Living in the Grace of God: An Appeal of Grace

March 29, 2015

Living in the Grace of God

An Appeal of Grace

Galatians 4:1-20

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

Paul has had a happy, fatherly, pleasant relationship with the Galatian church.

(Advance Slide #2)

• Yet there were false teachers that wanted lead them back into bondage.
• This has caused the happy relationship with Paul to come to an end.

(Advance Slide #3)

Paul wanted to restore them again so that they could be eternally effective in their ministry.

Today, there are many churches, synagogue, and mosque members devoted to rituals and rule-keeping.

• They may not realize it but they are living in bondage.

(Advance Slide #4)

• They need to hear the one thing that will set them free.
• The need to hear about the spiritual freedom that is possible only through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

(Advance Slide #5)

Text

“1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:1-7

(Advance Slide #6)

Among the blessings of the Christian experience is adoption (Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5).

• The New Testament word for adoption means “to place as an adult son.”
• It has to do with our standing in the family of God:

We are not little children but adult sons with all of the privileges of sonship.

We enter God’s family by regeneration, but we enjoy God’s family by adoption.

• The Christian does not have to wait to begin enjoying the spiritual riches he has in Christ.
• “If a son, then an heir of God through Christ” - Gal. 4:7.
• Now follows Paul’s discussion about adoption...he reminds his readers of three facts:

(Advance Slide #7)

1. What we were: children in bondage
2. What God did: redeemed us
3. What we are: sons and heirs

Lesson

The conclusion that Paul reaches by the end of vs. 7 is this:

• Those that have received the Spirit are now sons and heirs of God.
• Paul tells them that they are not acting like heirs.
• They appear to prefer slavery and legalism over freedom and grace.

Did they really want to reject the privilege of being a son of the Most High and return to life of rituals and burdens?

(Advance Slide #8)

Going Back - vs. 8-11

Prior to their acceptance of the One true God the Galatians lived in bondage to a multitude of gods.

• From Zeus to Athena.
• Even though Judaism is superior to Paganism it is still linked to bondage.

(Advance Slide #9)

They, as we are, were showing their “fickleness.”

• Having come to know and be known by God they are turning away.
• Why would they be attracted to a system that was so weak?

Vs. 10 suggests that they are observing days, months and seasons.

• Weekly sabbaths, new moons, festivals, and sabbatical/jubilee years!
• They followed these hoping to gain merit before God.

(Advance Slide #10)

Paul fears that all that he had done for the Galatians was in ‘vain.’

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Real Relationship - vs. 12-16

The tone of the letter seems to change.

• Paul encourages them to remember the relationship that they once use to have.

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• He tells them, “Become like me.”
• After my conversion I no longer lived under the law!
• Paul reminds them of their first meeting.
• When he first preached to them he was handicapped by an illness but was determined to preach.
• Despite the illness they received him as ‘an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.’
• How do we see people?

(Advance Slide #13)

They had received the grace of God and Paul with great joy.

• He wanted them to hold to the truth that he had and was teaching them.
• Yet, they had lost that joy!

Have we lost our joy that only comes from the grace of God?

• When we turn back to the old life of sin we feel:
• Guilty rather than loved.
• Hatred rather than humility.
• Worry about our performance rather than relationship.
• Focus on our shortcomings rather than what Christ did.

(Advance Slide #14)

“Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” - vs. 16

• They turned against the Lord and His grace...why were they now enemies?
• Paul’s arguments were rooted in the truth.
• Paul’s message had not changed just as the gospel had not changed.

(Advance Slide #15)

Real Religion - vs. 17-20

The false teacher tried to use threats and flattery.

• They wanted to alienate the Galatians from Paul’s teachings.
• They were zealous to win over the Galatians.

Paul again becomes tender and affectionate!

• He always had good motives when dealing with them.
• Yet their change hurts Paul as such that he calls it ‘labor pains.’
• We too should have the same intense care for those whom we ‘spiritually parent.’

(Advance Slide #16)

Paul longed for a real ‘transformation.’

• For the Christians in Galatia to be transformed into His image.
• This expression describes the Christian life as a kind of reincarnation of Christ in a believer’s life.
• This is in fact God’s ideal and purpose...for Christ to live His life in and then through each believer.

“I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.” - vs. 20

PRAYER

Conclusion

(Advance Slide #17)

Paul had a love for those converted in his ministry.

• He loved them and would not let them go even in their struggles, even when they thought him their enemy.
• This heart of a parent should also the heart of a Christian living in the grace of God.

We can learn from Paul:

(Advance Slide #18)

• When we have cause to rebuke his dear children, we do so with arms around them, so that once again Christ might be formed in them