Lesson 42
Review:
I beg of you, brethren, become as
I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;
SUMMARY
1. Paul being a Jew and a Pharisee at that knew
what it was like being a slave to the law.
2. Paul's objective here is to encourage them to leave it behind, to drop
their legalism.
3. Paul did not take the matter as a personal
attack on him or his teaching.
4. Instead he sees legalism as acting
self-righteously before God.
5. Paul's
exhortation comes out of his love for them.
but you know that it was because
of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and
that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or
loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
- Any test will be beneficial if we respond to
it by seeking the will of God and applying it.
- That same test if we react negatively, oh woe is
me, then the situation can quickly
become a hindrance in our life.
Rebel against the Word and your rebelling against
God therefore the wide ranging impact of that rebelling in one's life.
4:15 Asks a pointed question to help them assess
the change of relationship.
Where then is that sense of blessing you had?
They were so appreciative of Paul, their response so positive to him and
his ministry at that time to the point they
were said to be willing even to
sacrifice their own eyes for him.
What
Paul is saying is that you Galatians demonstrated great respect and esteem for
me, have you wondered what happened?
4:16 Their
present mental attitude.
So have I become your enemy by
telling you the truth?
What's the progression? Paul has gone from a place of esteem to being
an enemy!
The real test of our love of
the truth is this; What is our response
to truth when it clearly points out a wrong attitude or belief or wrong
conduct?
Summary 4:16
1. Paul's first visit to these Galatians left
them in a state of spiritual prosperity as they began to realize their new
position in Christ.
2. During that time they demonstrated a strong
willingness to do what ever was necessary to benefit Paul.
3. Verses
15 and 16 explain the reason for the strain in the relationship between Paul
and the Galatian saints—Paul persisted in pursuing the Galatians with the
truth, while the Galatians foolishly followed the Judaizers who denied the
truth.
4. Paul
would later write about the importance of "speaking the truth in love." Eph 4:15
5. True
friendship is based on truth.
6. Need to
recognize that legalists and idolaters become enemies of the cross of
Christ. Php
3:18-21
7. Those
who befriend the world become enemies of God. Jas. 4:4
8. God's
grace flowing from His love provided the way out for us from being His enemy.
Rom. 5:10
9. Why
would we as believers ever want to move back into an adversarial relationship
with Him via legalism and idolatry, now that we are His adopted children?
10. Paul
wants the Galatians to come to grips with the reality of the
inconsistencies, between what he taught and what the Judaizers taught
and to realize where they are headed.