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The Galatians’ Previous Reception of Paul and His Gospel. Presented by Bob DeWaay December 8, 2013. Galatians 4:12-15. He Commands Them to B e Like Himself. Galatians 4:12 (HCSB) I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me .
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The Galatians’ Previous Reception of Paul and His Gospel Presented by Bob DeWaay December 8, 2013 Galatians 4:12-15
He Commands Them to Be Like Himself Galatians 4:12(HCSB) I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me • The term “become” here is the first imperative in Galatians • “Become like” means “free from the Law” as does “became.” • Paul came with the gospel and they received him
Paul Preached the Gospel in Serious, Physical Weakness Galatians 4:13 (HCSB) you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. • “because of” can mean “on the occasion of” • What this “weakness” was is a matter of conjecture • Unlike the Corinthians who were offended by Paul’s weakness, they accepted him in that condition
They Previously Received Paul as from God Galatians 4:14 (HCSB) You did not despise or rejectme though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you receivedme as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. • They did not (Lit.) “spit out” Paul but rather welcomed him • Their welcome of him meant welcoming Jesus who sent him!
Their Love for Paul had been Extraordinary, but now was Compromised Galatians 4:15 (HCSB) What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me • Blessing is a key theme in Galatians, they are tempted to leave it • Something happened and they began listening to the teachers of works righteousness
Implications and Applications • The gospel is not diminished by human weakness • The law of Christ is to bear one another’s burdens; we must do so in the context of the gospel • When we welcome God’s messengers who bring the gospel, we welcome Christ
The gospel is not diminished by human weakness 1Corinthians 2:3-5 (HCSB) I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power
The Law of Christ and the Gospel Galatians 6:2 (HCSB) Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ • They had treated Paul this way before the false teachers infected them with legalism • This is gospel centered and not merely to support various civil charities • Christ is God’s law-giver, man is not
When we welcome God’s messengers who bring the gospel, we welcome Christ Luke 10:16 “The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
We Should not Welcome False Teachers 2Corinthians 11:4 (HCSB) For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!