Gospel Relapse
Notes
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Introduction
Introduction
Big Idea: Gospel friends confront gospel relapses
Something about being told what we want to hear vs. being told what we need to hear (Doctors?)
So I went in to see my doctor recently, and I was not a fan of some of the things that she told me: High blood pressure, High cholesterol, low vitamin D, too fat. I need to exercise more. I need to change my diet. Does your doctor tell you things you don’t like too?
You know what we need? Doctors who tell us good things. How much better would my experience have been if my doctor instead told me, Glen, your blood pressure is perfect. Your cholesterol is spot on. You have an abundance of vitamin D. Your body is the model male physique. You have no need to change whatsoever. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
That would be horrible. It may be nice to hear but there is only one small problem. It’s not the truth. We go to doctors NOT to hear what we want but to hear the truth. And doctors who don’t tell the truth will not be doctors for long.
More than needing the truth about our physical health, we need people who will speak truth into our lives about our spiritual health. We need people who will tell us hard things when we relapse in our belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our text today addresses this very fact. Paul is functioning as a spiritual doctor to the churches in Galatia. They have relapsed and he wants to get them back on track. Let’s take a look, starting in verse 8, and see just how they have relapsed in Paul’s absence.
Gospel Relapse
Gospel Relapse
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 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? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 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? You observe days and months and seasons and years! 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.
Galatians 4:8-
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
Prior to knowing God
Before knowing God the Galatians were enslaved by false gods
Now, by knowing God, Paul is not referring to some sort of intellectual knowledge about God. He is talking about knowing God in a personal relationship. It is possible to know things about God but not really know him.
Who were these false gods that enslaved the Galatians? The idols that they worshipped.
Even though they are not actually gods does not mean that there isn’t some sort of spiritual power behind them. In fact, speaks about these so called gods as demons.
The real power behind every other deity and system of belief imagined by humanity is demonic.
Rather than being benevolent, these false gods enslave people, keeping them from the truth.
Galatians 4:9
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?
That slavery was supposed to end once they met God through his Son Jesus.
And to avoid confusion, Paul clarifies who takes the initiative in beginning the relationship, lest we think we arrived at such knowledge of God on our own. If you are a Christian today, it is because God wanted to know you and make you his own.
Which is what makes the Galatians actions so perverse. God sought them out and freed them from their bondage to these false gods. Why on earth would they try to slip out from God’s embrace and put their shackles on again?
Quick time out. Last time I checked, the Galatians weren’t returning to worship pagan idols again. So how can they return once more to be slaves?
Paul is saying that the inherent power behind the belief that God accepts us based upon his law is demonic. Let that sink in.
Satan would love it if every person decided to try to please God by keeping his law. Because the more we try to approach God on our own merit, the further from Jesus we get.
Running from the arms of idols into the arms of Moses puts you in no less damning a position. You can ditch drugs, drinking, sexual immorality, and crime and still end up in hell.
Galatians 4:10-11
You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Paul lists the proof that these Christians are starting down the path of legalism: observing the law’s ritual days. They hadn’t yet started widespread circumcision it seems, but they had started keeping all of the religious festivals, thinking that somehow God would be more pleased with them based upon these rituals.
Paul is worried that his work among them has been pointless. They have relapsed in their adherence to the gospel message.
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,
Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
Paul asks that they become as he is: free from the law
Paul had abandoned all hope of God’s acceptance through his actions.
The whole reason Paul became like the Galatians and lived among them and served them was to get them to the same place he was: banking on Jesus alone.
Paul, enemy of the Galatians?
Paul, enemy of the Galatians?
gal 4.13
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?
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.
Galatians 4:12
Paul rehearses some history: he ended up in Galatia because of some physical problem he had.
Were not sure what it is. Might be something with his eyes, but we don’t know. Whatever the physical problem that Paul had, it was challenging to be around him.
Even so, the Galatians received Paul gladly. They were happy to bear with him in his physical weakness.
They received him as they would an angel or even Jesus himself. As we should. We should embrace those who bring the message of the gospel of Jesus to us.
Galatians 4:15-
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?
Now though, he feels that they have turned on him. They once were blessed, happy, with him.
This is especially hard for him, since he knew how devoted they once were to him. They would have disfigured themselves if it meant Paul could have been healed.
Why did they turn on him? He told them the truth. He told them what they did not want to hear.
How often do we turn on those who in love speak truth into our lives. Do we blame the doctor when he points out the physical problems? No. But we throw up walls and get defensive when someone else points out our spiritual problems.
