Paul's Letter
to the Galatians - Part 3
Justification By Faith Explained
Galatians 3:1 – 4:31
by Paul George
In the fourth chapter of the letter to the
Galatians verses 1-11 Paul compares the pre-gospel age to a child under age and
the church to an adult. A child under age is under tutors who educate and
instruct in those things that he knows little of the meaning of, though
afterwards they are likely to be of great use to him. However, when grown up to
maturity becomes of great use. Under the law, the people were under a great
number of burdensome rites and observances and kept in a state of subjection,
like a child under tutors and governors. They were like a servant who is
obligated to do whatever his master commands him to do. The Judaizers were
attempting to put the Galatians into this state of servitude.
In the pre-gospel state, the people “were held in bondage under the elemental
things of the world. But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman, born under the Law” (Galatians 4:3-4). He who was truly God
for our sakes became man; and He who was Lord of all consented to come into a
state of subjection and to take upon Him the form of a servant to redeem those
that were under the Law.
When Jesus came into the world He came to do something greater than merely
deliver us from the bondage of the ceremonial law. He came in our nature, and
consented to suffer and die for us, that He might redeem us from the wrath of
God, and from the curse of the moral law so that we receive the adoption of
sons. As sons and not servants, we have greater freedoms, and privileges, than
when we were under tutors and governors. Because we are sons, “God has sent
forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians
4:6). This is the fullest expression of God’s love and mercy in sending His Son
into the world to redeem and save us, the love of the Son of God in suffering so
much, for us and sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts.
Paul reminds the Galatians what they were before their conversion to the faith
of Christ, and what a blessed change their conversion had made upon them. He
reminds them of their past state and behavior, and what they were before he
preached the gospel to them. They did not know God; they were grossly ignorant
of the true God, and the way he to worship Him. Before they heard the gospel
they were worst of slaveries, they served gods who were not gods. They were
involved in superstitious and idolatrous services to those who, though they were
accounted gods, were yet really no gods, but mere creatures, and perhaps of
their own making, and therefore were unable to hear and help them.
Those who are ignorant of the true God cannot but be inclined to worship false
gods. Those who forsook the God who made the world, rather than be without gods,
worship what they have made out of stone and wood. Paul is showing the Galatians
and us worship is due to none but to Him who is truly God. Now that they have
received the knowledge of the true God and of His Son Jesus Christ and delivered
out of ignorance and the bondage they were under, why are they listening to the
Judaizers. They have turned from idols to the living God. Through Jesus Christ
they received the adoption of sons. Why are they placing themselves under
another form of bondage? Why are they turning to the weak, worthless, and
elemental things of the world? They were never under the Mosaic Law. Why come
under it? It is beyond reason and understanding why they are turning to another
form of bondage.
Here is the expression of every pastor who see those who have begun following
Jesus turn from the straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life to the
broad way that leads to destruction. Read carefully the words Paul wrote. Do you
hear the sorrow in his voice? Do you see the tears rolling down his cheeks as he
asks the question, “I fear I have labored in vain?” Reference Galatians 4:11).
I can understand what Paul was feeling. I have been there.
Paul moves to his fourth point in his argument Justification By Faith, The
Argument from Personal Testimony (Galatians 4:12-20).
Paul reminds the Galatians of the great affection they formerly had for him and
his ministry. He does not call them “foolish Galatians” but brethren, though he
knew their hearts were in a great measure alienated from him. He desires they
lay aside all resentments and that they would have the same state of mind
towards him that he did to them. He had no quarrel with them it was their
conduct. He expressed himself with warmth and concern. He assured them that it
was not any sense of personal injury or affront , as they might think he wrote
this letter. The writing proceeded wholly from a zeal for the truth and purity
of the gospel, and their welfare and happiness.
Paul teaches us that in reproving others we should take care to convince them
that our reproofs do not proceed from any resentment, but from a sincere regard
to the honor of God and their welfare. If we follow Paul’s instructions they
likely are to be most successful when they appear to be upset.
