Galatians 4:21-31

Galatians 4:21-5:6

“No amount of religion or legislation can give the dead sinner life. Only Christ can do that through the gospel.”

– Warren Wiersbe

The Ancestry Allegory: “Two Mothers” and “Two Sons”

Hagar  (Law-Based Salvation)

• Second Wife Origin: Unbelief
• Nature: Slave Ishmael = “God Listens”
• See: Matthew 5:45b
• Life Source: Ordinary/Natural/Physical
• See: Galatians 4:22-23
• Inclusion: Dismissed
• See: Genesis 21:10-12 
• Presiding Covenant: Mt. Sinai (v. 25)
• Home: First-Century Jerusalem
• See: Galatians 4:25
• Blessed then Banished
• See: Genesis 21:8-10
• Final Result: Contempt
• See Genesis 16:4

Sarah  (Grace-based Salvation)

• First Wife Origin: Promise
• Nature: Free Isaac = “He Laughs”
• Life Source: Miraculous/Supernatural/Spiritual
• See: Galatians 4:22-23
• Inclusion: Accepted and Ordained
• See: Galatians 4:31
• Presiding Covenant: Abraham Home: New Jerusalem
• See: Revelation 21:1-3
• Barren then Blessed
• See Galatians 4:27
• Final Result: Contentment
• See: Genesis 21:6

** Additional passages are given below **

Note: Galatians 4:29-30 answers many questions:

1. How are Jewish and Gentile believers related?

   1. v. 28 – We are all children of the Promise

   2. Unknown - “Just as Isaac’s birth was a miracle of God, so Christianity, offering people the

      opportunity to be born again, is a miracle of God (John 3:3).”

2. Why is there conflict in the Holy Land?

   1. v. 29 – Because of Ishmael’s violence.

   2. Genesis 16:12– “Ishmael will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against

      everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

3. Who does God favor?

a. v. 30 – To those who come to him through the promise, he gives the inheritance

Additional Passages from the Chart Above

Matthew 5:45b – “For God gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

Genesis 21:10-12 – So Sarah said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” 11 And the thing was very displeasing to Abraham on account of his son. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” (ESV)

Revelation 21:2 – “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”

Genesis 21:8-10 – “The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, ‘Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.’”

Genesis 16:4 – “So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.” (NLT)

Genesis 21:6 – “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’”

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 4:21-31

Galatians 4:8-20

“If you’re lost in the wilderness and travelling in circles,

it really doesn’t matter how much ground you cover each day!”

- Anonymous

I. Pastor Paul’s Vulnerability

Galatians 4:11 – “I fear for you...”

Galatians 4:8-9 – “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 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?

Paul’s Pastoral Question: Why do you want to go back to ignorance when you’ve had intimacy with God?

II. Pastor Paul’s Plea

Galatians 4:12 – “I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you.”

Galatians 4:15-16 – “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. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Point: The Truth that once set them free is now going to be their Judge.

III. Pastor Paul’s Release (vs. 17-20)

Galatians 4:19 – “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you...”

Galatians 4:17-18 – “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.”

** The Judaizers...

• They are up to no good

o v. 17a - “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good.”

• They are trying permanently drive a wedge between you and God.

o v. 17b – “What they want is to alienate you, so that you may be zealous for them.”

o “Alienate” = image of locking a dead bolt on the door.

** So his word of Release is:

Galatians 4:18- “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.”

Point: “If a thousand people believe in a stupid idea...it’s still a stupid idea.”

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 4:8-20

Galatians 3:27-4:6

Benefits of Being a Heir

Benefit 1 - Heir has a new Position: Child of God

Galatians 3:26 – “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Note: Paul is emphasizing the word “All”.

Benefit 2 – Heir has a new Privilege: Adulthood

Galatians 3:26-27 – “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

** Analogy for our Christian Application of Baptism: Roman rite of Toga

Point: Paul’s point is that Christian Baptism is the donning of adult faith.

Benefit 3 – Heirs have a new Purpose: Equality

Galatians 3:28-29 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

** Three Barriers that the Law (i.e.: Sin) Creates

1. The Ethnic Barrier – “There is neither Jew nor Greek...”
2. The Social Barrier – “...slave nor free...”
3. The Gender Barrier – “...male nor female...”

Rabbinic Prayer – “I thank you God that I am not a Gentile, slave or woman.”

Josephus Flavius (1st Century Jewish Historian who worked for the Romans) – “Woman is inferior to man in every way.”

Paul’s Point: Jesus overcomes our earthly barriers to fulfill God’s will in salvation: “...for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:29 - “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Comparing and Contrasting a Child and the Heir 

Note: The word Paul uses for “child” really means “baby” or “infant”.

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly – mere infants in Christ.

I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.” 

- 1 Corinthians 3:1-2

“What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.”

