to know the TRUE AND LIVING GOD.
4. They had been in slavery to false gods.
5. They had been set free by the TRUE AND LIVING GOD.
6. To go under the law was the same as returning to false Gods.
7. It was a return to “WEAK AND MISERABLE PRINCIPLES.”
8. JOHN NEWTON’S TESTIMONY – author of “Amazing Grace.”
Newton was an only child and lost his mother when he was seven.
At the age of eleven he went to sea as a sailor and became involved
in the inhuman African slave trade. Soon hardened by his evil
surroundings, he outdid his companions in immorality, vulgarity, and
blasphemy. But when he was twenty-three his ship was caught in a
severe storm, and when he began to fear for his life he cried out to
God for mercy and was marvelously saved. Not wanting ever to
forget the depths of sin from which he had been rescued by God’s
grace, Newton later inscribed the words of Deuteronomy 15:15
above his mantel: “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a
bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
9. Unlike Newton, the Galatians forgot what they were once like.
B. “YOU ARE OBSERVING SPECIAL DAYS…” (v.10)
1. Some use this verse to forbid celebrating birthdays and holidays.
2. That is not the intent of Paul’s message.
3. This verse does not forbid anyone from celebrating Christmas.
4. He is simply pointing out that SUCH THINGS DON’T SAVE.
5. They had been convinced to observe the MOSAIC CALENDAR.
6. They kept special days, and months, and seasons.
7. If you want to use this to forbid special days, then act the same all season long too.
8. Either keep your A/C going summer and winter or keep your heater going winter and summer.
9. If you want to take this literally, then go all the way with it and don’t observe any months or any seasons either!
C. “I FEAR…I HAVE WASTED MY EFFORTS…” (v.11)
1. Paul feared that he had wasted his efforts on the Galatians.
2. efforts = Gk. Kekopiaka - labored to the point of exhaustion
3. wasted = Gk. Eikeô - in vain or for nothing
4. These words show a strong distaste for legalistic religion.
5. If they put themselves under the O.T. laws, then Paul’s efforts were useless.
6. If they put themselves under the O.T. laws, then Paul’s preaching to them had been for nothing!
7. If so, then they might as well have never heard the true gospel.
D. “…BECOME LIKE ME…” (v.12)
1. Paul told the Galatians, “Be like me, because I became like you.”
2. What did Paul mean by this?
3. From the context we see he was referring to the Law.
4. He was saying, “Be free from the Law as I am.”
5. After salvation Paul was like a Gentile - free from the Law.
6. But, these Gentiles were doing just the opposite.
7. They had never known the law before salvation.
8. Now that they were saved, they were trying to be under the Law.
II. RELATIONSHIP (4:13-16)
13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel
to you.
14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with
contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of
God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself.
15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could
have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.
16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
A. AN ANGEL OR AN ENEMY?
1. When Paul first came to Galatia, they treated him like an angel.
2. Now, they treated him like an enemy.
3. Paul expressed his concern over the change in their relationship.
4. The gospel of legalism had become more attractive to some.
5. When they left the truth, the left the man who brought the truth.
6. The man who had been their pastor had become their enemy.
7. A lot of folks appreciate a pastor only as long as he says what they want to hear.
8. When he quits tickling their itching ears, he becomes their enemy.
9. These Galatians once admired Paul, but now they hated him.
10. Why did they hate him?
11. Why was he now considered to be their enemy?
12. Because he had told them the truth! (v.16)
13. ILLUSTRATION
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT BEING A PASTOR
When you are a young man, they say you lack experience.
When you have grey hair, they say you can’t reach the young people.
If you don’t have any children, they say you’re setting a bad example.
If you have four children, they say you have too many.
If you preach from notes, they say you preach canned sermons.
If you preach extemporaneously, they say you’re too shallow.
If you pay attention to the poor, they say you are grandstanding.
If you don’t pay attention to the poor, they say you’re an aristocrat.
If you use too many illustrations, they say you neglect the Bible.
If you don’t use enough, they don’t know what you’re talking about.
If you condemn sin, then you’re just a cranky old preacher.
If you don’t condemn sin, then you’re just a compromiser.
If you preach the truth, you will offend folks.
If you don’t preach the truth, then you know you’re a hypocrite.
If you don’t please everybody, then you’re hurting the church.
If you do please everybody, then you’re a man pleaser.
That’s why so many pastors are burned out, cynical, and unemployed.
