| Teacher: Rusty Kennedy Series: Galatians |
Rusty's Notes
- Grace – Visit on Saturday
- Question about donut
- Dad – Why chocolate?
Galatians 4:1-20
1 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world.
- In this section of the text, Paul draws a contrast between sons and slaves.
- In doing so, he aims to help the Galatians understand that reliance on the law is a sign not of maturity, but of immaturity.
- In contrast to the law, faith in Christ produces children who become heirs of God’s promises.[1]
- One of the tragedies of legalism is that it gives the appearance of spiritual maturity when, in reality, it leads the believer back into a “second childhood” of Christian experience.[2]
- Their motives may be right, but their methods are wrong.
- Their old nature felt an attraction for the Law because the Law enabled them to do things and measure external results.
- As they measured themselves and their achievements, they felt a sense of accomplishment, and, no doubt, a little bit of pride.
- They thought they were going forward when actually they were regressing.[3]
- Last Sunday I flew a plane. “I was flying pretty aimlessly because I thought I was heading in the right direction. That’s the bad news. But the good news is that we are making very good time.”
4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
- Jesus was born incarnate… as a Jew… under the Law.
- Brandon asked why we didn’t go to the Gospels after the OT. Maybe we need to revisit.
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.
- Intimately
- I John 2:12-13 - 12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins have been forgiven
because of Jesus’ name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the One who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have had victory over the evil one.[4]
- An intimacy with the Creator. The One who started it all. The One who is from the very beginning.
- It is unfortunate that many translations of the New Testament do not make a distinction between children of God and sons of God.
- We are the children of God by faith in Christ, born into God’s family.
- But every child of God is automatically placed into the family as a son, and as a son he has all the legal rights and privileges of a son.[5]
8 But in the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. 9 But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
- This is the whole chocolate donut issue right here.
- You, in the past, were enslaved to chocolate donuts.
- Why do we even have chocolate donuts?
- The Law could never give a person God’s nature within.
- All it could do was reveal to the person his desperate need for God’s nature.
- So, when the believer goes back into Law, he is denying the very divine nature within, and he is giving the flesh opportunity to go to work.[6]
10 You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
- Celebrating one day out of the year, when it is an everyday journey!
- You fight for the term “Merry Christmas”.
- There is a better way to communicate Jesus.
- Paul was no felt board character wearing pastel colors with a nicely trimmed beard and pale skin.
- That dude had something atrociously wrong with him.
15 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. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.
- Create divisiveness.
- One of Satan’s greatest plans of attack.
- Grace understands isolation. She wants to be baptized and wants “everyone” there.
18 Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.[7]
- Paul’s tone of voice changes in the letter from a harsh warning to a caring parent, in the form of a mother!
- They had not lost the experience of salvation—they were still Christians;
- But they were losing the enjoyment of their salvation and finding satisfaction in their works instead.
- Sad to say, they did not realize their losses.[8]
- Have you ever been at a loss of words for someone because they are not in a place to hear your words?
- The person is so consumed by their own situation, whether it be love, pride or selfishness… they can’t hear you?
- Or worst yet… they refuse to listen.
- Paul loves the Galatians and wants nothing but the best for them.
[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 4:1–7). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Jn 2:12–13). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 706). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 4). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 708). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
- Question about donut
- Dad – Why chocolate?
Galatians 4:1-20
1 Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2 Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world.
- In this section of the text, Paul draws a contrast between sons and slaves.
- In doing so, he aims to help the Galatians understand that reliance on the law is a sign not of maturity, but of immaturity.
- In contrast to the law, faith in Christ produces children who become heirs of God’s promises.[1]
- One of the tragedies of legalism is that it gives the appearance of spiritual maturity when, in reality, it leads the believer back into a “second childhood” of Christian experience.[2]
- Their motives may be right, but their methods are wrong.
- Their old nature felt an attraction for the Law because the Law enabled them to do things and measure external results.
- As they measured themselves and their achievements, they felt a sense of accomplishment, and, no doubt, a little bit of pride.
- They thought they were going forward when actually they were regressing.[3]
- Last Sunday I flew a plane. “I was flying pretty aimlessly because I thought I was heading in the right direction. That’s the bad news. But the good news is that we are making very good time.”
4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
- Jesus was born incarnate… as a Jew… under the Law.
- Brandon asked why we didn’t go to the Gospels after the OT. Maybe we need to revisit.
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.
- Intimately
- I John 2:12-13 - 12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins have been forgiven
because of Jesus’ name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you have come to know
the One who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have had victory over the evil one.[4]
- An intimacy with the Creator. The One who started it all. The One who is from the very beginning.
- It is unfortunate that many translations of the New Testament do not make a distinction between children of God and sons of God.
- We are the children of God by faith in Christ, born into God’s family.
- But every child of God is automatically placed into the family as a son, and as a son he has all the legal rights and privileges of a son.[5]
8 But in the past, when you didn’t know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. 9 But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?
- This is the whole chocolate donut issue right here.
- You, in the past, were enslaved to chocolate donuts.
- Why do we even have chocolate donuts?
- The Law could never give a person God’s nature within.
- All it could do was reveal to the person his desperate need for God’s nature.
- So, when the believer goes back into Law, he is denying the very divine nature within, and he is giving the flesh opportunity to go to work.[6]
10 You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
- Celebrating one day out of the year, when it is an everyday journey!
- You fight for the term “Merry Christmas”.
- There is a better way to communicate Jesus.
- Jesus is the reason for the season… come on…
- Paul was no felt board character wearing pastel colors with a nicely trimmed beard and pale skin.
- That dude had something atrociously wrong with him.
- Malaria, epilepsy, eye issue.
- You don’t mention something terrible about yourself if it is just a slight issue. But when it is absolutely noticeable, you talk about it too!
15 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. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.
- Create divisiveness.
- One of Satan’s greatest plans of attack.
- Grace understands isolation. She wants to be baptized and wants “everyone” there.
18 Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you. 19 My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. 20 I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don’t know what to do about you.[7]
- Paul’s tone of voice changes in the letter from a harsh warning to a caring parent, in the form of a mother!
- They had not lost the experience of salvation—they were still Christians;
- But they were losing the enjoyment of their salvation and finding satisfaction in their works instead.
- Sad to say, they did not realize their losses.[8]
- Have you ever been at a loss of words for someone because they are not in a place to hear your words?
- The person is so consumed by their own situation, whether it be love, pride or selfishness… they can’t hear you?
- Or worst yet… they refuse to listen.
- Paul loves the Galatians and wants nothing but the best for them.
[1] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ga 4:1–7). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Jn 2:12–13). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 706). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 4). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 708). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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