Galatians 4:3-7, 11-20 ; 5:7-12 Page 991 in Pew Bibles

Galatians 4:3-7, 11-20; 5:7-12 Page 991 in Pew Bibles In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. GALATIANS

But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. GALATIANS

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. GALATIANS

Skipping down to verse 11… I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted. I beg you, brothers: become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; GALATIANS

you know that previously I preached the gospel to you in physical weakness, and though my physical condition was a trial for you, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. GALATIANS

What happened to this blessedness of yours? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? GALATIANS

They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you. GALATIANS

My children, again I am in the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you. I’d like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you. GALATIANS

Continuing in Chapter 5… You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who called you. A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. GALATIANS

In the Lord I have confidence in you that you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is who is troubling you will pay the penalty. GALATIANS

Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. GALATIANS

GALATIANS

How Are You Being Treated?Three Kinds of Relationships: • With the Lord • With a teacher of the truth (Paul) • With false teachers > GALATIANS

How God Treats Us GALATIANS

Sacrificing • Vs. 4-5 “But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son… to redeem those under the law…” . > GALATIANS

Adapting • Vs. 4-5 “…God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law…” . > GALATIANS

Adopting • Vs. 4-5 “…God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” . > GALATIANS

Assuring • Vs. 6 “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father!’” . > GALATIANS

Exalting • Vs. 7 “So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” . . > GALATIANS

How Godly TeachersRelate With Us GALATIANS

Adapting • Vs. 12 “I beg you, brothers: become like me, for I also became like you….” • Paul, the Jew, became like Gentiles – now let the Gentiles become like Paul . > GALATIANS

Receiving • Vs. 12-14 “…You have not wronged me; you know that previously I preached the gospel to you in physical weakness, and though my physical condition was a trial for you, you did not despise or reject me. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God…” . > GALATIANS

Truthful • Vs. 15-16 “What happened to this blessedness of yours?...” • When you move to legalism you lose the blessing and joy of the Lord ...> GALATIANS

Truthful • Vs. 15-16 “…For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” . > GALATIANS

Burdened • Vs. 20 “I’d like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.” . > GALATIANS

Laboring • Vs. 19 “My children, again I am in the pains of childbirth for you until Christ is formed in you.” . > GALATIANS

Christ-Honoring • Vs. 19 “My children, again I am in the pains of childbirthfor you until Christ is formed in you.” . . > GALATIANS

How False TeachersRelate With Us GALATIANS

Manipulating • Vs. 17 “They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.” . > GALATIANS

Self-Promoting • Vs. 17 “They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.” • Acts 20:29-30, NKJV “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.” . > GALATIANS

Inauthentic • 5:8 “This persuasion did not come from Him who called you.” . > GALATIANS

Spreading • 5:9 “A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough.” . > GALATIANS

Troubling • 5:10 “In the Lord I have confidence in you that you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is who is troubling you will pay the penalty.” • Trouble: to agitate, disturb … > GALATIANS

Troubling • 5:12 “…those who are disturbing you…” • Disturb: From a word, To drive out of home, to displace; to turn one’s life upside down, disturb . > GALATIANS

Self-Protecting • 5:11 “Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.” … > GALATIANS

Self-Protecting • 6:12 “Those who want to make a good showing in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.” . > GALATIANS

Glory Seeking • 6:13-14 “…they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” . . GALATIANS

GALATIANS

Contrasts • Slave woman • According to flesh • Slavery • Persecutor • Free woman • Through Promise • Freedom • Heir > GALATIANS

Adopted Vs. 4-5 “But when the completion of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” > GALATIANS

The Story • God had promised to make a great people from Abraham • Sarah had been unable to have children and was now 75 • So, to fix the problem, she told Abraham to use Hagar, her servant, as a surrogate mother • Sarah would then adopt the child as her own > GALATIANS

Hagar gets pregnant according to plan, but it started to backfire immediately – Hagar thinks she is one up over Sarah and shows contempt for Sarah • Sarah is so hurt she mistreats Hagar to the point she runs away, but God sends Hagar back, telling her to submit to Sarah > GALATIANS

William Hendriksen Heaven then is the church’s mother, for it is heaven that gave birth to her children. Though many of them are still on earth, is not Heaven their homeland…? Are their lives not governed from heaven in accordance with heavenly standards? Are not their names inscribed in heaven’s register? Is it not to heaven that their… … > GALATIANS

Galatians 4:3-7, 11-20 ; 5:7-12 Page 991 in Pew Bibles