Gal 4:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | . In the section of chapter 3:1 to chapter 4:7 Paul has made it clear that not the law, but only faith in the Lord Jesus is the way to salvation and all blessing. To this he now adds a serious warning to not place oneself under the law, nor allow anyone else to place you under the law. He reminds the Galatians of the time before their conversion when they didn’t know the true God and were prisoners of the idols they served as slaves. In 1 Corinthians 12 he also gives a review of the past ( ). It is a good thing to remind yourself sometimes of where you came from. This is not to throw yourself back into the past again; Paul warns about that in Ephesians 4 ( ). But if you are inclined to deviate in your faith, then you should think back on the simple gospel which was preached to you and which you have accepted. . Because the Galatians were in danger of falling back into idolatry, Paul on the one hand looks back to “then” and on the other hand exposes the present, “now”. The so-called 'gods' had brought them no benefit – because there is only one God and one Lord ( ). They now knew the true God; they were brought into connection with Him, became His sons and could therefore call Him “Abba, Father”. That is quite a lot. But it is even greater to be known by God. It shows that everything has proceeded from Him. He has accepted them; He has chosen them, even before they were born; He called them when they were in bondage to sin and idolatry. If you realize that, how could it then be possible that you turn away from Him and return to the things that belong to the past? Now you might wonder how the law, which was once given by God, can be compared with returning to idolatry. Well, consider the following. In earlier days the law was indeed given by God to His people. By fulfilling all regulations and ordinances, God’s people would honor the Giver of the law. However, God’s people failed miserably. Even if they had fulfilled all regulations and ordinances, still their relation to God would only be that of a slave to his master. Then the Lord Jesus came. He has fulfilled all that is written in the law. He takes as it were the place of the law as the only way to God, as Mediator between God and man which is infinitely more than the law. By this the law is completely set aside as a means to be connected to God. Now no one can come to the Father except through Him ( ). He who, in his relationship with the Father, wants to honor the law again, reverts to a means that brings him back into slavery again. The law cannot replace Christ; neither can it have a place beside Christ. The law consists of all kinds of statutes and ceremonies. Anyone who submits to them again, gives credit to tangible things, outward ordinances, which belongs to the world. As long as these things were sanctified by God to serve Him, it was good to keep them. But now, because in Christ the reality has come, and God has abolished the law as a tutor, it is equal to returning to the world if these things take a place again in the service of God. And besides that, they are also “weak and worthless elemental things”. They are ‘weak’, because the law with its ceremonies doesn’t have any power to deliver a man from his sins. They are ‘worthless’, because the law doesn’t have any possibility to make rich. The gospel possesses both power and richness for all who surrender to it in faith. . Paul mentions some things the Galatians were maintaining which were signs that they had already been caught up in Judaism. Keeping all kinds of special days and feasts does not fit the life of Christians. All Christian feast days and holy days are originally pagan festivals which are Christianized. The only special day that the Christian knows is the first day of the week, the day of the Lord. That day speaks of the accomplished work of Christ which is accepted by God. On that day the church assembles together to remember all the great salvation truths, and above all Him , Who accomplished the work on the cross. . The concern Paul expresses that he might have labored in vain over the Galatians, has unfortunately come true in professing Christianity. By keeping of certain days we see how the evil that Paul demonstrates here has infiltrated Christianity. . After this urgent warning not to return to the ‘shadow service’ of the law, Paul even more intensely and emotionally appeals to the Galatian’s love for him. He beseeches them to become like him: that is being free from the law. At the same time, however, he is very careful not to give the impression that he was personally offended or hurt, in case they thought they may have wronged him personally. That they turned away from the true gospel was certainly a painful thing for him. But he speaks to them with a heart full of love and compassion, showing great concern about the way they had gone to their own detriment. . He reminds them of his first visit to them. They had accepted him and also the message of the gospel, despite his physically weak appearance. Many would rather have quickly run away (he was that repulsive), than listen to the message he preached. Still, the Galatians had listened to him and had not succumbed to the temptation to run away from him. They ignored Paul’s appearance because of the wonderful message of the gospel that he brought. They accepted him as a messenger from another world and they received him as if they received the Lord Jesus Himself (cf. ). . How happy they had been! But what was left of it? They had expressed their love and gratitude to him by putting their most valuable possession, their eyes, at his disposal. But their attitude has now changed. This is the result of their listening to false teachers. Now read again Galatians 4:8-15 again. Reflection: What does it mean to you to understand that God knows you?

