Sermon Tone Analysis
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Text
Galatians 4:
Review
Grown Children
In the previously covered portion of chapter 4 we noticed that Paul was urging the Christians at Galatia to reconsider the direction they were headed.
Christ had provided a way to full adoption into his family as grown children and they were in the process of trading this for an inferior practice of rules and regulations.
Our Adopted Relationship
Gal 4:
Paul was concerned they did not fully appreciate what they possessed in this relationship and were in danger of making a bad trade.
The offer of the Judaizers seemed to make sense since it was founded on Old Testament laws given by Moses and therefore carried weight and significance.
These false teachers were attempting to lay burdens, guilt and fear on the Christians in Galatia by putting them under the “elements” of the old system.
Paul was concerned they did not fully appreciate what they possessed in this relationship and were in danger of making a bad trade.
The offer of the Judaizers seemed to make sense since it was founded on Old Testament laws given by Moses and therefore carried weight and significance.
These false teachers were attempting to lay burdens, guilt and fear on the Christians in Galatia by putting them under the “elements” of the old system.
Paul reminded them of a time when they were in bondage under the “weak and beggarly elements” and it was a time of childhood.
Children, no matter their future social standing need to be “governed” until such a time when they can fully assume the responsibility and liberty associated with adulthood.
In terms of our relationship with God we are fully privileged adults and we enjoy both the responsibility and liberty that comes with such a standing!
The Regression to childhood
When these Galatians bought into the lie of the legalists they were trading adulthood for childhood.
It was a serious regression that comes with serious consequences.
They had begun to “observe days, and months, and times, and years” and Paul was beside himself and he described it as “I am afraid of you” or we might say it this way “I am concerned about what this will do to you”.
Paul understood the personal difficulties associated with living this way, he was raised in it!
They would lose the freedom and liberty they have gained
They would lose the joy of the Lord
They would lose the joy of the Lord
blessedness - it means joy - Paul was describing the fact that this regression had caused them to lose the joy they had in Christ
The Re-Examination plea
Paul was begging them to “be as I am”.
He was saying that he had given up all of the privileges of his Jewish upbringing to embrace Christ fully.
These Galatian gentiles had never had to give that up so in a sense Paul was becoming like them.
He was free from the ritualistic restraints of the law and able to fully embrace his liberty in Christ.
He was moving to a higher plane being led by the Spirit, a point he elaborates on further in chapter 5.
There are times in our lives when we must take a serious look at the direction we are headed.
We can all be prone to make bad trades when we take what is offered in exchange for what God has provided.
At times the trade seems to make sense until we get further down the road and realize what we have purchased is worthless.
Buyers remorse is something we have all experienced and Paul is giving a strong warning.
He continues this warning by expanding on his use of events in Abrahams life...
Introduction
Introduction
Paul presents the story of Issac and Ismael as an allegory to represent the difference between a child of bondage and a child of freedom.
This is a unique section of Scripture where we see a New Testament writer explaining the deeper meaning of an Old Testament account as a way to illustrate an important truth.
Paul begins by challenging their desires.....
I. Paul challenged their desires
Gal 4:21
Illustration: Have you ever purchased something without fully investigating what you were buying?
Maybe you were purchasing a home and didn't think the “inspection” was necessary.
We were in the process of buying a home that we thought would fit our needs and God’s plan for our lives when an inspection revealed a serious issue with the plumbing.
It was something that could be fixed so I attempted to negotiate with the seller who would not come to reasonable terms.
I thought for sure this was the direction God wanted for us but the deal ultimately fell through.
Several months later it was obvious that God had other plans for us and as is always the case, His way is best!
Buying is an emotional thing.
Early in my sales career I learned that in most situations people buy with emotion and then justify with intellect.
This is why so many “infomercials” are so effective.
We buy into the promise of the product without fully investigating its merits.
This is what was happening in Galatia.
This is why Paul is begging them to think about what they are doing!
Our desires need to be challenged because it’s often our instincts that get us into trouble.
Here Paul is challenging their desire to put themselves under the law.
He asks them...”have you really thought about this”?
What desires do we have that can lead us away from Gods truth
Do we take the time to think throughly about the decisions we make and the positions we take?
Some of the decisions we make in life can and do have lifelong consequences!
He challenges their desires and then he pulls back the curtain and again paints another grim picture of a life lived under the bondage of the law....
II.
Paul contrasted two descendants
We have a stark picture here of two distinct families.
One that was promised and given by God and the other was used to demonstrate the weakness of our flesh.
The ultimate goal of the law was to get a man to understand that he cannot keep it.
But at his core man is so proud that he not only tries to keep it but even adds to it!
Abraham & Sarah (Timeline)
75- Called by God to go to Canaan and revives the promise of many descendants ()
85- No promised son yet…Sarah gets impatient and suggests a marriage to Hagar (her handmaiden/servant) in order to move the process along and get the desired results ()
86- Hagar conceives and Sarah becomes jealous and throws Hagar out.
God promises to provide for Hagar and her child and orders Hagar to return.
The son is born and they call him Ishmael ()
99- God repeats his promise to Abraham and Sarah - they will have a son and will call him Issac, which means laughter/joy.
()
100- Issac is born and a new problem is created because Ishmael now has a rival
103- As was customary in their day Abraham and Sarah hold a celebration to publicly display Issac's weaning and Sarah hears Ishmael mock Issac.
Ishmael and Hagar are thrown out, never to return again!
A. Ishmael & Issac / The Flesh vs The Spirit
“of the flesh”
“Mt.
Sinai, which gendereth to bondage”
“Jerusalem which now is”
Issac was born by God’s power - God waited 25 years to grant Abraham and Sarah their promised son “born after the spirit”.
We are born by God’s power...
John 3:
Issac brought joy - His name literally means “laughter”.
Salvation is an experience of joy, to the believer and those around him
Issac grew and was weaned - Salvation is just the beginning of the Christian life - we must grow and eventually be weaned off of the milk.
Issac was persecuted - Ishmael (the flesh) caused problems for Issac in the same way that our old nature causes problems for us.
Until we were saved our flesh ruled unchallenged but now there is conflict.
Abrahams Home:
Hagar vs Sarah = Law vs Grace
Ishmael vs Issac = Flesh vs Spirit
It is important to note that you cannot separate these four factors.
The Judaizers taught that Law made the believer more spiritual, but Paul makes it clear that Law only releases the opposition of the flesh and a conflict within the believer ensues (see Rom. 7:19).
There was no Law strong enough either to change or to control Ishmael, but Isaac never needed any Law.
It has well been said, “The old nature knows no Law and the new nature needs no Law.”
B. Sarah & Hagar / Grace vs Law
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