But that is exactly what fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are called to do for each other. When we see one of us having a gospel relapse, living in a way that is inconsistent with the gospel that we have received, we tell them the truth. It’s not just that we need to listen to the doctor. We are called to be the doctor.
What would you do with an MRI technician who, upon discovering cancer in a patient, wouldn’t tell them because it was bad news?
Yet that is exactly what we are doing, dear Christians, when we silently watch other professed followers of Jesus run back into the arms of slavery.
What is it that motivates people who refuse to tell the truth?
Why do
Enemies tell you what you want to hear
Enemies tell you what you want to hear
They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
Gal 4.17-
Paul says that these false teachers make much of the Galatians. This means that they tell them what they want to hear.
Why? They want the Galatians to make much of them. They want their allegiance. They want to be looked up to and have all the influence. They are interested more in what others think of them than the well being of others.
When we refuse to tell others the truth and instead remain silent OR tell them what they want to hear we are motivated by the same interests as the false teacher.
Think about it. Why might you keep quiet when a brother or sister is doing things inconsistent with the gospel? You are worried he will think less of you. You are worried she will get mad at you. Right?
You are essentially saying that I am more concerned with my reputation with this person than I am about their eternal destiny and joy.
A person relapsing in the gospel may not actually know Jesus. Your silence will leave them unaware of their path to destruction.
Spurgeon said: “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay.”
A person relapsing in the gospel might truly be saved, but their joy is severely impaired because of their relapse. Your silence will rob them of finding greater happiness in Christ. You are essentially saying, “My happiness matters more than your happiness.”
Yes men and non-confrontationalists make for lousy friends.
Friends want Christ formed in you
Friends want Christ formed in you
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! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Galatians
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! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
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!
Paul appreciated the sort of encouragement he got from the Galatians which flowed from a good purpose: gospel ministry. He just wished that they would have continued in that love for Paul once he left!
Galatians 4:1
Paul wishes he could be there with them face to face. Maybe had he been present his tone wouldn’t have needed to be so severe. But he is at his wits end with these churches.
Paul appreciated the sort of encouragement he got from the Galatians which flowed from a good purpose: gospel ministry. He just wished that they would have continued in that love for Paul once he left!
What’s up with the comments about being present?
In the midst of Paul’s rebuking, his heart breaks through: his desire for the Galatians, his sweet Children in the faith, is that Christ would be formed in them. He likens this desire to the pain of childbirth. He wants the image of Christ shining out of the people of this church.
True friends in the gospel are most concerned about Christ being formed in you then your opinion of them.
The primary motivation in every follower of Jesus toward every other follower of Jesus is that of conforming them to the image of Jesus.
I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Paul wishes that he could be face to face as their friend, so that his tone could be changed. He just doesn’t know what to do with them.
Too many of our Christian friendships are not rooted in this motivation. We are content to merely share common interests and likes. We are not focused on forming Jesus in one another. Oh that we would have the same heart that Paul had toward these churches with our own friends, that we might speak the truth and build each other up into the image of Christ.
Communion
Communion
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took bread and gave it to his disciples saying, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup and gave it to them saying, “This is my blood of the covenant which is shed for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When we gather around the table to remember the gospel through partaking of these elements we are also remembering our responsibility to care for those around the table with us. They are your brothers and sisters who need you to speak truth into their lives when they relapse.
If you are a follower of Jesus, I want you to consider how God is calling you to respond to his word before you take communion. In your bulletin there are blue cards designed to help you in that response. They aren’t to turn in, but to keep for yourself as a reminder to you of what God is calling you to do.
God might be calling some of you to stop treating as enemies those who speak truth into your lives. Give fellow Christians permission to be your spiritual doctors.
God might be calling others to speak the truth into a particular person’s life? Who do you see relapsing from the gospel that God has put you in the position to address? Write down their name on that card and commit to seeing Jesus formed in them.
If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, I would ask that you refrain from taking communion tonight. This is a sacred meal only for those who have embraced Jesus as Lord and Savior.
I want to be a spiritual doctor to you right now. If you are not sure that you are a follower of Jesus, you are not in a good place. You are headed down a road that will lead to destruction.
Your only hope is to receive Jesus Christ by faith. If you would like to know how you can do that I will be hanging around after service to talk. Or you could speak with one of our leaders.
Alternatively, you could fill out one of the blue cards and check one of the boxes and drop that off in the baskets during the offering and someone will contact you this week.