Galatians 4:1-20

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
Series: Galatians (Acts)

Rusty's Notes

Paul uses six different arguments to prove that God saves sinners through faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law.

1. He begins with the personal argument (Gal. 3:1–5) in which he asks the Galatians to recall their personal experience with Christ when they were saved.
2. Then he moves into the scriptural argument (Gal. 3:6–14), in which he quotes six Old Testament passages to prove his point.
3. In the logical argument (Gal. 3:15–29) he reasons with his readers on the basis of what a covenant is and how a covenant works.
4. He then presents the historical argument (Gal. 4:1–11), explaining the place of Law in the history of Israel.
5. At this point, Paul’s love for his converts comes to the surface. The result is a sentimental argument (Gal. 4:12–18) as the apostle appeals to them to remember his love and their happy relationship in days past.
6. But then Paul goes right back to his close reasoning, and concludes with the allegorical argument (Gal. 4:19–31), based on the life of Abraham and his relationships with Sarah and Hagar.

• Practical application of his doctrinal argument follows in the last two chapters.[1]

Galatians 4
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 trustees until the time set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements 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.[2]
 - 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.[3]
 - 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.[4]
 - Once 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,
 - God sent his Son not just from Galilee to Jerusalem, nor just from the manger to the cross, but all the way from heaven to earth.
 - The full implications of this text can hardly be grasped in human language.
 - In sending Jesus, God did not send a substitute or a surrogate. He came himself.[5]
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… He did things that resembled His mother.
 - as a Jew… under the Law.
6 And because you are sons, God 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 God has made you an heir.
- Intimately
 - I John 2:12-13 - I am writing to you, little children,
since your sins have been forgiven
on account of his 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 conquered the evil one.[6]

- 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.
 - When a sinner trusts Christ and is saved, as far as his condition is concerned, he is a “spiritual babe” who needs to grow (1 Peter 2:2–3);
 - but as far as his position is concerned, he is an adult son who can draw on the Father’s wealth and who can exercise all the wonderful privileges of sonship.
 -
The Child
The Son

-by regeneration
-by adoption

-entering the family
-enjoying the family

-under guardians
-the liberty of an adult

-cannot inherit
-an heir to the Father[7]

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?
 - 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.[8]

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…
 - Romans 14:5 - One person judges one day to be more important than another day. Someone else judges every day to be the same. Let each one be fully convinced in his own mind.[9]

1. At this point, Paul’s love for his converts comes to the surface. The result is a sentimental argument (Gal. 4:12–18) as the apostle appeals to them to remember his love and their happy relationship in days past.

12 I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; 13 you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. 14 You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
 - 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!
• There is definitely a following of teachers.
• It is not only because of what the student receives from the message, but also the experience with the teacher.
• The task of the spiritual leader is to get people to love and follow Christ, not to promote himself and his ministry.[10]
• Take what I teach and compare it to others, but only after you compare it to the Word of God.
• Not for the sake of making one better, but for the sake of being able to filter Truth.

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.

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.[11]
 - 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.[12]
 - 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] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 697). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] 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.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 705). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 302). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Jn 2:12–13). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 706). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 706). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Ro 14:5). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 708). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ga 4:1-20). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 708). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.