GALATIANS -- CHAPTER FOUR
INTRODUCTION: In Chapter 3, Paul set forth 9 arguments against the Galatianism doctrine.
1. That it's foolish to think God wouldn't complete what He started. vs. 1-3
2. That their suffering for the gospel was in vain if Galatianism is so. vs. 4
3. That the miracle of the new birth and the changes wrought in individuals was done by the continuing work of the Holy Spirit and not by their obedience to the law. vs. 5
4 That we are made righteous by faith just like Abraham was. vs. 6-9. Romans. 4:1-8, 18-25.
5. That the Just are to live by faith and if they live by the law they are not living by faith. vs.10-12.
6. That through Christ's redemptive work, gentiles are blessed as Abraham was through faith and that all receive the Holy Spirit through faith. vs.13-14.
7. That the Abrahamic covenant has always been in effect. vs. 15-18.
8. That the Law was for a specified period and for a specific purpose and was not for the purpose of giving life. vs.19-23.
9. That now there is no difference, all are children by faith and are included as Abraham's seed. vs. 26-29.
In Chapter 4, he sets forth three more arguments.
1. The relationship now is of son to father and not servant to master. vs. 1-7.
2. The argument of the lost blessing from the gospel message first preached. vs.8-18
3. The argument of the allegory. vs. 19-31.
vs. 1-2-Children were entrusted to tutors and governors by the Romans and Greeks during the period for the purpose of training. The children were answerable to their tutors primarily and not to their fathers.
vs. 3-Likewise, we Jews were in bondage, that is were under the law for a time.
vs. 4-5- But when Christ came who redeemed us who were under the law, then we became sons. Now, the relationship is not that of child to governor but of son to father and we are not answerable to the law.
vs. 6- "Abba" refers to an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. It is a term of affection and endearment,. indicating the closest possible relationship. It is used only 5 times in the Bible. Mark 14:36; Romans. 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. Now we have a loving heavenly Father who cares about us and to whom we can go when we err and know He will forgive. I John 1:9.
vs. 7- We are heirs of God, all His wealth and power are ours. Romans 8:14-17a.
vs. 8-9- There is but one gospel. I Corinthians. 15:1-4. Even if an angel reveals a different message to us we are not to believe it. We are to only believe His (God's) Word and the true Gospel. Salvation is of the Lord. Jonah 2:9. All of Him!
vs. 10- Paul asks, "why, after ye have been saved and have come to know God as your Saviour, do ye turn again to a life of bondage whereby you have to observe certain holy days and abide by certain laws, etc.?"
vs. 11- Paul needled them here by saying he was afraid his work among them had been for nought.
vs. 12- Paul says "Be as I." I'm free from the law. Then he says, "I as ye." You, too are free from the law, can't you see this?
vs. 13-15- He reminds them of his great sacrifices in bringing them the gospel and of how they loved him for it and would have even given him their eyes in order to make him well. It is believed Paul suffered from a terrible eye affliction. cf. II Corinthians. 12:7-9; Galatians. 6:1.
Where is the happiness (blessedness) you once spoke of and had? The doctrine of Galatianism has caused you to lose it; that joy you once had. This is what Paul is saying.
vs. 16--Once they had received Paul as an angel of God (vs. 14) but now, some had considered him an enemy and all because they were believing false teachers while he had told them the truth.
vs. 17 -18-They, refers to the false teachers. He accuses these false teachers of doing it for their (false teachers) own benefit.
vs. 19 -20-Paul would like to be able to talk to them in order for them to hear the concern in his voice over their errors.
vs. 21-Paul begins to present his argument of an Old Testament allegory. An allegory is a description of one thing by using an image of another. eg. Instead of calling a man brave, one might tell a story in which the man appears as a lion.
vs. 22-26 (Note:)
Hagar was the handmaid of Sarah and when God didn't fulfil His promise in the time that Sarah thought He should have, she determined to help God and caused Abraham to have a son by Hagar. Gen. 16 & 17:20-27. cf. Genesis 17: 15-19. Ishmail, Hagar, Law, Sinai and earthly Jerusalem are synonymous in that they speak of bondage, of flesh, of works. Isaac, Sarah, Grace, Calvary, Heavenly Jerusalem are synonymous in that they speak of Salvation given freely and by promise.
vs. 27- This verse refers to the fact that there are more people under bondage than there are under grace. There were more physical descendants of lshmael(Arabs) than there were of Isaac (Jews). There are more unsaved people than there are saved.
vs. 28-We who have accepted Christ are the children of promise.
vs. 29- Just as the Arabs have always been a thorn in the flesh to the Jews, so also are the unsaved the persecutors of the saved.
vs 30- cf Genesis 21:10. People who follow works and try to be saved by the law are not saved, are not heirs of God, are not children of the promise, as Isaac was. Do away with the Galatianistic teachers and their doctrines.
vs. 31-For we are children of the free, of the promise, We are saved, by grace, through faith, Ephesians chapter 2: 8, 9.
Conclude with chapter 5: 1. Stand fast, as those saved and kept by Grace and don't try to stay saved by living up to the law.