The Gospel rescued the Galatians from slavery; they were slaves to false gods and the demands false worship placed upon them. The Jews were salves to a law that at least kept their attention on God even though it never allowed to them to approach God. The Galatians were ignorant of God and lived lives that proved it.
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? Galatians 4:9 (NIV)
Paul had just shown how slavery to Jewish customs did not free a person but imprisoned them. The basic principles of the world were a burden because they are based on a law that could not redeem. The law could not justify or bring life – it only magnified the need to die.
Now, the Galatians were returning to old ways and customs. They were returning to principles that enslaved them and could never measure up to the power of God. Lazy faith will either let someone be fooled by false teaching or send a person searching to reclaim their old sinful lifestyle.
Faith requires work – not to be saved by it but to express one’s salvation. God saves us freely by faith; however, we are required to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The Galatians were living as if they did not have a firm teaching from which to grow their faith in Christ.
Part of their problem was returning to the observation of “special days and months and seasons and years!” This is similar to how many people celebrate satanic concepts on Halloween or how Muslims observe the month long Ramadan or how the Greeks celebrated the fertility seasons. All this celebration (innocent or not) lead people towards paganistic forms of worship – these days became more important than worshipping God.
This is why the Catholic church (and now the whole church) compromised belief by “Christianizing” certain “holidays” so people could observe their sacred days and still fit God into the picture. That is a sad statement. Faith is not about fitting God into our schedules! Faith is about scheduling our life in and through God, but I digress.
Were Paul’s efforts wasted? Paul had adapted to the Galatians’ culture. He showed them how their lives would become free in Christ. Their cultures would stay intact and their burdens from sinful practices would truly be removed. They received Paul with open arms. In fact, they were zealous for Paul’s teaching and for faith – which shows they wanted freedom. The truth had set them free and now they were turning against Paul.
I wonder how much societal pressures were creeping into the church in Galatia. They had false teachers trying to impose Jewish customs while pagan worship leaders were telling them that they were betraying their heritage and country. Reminds me of how people in the United States will flock to embrace popular ideas just so they will not be labeled as “uncool” or out of harmony with the accepted norm. Race baiting, a means of calling someone racist if they do not conform, is still popular in politics.
All of this backbiting is the same as the sad playground tactics of school children who are jealous when the new kid gets attention. When will we ever learn to be patient and understanding instead of jealous or prideful?
These false teachers were jealous and overbearing. Their pressure was overwhelming the young church. Paul said being zealous (enthusiastic, eager, fervent, intense, passionate) is not a problem when used for good. The false prophets were zealous but with ill intent.
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! Galatians 4:19 (NIV)
Paul’s use of language in verses 19 and 20 is interesting. Paul said he was again in “childbirth.” Paul used language everyone could understand. Childbirth is painful and labor intensive. The mother has to work hard and concentrate. Paul had to work hard to see the church come back to the truth. Paul was pained by the loss of faith but knew his efforts were worth this pain.
As childbirth ends in a wonderful relief as the baby begins to breathe and to survive, so Paul’s efforts would once again bring excitement once the church was again breathing in the life given to it by Christ. Paul was perplexed which added to his desire to see great things done in Galatia.
- Does your life resemble the same fire you had when you were first saved? Why or why not?
- Why is faith so labor intensive?
- How do social pressures affect your faith?
- How can the church keep a zeal for God?
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