– Galatians 4:1-3

Child

• Restricted Rights and Privileges Under a Guardian
• Limited access to Riches of Inheritance Slave
• Intermediary to Father
• “Under the Law”

Heir

• Full Access to Privileges Self-regulated
• Full Access to Riches of Inheritance Free
• Direct Access to Father 
• “Under Grace”

Note 1 – God’s grace “redeems” the Heir.

Galatians 4:4-5 – “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

** Redemption by Jesus has two purposes:

1. To make us acceptable to God
2. To free us to live as adopted heirs.

Note 2 – God’s grace creates a new relationship for the Heir.

Galatians 4:6 – “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

John R. W. Stott - “We cannot come to Christ to be justified until we have first been to Moses to be condemned. But once we have gone to Moses, and acknowledged our sin, guilt and condemnation, we must not stay there. We must let Moses send us to Christ.”

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 3:26-4:7

Galatians 3:15-25

What is a Covenant?

Defining “Covenant”

• A Covenant is a declaration by the Sovereign regarding a unilateral promise to his people.

o A Covenant is NOT a Contract or a Treaty (negotiated between two “equal” parties.)

Quote: “The Covenants form the unifying thread of God’s saving action through Scripture.” - Unknown Source

The 6 Key Covenants God made with Israel 

1. The Adamic Covenant – Re: Sin – Curses and Provision  (See: Genesis 3:15-19).

2. The Noahic Covenant – Never flood the earth again (See: Genesis 3:15-19)

3. The Abrahamic Covenant – Salvation is for ALL peoples (See: Genesis 12:2-3)

4. The Mosaic Covenant – The Law  (See: Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

5. The Davidic Covenant – The Promise of a Messiah  (See: 2 Samuel 7:11b-13; Luke 1:22-23)

6. The New Covenant – Eternal forgiveness and life through Messiah (See: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:14-22)

Galatians 3:15-25

Law vs. Covenant (v. 15-18)

** Understanding the Relationship between the Law and Covenant is like comparing...

• works vs. grace

• obligation vs. promise

• “salary” vs. inheritance

• contract vs. gift

  Point: You cannot set aside the Covenants as they are not bound by Law. Only God can change the Covenant.

  
  

  The Purpose of the Law (v. 19-25)

  ** The Law...

  ...does NOT

  • set aside or negate the Covenant (v. 17)

  • contradict the Promise (v. 21a)

  • impart life (v. 21b)

    ...does

  • teach about sin (v. 19a, 22) – See: 1 Timothy 1:8-11

  • point to Jesus (v. 19 – the “promise referred”)

  • hold us “prisoners” until faith is revealed (v. 23) – See: Romans 6:15-23

  • ULTIMATELY: lead us to Christ (v. 24 – “lead us” = Gk: “pedagogue” = trainer of boys)

    – See: 2 Timothy 3:14-15

    Essential Teachings:

1. The Jews were not born again through the Law but were brought up by the Law.

2. The Law does not give life, but regulates it to teach us about righteousness until faith is activated.

3. Once faith is activated through grace, the Law becomes antiquated, moot... it cannot increase righteousness since it could never impart righteousness.

   
   
   

   
   

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 3:15-25

Galatians 3:1-14

Galatians 3:1-14 

Attention Grabber – “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?”

– Galatians 3:1

“Bewitching” (Gk: baskaino) – to beguile, enchant, mesmerize with evil intent 

** Bewitching Agents:

• News Media

• Social Media

• Celebrities

• Satan

• Our “Flesh”

The Result:  Foolishness = literally: not thinking

• = figuratively: stupid, intellectually lazy, unwilling to engage the mind

Practices for Staying Unbewitched in a Bewitching Culture

Practice 1 - Choose faithful sources.

Galatians 3:1b-2 – “Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what you heard?”

“Clearly Portrayed” = Placarded, publicly exhibited

Point: Trusting any other source before or contrary to the Bible is dangerous and unwise.

Practice 2 – Practice zero tolerance deviation.

Galatians 3:3 – “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

Point: The Salvation Process begins and ends with Grace, not works.

C. S. Lewis – “An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about ultimate foundations either of Theoretical or Practical Reason is idiocy. If a man’s mind is open on these things, let his mouth at least be shut.”

Practice 3 – Follow faithful examples.

Galatians 3:6-7 – “Consider Abraham: ‘He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.”

Note 1: Abraham preceded Moses (and, therefore, the Law) by 430 years! ...yet...Abraham was saved.

Note 2: Abraham was saved before he was circumcised.

Genesis 17:24 – “Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised.”

Galatians 3:8 – “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

Point: The best role models point us to grace.

Practice 4 – Remember Facts...reject opinion.

John R. W. Stott – “The law requires works of human achievement; the gospel requires faith in Christ’s achievement. The law makes demands and bids us obey; the gospel brings promises and bids us believe.”