14. ILLUSTRATION
A Thoughtful Layman
I feel sorry for the preacher
Who serves in a small town;
If he’s not a shining angel,
All the gossips run him down.
If he stays at home to study,
He should go to see the sick.
If he goes to a convention,
Why, he doesn’t work a lick.
If he visits ailing ladies,
He’s a gadabout and flirt;
If he dares to go a-fishing,
His good name’s forever dirt.
If he’s boosting for the young folks,
He’s too modern—he’s a clown;
He won’t preach old-fashioned sermons,
Fit for such as Grandpa Brown.
If he caters to the old folks,
All the young ones stay away;
And they never ask God’s blessings
On him when they kneel to pray.
An old unbelieving farmer
Might make fun of his white hands,
But those hands welcome weary sinners,
And then teach them God’s commands.
Yes, I sympathize with preachers,
For they’re human as can be,
And I know they can’t be perfect,
For they make mistakes like me.
(this illustration was borrowed)
B. “…AN ILLNESS…” (v.13-14)
1. When Paul first preached to them, he had an illness.
2. We don’t know what that illness was.
3. There has been a lot of speculation about it, but we don’t know.
4. Whatever it was, the Galatians accepted Paul inspite of it.
5. They had not treated him as a weak messenger.
6. They had received him as one would receive an angel or even Christ Jesus Himself.
7. HOWARD IRVING’S STORY
I once heard Dr. Howard Irving tell the story of a man who
felt called to go to an African tribe as a missionary. The man
studied their language and prepared for the journey. He had
to hire a guide to lead him through the jungle to where this tribe
was located. He had a convoy of men along with him to carry
all of the supplies which he was taking with him. Along the
way, he became very ill. He became so ill that he could not walk
after. He was distressed over this because he wanted to be at
his best when he entered the village. By the time the convoy
arrived at the village, this missionary was having to be carried on
a stretcher. The guides carried him into the village and left him
at the chief’s door. The missionary did not know that this tribe
had a custom which forbid strangers to enter their village. If he
had not been ill, he would have immediately been killed by the
chief. However, since he was ill he was allowed to live. After
he recovered, he was no longer a stranger, and he was able to
fulfill the mission which God had called him to with that tribe.
C. “WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ALL YOUR JOY?” (v.15)
1. That question will preach.
2. We could just close the book and preach on this for a few months.
3. Where did your joy go?
4. You used to be happy, but now you’re mad, bad, and sad.
5. So many Christians have the same problem.
6. They don’t pay attention to what’s going in their spiritual lives.
7. They let the devil sneak up and steal their joy.
8. The next thing you know, they are murmuring and complaining.
9. They had received Paul with Joy.
10. Now they were questioning his apostleship.
11. They had been bragging about how he started the churches there.
12. Now, they were listening to those wrongheaded Judaizers.
13. When they lost the truth, they lost their joy.
14. These Galatians were a fickle and unreliable bunch!
15. They were turning against:
a. the Lord
b. the gospel, and
c. the preacher who had brought them gospel
III. REASONS (4:17-20)
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they
want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so
always and not just when I am with you.
19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth
until Christ is formed in you,
20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because
I am perplexed about you!
A. PAUL –VS- THE LEGALISTS (v.17-18)
1. Paul’s motives for sharing the gospel with Galatia were pure.
2. On the other hand, the legalists had improper motives.
3. Paul spoke the truth (v. 16).
4. The legalists used flattery.
5. The legalists wanted a personal following.
6. Paul wanted a Jesus following.
7. In an interesting double use of the verb “be zealous” Paul
said that the Judaizers were zealous to win… over the
Galatians so that the latter would be zealous for the Judaizers!
8. It’s fine to be zealous as long as your motives are proper.
B. “MY DEAR CHILDREN…” (v.19)
1. Paul compared himself to a mother having birth pangs.
2. He had once been anxious for their salvation.
3. Now, he was anxious again for their deliverance from false teachers.
4. He longed for them to be transformed into the image of Christ.
5. formed = Gk. morphoô - morph into the image of
6. This expression describes the Christian life as a kind of morphing of Christ in a believer’s life.
7. This is God’s purpose for every Christian.
8. We are to allow Christ to live His life in us and through us.
9. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no
longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the
body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me”
C. “I WISH I COULD BE WITH YOU NOW…” (v.20)
1. Paul was afraid that their growth was being stunted.
2. He wanted to be with them.
3. He wanted to preach to them again.
4. He wanted to love them and convince them of God’s grace.