‏ Galatians 4:13-14

The Danger of Falling Back

Gal 4:8. In the section of chapter 3:1 to chapter 4:7 Paul has made it clear that not the law, but only faith in the Lord Jesus is the way to salvation and all blessing. To this he now adds a serious warning to not place oneself under the law, nor allow anyone else to place you under the law. He reminds the Galatians of the time before their conversion when they didn’t know the true God and were prisoners of the idols they served as slaves.

In 1 Corinthians 12 he also gives a review of the past (1Cor 12:2). It is a good thing to remind yourself sometimes of where you came from. This is not to throw yourself back into the past again; Paul warns about that in Ephesians 4 (Eph 4:17-19). But if you are inclined to deviate in your faith, then you should think back on the simple gospel which was preached to you and which you have accepted.

Gal 4:9. Because the Galatians were in danger of falling back into idolatry, Paul on the one hand looks back to “then” and on the other hand exposes the present, “now”. The so-called 'gods' had brought them no benefit – because there is only one God and one Lord (1Cor 8:4-6). They now knew the true God; they were brought into connection with Him, became His sons and could therefore call Him “Abba, Father”. That is quite a lot.

But it is even greater to be known by God. It shows that everything has proceeded from Him. He has accepted them; He has chosen them, even before they were born; He called them when they were in bondage to sin and idolatry. If you realize that, how could it then be possible that you turn away from Him and return to the things that belong to the past?

Now you might wonder how the law, which was once given by God, can be compared with returning to idolatry. Well, consider the following. In earlier days the law was indeed given by God to His people. By fulfilling all regulations and ordinances, God’s people would honor the Giver of the law. However, God’s people failed miserably. Even if they had fulfilled all regulations and ordinances, still their relation to God would only be that of a slave to his master.

Then the Lord Jesus came. He has fulfilled all that is written in the law. He takes as it were the place of the law as the only way to God, as Mediator between God and man which is infinitely more than the law. By this the law is completely set aside as a means to be connected to God. Now no one can come to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6). He who, in his relationship with the Father, wants to honor the law again, reverts to a means that brings him back into slavery again. The law cannot replace Christ; neither can it have a place beside Christ.

The law consists of all kinds of statutes and ceremonies. Anyone who submits to them again, gives credit to tangible things, outward ordinances, which belongs to the world. As long as these things were sanctified by God to serve Him, it was good to keep them. But now, because in Christ the reality has come, and God has abolished the law as a tutor, it is equal to returning to the world if these things take a place again in the service of God.

And besides that, they are also “weak and worthless elemental things”. They are ‘weak’, because the law with its ceremonies doesn’t have any power to deliver a man from his sins. They are ‘worthless’, because the law doesn’t have any possibility to make rich. The gospel possesses both power and richness for all who surrender to it in faith.

Gal 4:10. Paul mentions some things the Galatians were maintaining which were signs that they had already been caught up in Judaism. Keeping all kinds of special days and feasts does not fit the life of Christians. All Christian feast days and holy days are originally pagan festivals which are Christianized.

The only special day that the Christian knows is the first day of the week, the day of the Lord. That day speaks of the accomplished work of Christ which is accepted by God. On that day the church assembles together to remember all the great salvation truths, and above all Him, Who accomplished the work on the cross.

Gal 4:11. The concern Paul expresses that he might have labored in vain over the Galatians, has unfortunately come true in professing Christianity. By keeping of certain days we see how the evil that Paul demonstrates here has infiltrated Christianity.

Gal 4:12. After this urgent warning not to return to the ‘shadow service’ of the law, Paul even more intensely and emotionally appeals to the Galatian’s love for him. He beseeches them to become like him: that is being free from the law. At the same time, however, he is very careful not to give the impression that he was personally offended or hurt, in case they thought they may have wronged him personally. That they turned away from the true gospel was certainly a painful thing for him. But he speaks to them with a heart full of love and compassion, showing great concern about the way they had gone to their own detriment.

Gal 4:13-14. He reminds them of his first visit to them. They had accepted him and also the message of the gospel, despite his physically weak appearance. Many would rather have quickly run away (he was that repulsive), than listen to the message he preached. Still, the Galatians had listened to him and had not succumbed to the temptation to run away from him. They ignored Paul’s appearance because of the wonderful message of the gospel that he brought. They accepted him as a messenger from another world and they received him as if they received the Lord Jesus Himself (cf. Mt 10:40).

Gal 4:15. How happy they had been! But what was left of it? They had expressed their love and gratitude to him by putting their most valuable possession, their eyes, at his disposal. But their attitude has now changed. This is the result of their listening to false teachers.

Now read again Galatians 4:8-15 again.

Reflection: What does it mean to you to understand that God knows you?