** Here are the essential “facts” Paul wants noted:

v. 1b – Jesus crucified in the crux of our salvation

v. 9 – Faith activates God’s blessings.

vs. 10 – Law = Cursing; Faith = blessing

v. 11 – “The righteous will live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)

Helpful Questions to Discern Fact from Opinion:

1. To what degree do I find this new teaching present and illustrated in Scripture?

2. Does this new teaching emphasize faith instead of works for salvation?

3. Does the life of this new teacher consistently model, not only what he/she teaches, but

   what Christ taught?

The Bottom Line – “He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

- Galatians 3:14

Galatians 2:1-21

Conflict in the Church

Galatians 2:1-21

“To triumph fully, evil needs two victories, not one. The first victory happens when an evil deed is perpetrated; the second victory, when evil is returned.”

- Miroslav Volf (Croatian Theologian)

I. Conflict with Fake Christians – Galatians 2:1-5

Key Verse (2:5) – “We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.”

Principle: Do not give one inch to those who would destroy the church. ... “We did not give in to them for a moment...”

Application: Attack the policy not the person. ... “so that the truth of the Gospel...”

II. Conflict with the Majority – Galatians 2:6-10

Principle: Every faithful believer is equally important in God’s plan.

v. 8 – “For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.”

Application: Find common ground.

v. 10 – “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

III. Conflict with the Leader – Galatians 2:11-15

Principle: Leaders are accountable, too.

v. 11 – “When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.”

Application: Treat everyone equally.

v. 16b – “So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”

IV. Conflict with False Teachings – Galatians 2:17-21

Principle: Protect the integrity of the Gospel at all cost.

v. 18 – “If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker.”

Application: Maintain a no compromise approach.

v. 21 – “I do not set aside the grace of God...”

Conclusion: Finally...for whom do you live?

v. 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.

The Difference? – the Love and Sacrifice of Christ overwhelm me.

                    *********************************

A Quick Word about “Justification”

** Justification, simply put, means that God declares a sinner right with himself.

• It is an act of God whereby he declares a sinner right with him because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

• Justification does not excuse our sin, ignore our sin, or endorse our sin. Rather, our sin is fully punished, Christ having taken our penalty for us. He was our substitute (see: 1 Peter 3:18).

  o Because the wrath of God is satisfied in Christ (see: Isaiah 53:4–6), we are free from condemnation (see: Romans 8:1), and God remains both “fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus” (see: Romans 3:26, NLT).

• Justification is NOT a process...it gives an immediate change of status with God for the recipient

• Justification changes the status of the sinner (i.e.: from condemned and cursed to beloved and

  saved), not the content of the sinner’s heart.

• Justification comes apart from the Law and is realized through faith in Jesus Christ, alone (see:

  Romans 3:21-26)

• In justification, God “imputes” the right standing of Jesus Christ onto the sinner (see: 2 Corinthians 5:21)

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 2:1-21

Galatians 1:11-24

Paul’s Calling

Galatians 1:11-24

“Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is God.”

- Pastor Tim Keller

I. Paul’s Calling is to Preach the Gospel – Galatians 1:11-12

** Denial of 3 Possible Sources of the Gospel

 Comes not from “man” 

o Point: Paul didn’t invent this Gospel - Not according to “man”

o Point: Paul received this Gospel from Jesus himself - Not taught by “man”

o Point: The Gospel is not something humans are doing...it’s of God. 

 Point: Paul’s source is God himself...through revelation

Either on the road to Damascus – see Acts 26:12-18

Or during his time to Arabia – See Galatians 1:17-18

William Barclay – “God sends every individual into the world with a part to play in his purpose.

II. Paul’s Calling and his “Credentials” – Galatians 1:13-14

Oswald Chambers - “The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him. The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him.”

** Before Jesus, Paul confused his Calling with his Credentials.

• Paul’s Jewish credentials are impeccable (see also Acts 22:2-5; Philippians 3:3-6)

o Persecutor of the church - See Acts 22:4-5

o Climbing the ranks of the Pharisees more quickly than his peers – see: Acts 22:3 o “Zealous” = radical in fulfilling and enforcing the Law

Point: Paul’s had been a fanatic in defending the Law.

 III. Paul’s Calling began a New Obedience – Galatians (1:15-17)

Truth: A Calling from Jesus always begins with an Encounter with Jesus. Note: 

God knew his plan for Paul and set him apart “from birth”...

...this “pre-natal calling” confirms what the Psalmist says in Psalm 139:13-16 –

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

IV. Paul’s Calling Transforms his Reputation – Galatians 1:18-24

The Result (see: vs. 23-24): “They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me.”

Point: All of the evildoers could not change what God was doing.

Application: What can you learn about your calling?

** Martin Luther on a Christian’s Calling

“The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays – not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”

The Takeaways from Paul’s Calling:

1. The Significance of your life is discovered in God’s calling.

2. The Impact of your life is in fulfilling God’s calling.

3. The Key to your calling is revealed only by Jesus.

   
    

Faith Fellowship Boca · Galatians 1:11-24