Paul reminds the Galatians of illness he was suffering when he came first among
them. He reminds them of their reaction, they did not despise nor reject him
because of his illness. They showed a great deal of respect to him. H was a
welcome messenger to them, even as though an angel of God or Jesus Christ
Himself had preached to them.
Paul reminds the Galatians there was a time when they expressed great joy and
satisfaction in the good news of the gospel, and were pouring their blessings
upon Paul. Those who have left their first love would do well to consider, where
are the blessings they once received and the pleasure they found in communion
with God, and in the company of His servants? What happened? Paul wants to know
is he now the Galatians enemy? Can they give him any reason why he is now their
enemy. Is it because he has told them the truth, endeavored to reveal and
confirm them in, the truth of the gospel? It is not uncommon for men to account
those their enemies who are really their best friends; who tell them the truth,
and deal freely and faithfully with them in matters relating to their eternal
salvation, as Paul did with these Christians. Ministers may sometimes create
enemies by the faithful discharge of their duty. We must not avoid or neglect
speaking the truth, for fear of offending others and drawing their displeasure
upon us. Jesus spoke the truth, He was nailed to a cross. Paul told the truth,
he was beheaded.
The Galatians experienced real joy and happiness when they believed and were
justified by faith. They are falling away from the truth Paul preached. They are
following the Judaizers. It is Paul’s desire they return away from the direction
they are headed.
Paul’s fifth point is The Argument From An Allegory (Galatians 4:21-31).
In these verses, Paul illustrates the difference between believers who rest in
Christ only and Judaizers who trusted in the law, by a comparison taken from the
story of Isaac and Ishmael. This he introduces in such a manner that will get
their attention, make an impression on their minds, and convince them they are
making a big mistake in falling away from the truth. He takes it for granted
that they did hear the law, for among the Jews it was read in their public
assemblies every Sabbath day. Since they were so very fond of being under the
law, Paul wanted them to know what is written in Genesis 16 and 21. His idea
was, if they knew what was written in the two chapters they might see how little
reason they had to trust in the law.
“For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by
the freewoman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and
the son by the freewoman through promise” (Galatians 4:22-23). One son was born
by the ordinary course of nature, the other by promise. According to nature,
there was no reason to expect that Sarah should have a son.
“This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants; one
proceeding from Mount Sinai, bearing children who are to be slaves; she is
Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present
Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is
above is free, she is our mother. For it is written, Rejoice, barren woman who
does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more
numerous are the children of the desolate than of the one who has a husband”
(Galatians 4:24-27). These things Paul said are an allegory, besides being
literal and historical. Hagar represents the Mosaic Law, slavery. Sarah
represent the promise given to Abraham. Mount Sinai represents Jerusalem in its
present state under slavery to Rome and the flesh and the Jews, who, continuing
in their infidelity and adhering to the law are still in bondage with their
children. Sarah and Isaac represents Abrahamic covenant. The Jerusalem above
was intended to prefigure Jerusalem that is above, or the state of Christians
under the new and better covenant, which is free from both the curse of the
moral and the bondage of the ceremonial law.
We Christians, who have accepted Christ, and rely upon him, and look for
justification and salvation by Him alone, we become the spiritual, though we are
not the natural, seed of Abraham, so we are entitled to the promised inheritance
and interested in the blessings of it. If the Galatians are tempted to fall away
from the gospel because of the Judaizers who demanding obedience of the
ceremonial law and will persecute those who would not submit. Paul tells them
what they should do. He quotes Genesis 21:10-12, “Cast out the bondservant and
her son. For the son of the bondservant shall not be an heir with the son of
free woman.” Though the Judaizers should persecute and hate them, yet the issue
would be that Judaism would sink, and wither, and perish; but true Christianity
should flourish and last forever.
The conclusion of the arguments of Paul, justification is by faith only and not
faith and works. Those who advocate justification by faith and works are walking
in darkness. Paul closes this part of his letter with the statement “we are not
children of the bondwoman, but of the free” (Galatians 4:31).
Paul's Letter to the Galatians -
Part 4
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