FREE TO GROW
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· 3 viewsWhen you know whose you are you can become what you are.
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WHEN YOU KNOW WHOSE YOU ARE YOU CAN BECOME WHAT YOU ARE.
WHEN YOU KNOW WHOSE YOU ARE YOU CAN BECOME WHAT YOU ARE.
WHEN YOU FORGET WHOSE YOU ARE YOU BECOME WHAT YOU WERE.
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed.
Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
“How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.
Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!”
SPIRITUAL IDENTITY REQUIRES CONSTANT REINFORCEMENT.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Know (ginosko) involves experiential knowledge, not merely the accumulation of known facts. Know (oida) to know by perception or intuition.
The idea is to know intimately, experientially and personally. Knowledge gained by experience, by an active relationship between the one who knows and the person or thing known.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
The Galatian believers had chosen rather than to walk in the fullness of the promises, rather than to enjoy the full adult privileges of being intimate with the Father, and walking daily with Him, they have chosen to go back to what their flesh has come up with.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
They have chosen what can give them nothing but despair, frustration. Paul has been there before himself and he says, why, why would you go back to a slavery that you have been set free from?...Let me ask you a question.
Are you living as a slave or are you living as a son?
If you are living as a son, the character of Jesus is being manifested in your life. He’s motivating your life. He’s moving your life. He’s presenting His presence in your life. If you are not, you’ve got something you have attached yourself to and chosen to become its slave. And it’s what is driving you. It’s what is framing your mindset.
Are you living as a slave or are you living as a son?
That’s what Paul is trying to get across to the Galatians. He’s not down on them, he’s frustrated. He’s trying to get them back to the place that God would have them to be.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Why would you go back to religion which requires performance, and performance is nothing that God accepts? The word for “weak” means it has no strength; it has no inherent power.
Have you ever tried to go back to some religious performance mentality and realized there’s nothing here?
You can have your quiet time till you fall over in the floor, but if you’re not there to meet God out of love for Him, it’s not going to do a thing in the world for you, but just suck some time out of your life. That’s all it’s going to do. It’s weak. It’s not in the doing. He said the doing isn’t the key. It’s the becoming.
Why have you committed yourself to going back to the very thing Jesus has freed you from?
Spiritual identity requires pastoral care.
I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,
and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.
Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?
They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
Those heretical teachers go to great lengths to flatter you, but their motives are rotten. They want to shut you out of the free world of God’s grace so that you will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important.
It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you,
my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!
The idea being that their essence would be Christ-like and speaks of inner not outward shape. In short it speaks of the formation of Christ-like character.
Spiritual identity requires personal commitment.
Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.
But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”
So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
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