Lesson
44 Sept 18, 2002
Review:
4:20 Paul perplexed
but I could wish to be present
with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Summary 4:20
1. Ever
since Paul became aware of their drift towards legalism, responding to the
Judaizers, it was his desire to be there
with them and to communicate the truth once again to them so that they might
sense again the blessing that was theirs in Christ.
2. Notice
that Paul senses the need for a difference in tone of voice depending on the
circumstances.
3. We also
find here that Paul was not at all exempt from the trials and tribulations that
attend a prolonged ministry to a local assembly of believers.
- he was
perplexed at their inconsistency
- their
lack of spiritual advance grieved him -
[still teknon]
- their
positive response to those who taught false doctrine and attacked his authority
agonized him.
4. When
people choose to leave the freedom that is in Christ and return to the slavery
of law performance living it can and will perplex the communicator of God's
Word.
4:21-31 Scriptural illustration to teach the contrast
between law and grace; works and faith.
Outline
1.
4:21 The challenge
2.
4:22-23 Historical background,
the basic facts of the incident.
3. 4:24-27
Paul's allegory presented; the data with emphasis on the meaning of the
mothers.
4.
4:28-31 Application to the
circumstances in the Galatian churches.
4:21 The
Challenge
Basic
theme: if you want divine approval, a
right standing before God?
#1 is it the law - works - merit principle?
#2 or is it the grace - faith - promise method?
In vs:21 Paul is addressing those who are moving in the
direction of the Judaizers.
Tell me, you who want to be under u`po. law, do you not listen to the law?
Paul
is saying here that I am going to prove to you
that the first way, the law - works - merit way will never gain you a
standing before God and I'm going to do it from the same source documents that
the Judaizers are using and abusing.
4:22-23 Historical background, the basic facts of the
incident.
For it is written that Abraham
had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
For it is written lit. for
it stands written;
Overview of the events:
Promise of Child
of Miracle Child Weaning
of Isaac
A seed flesh
scheme of Promise Casting out Ishmael
Gen 12:1-3 Gen
16 Gen 17; 18, 21 Gen
21:8-14
Abe 75 86 100 103
Facts of history;
that Abraham had two sons, one by
the bondwoman and one by the free woman.
Summary
1. In view here is operation Hagar verses the
promise through Sarah.
2. From operation Hagar came Ishmael Gen 16; then Isaac in Gen 21.
3. Because
of the Jewish pride in their physical lineage from Abraham, Paul's use of this
illustration of the 2 sons of Abe to point out their error becomes more
important.
4. In
operation Hagar Abe was attempting to gain blessing in time apart from the will
of God, it was an attempt in his impatience to help God out.
5. His
challenge to the Galatians and to us in the Church age is which of these two
sons are you emulating, the freeborn son or the son of the
slave.
6. So the
first major contrast made is of the mothers of the 2 sons of Abe with one being
a slave and the other free.