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Justification by Faith - Part 2 of 2

by Paul George  
12/10/2008 / Bible Studies

Galatians 4:1-31

Quotes from World English Bible unless otherwise noted

Justification by Faith Explained

In the fourth chapter of the letter to the Galatians verses one through eleven, Paul compares the pre-gospel age to a child under age and the church to an adult. A child under age is under tutors who educate and instruct him in those things that he does not know and will be of great use to him when he becomes an adult, until a date set by the father. Under the law, the people were kept in a state of subjection, like a child under tutors and governors. They were like a servant who is obligated to do whatever his master commands him to do. The Judaizers were attempting to put the Galatians into this state of servitude.

In verse three, Paul said, "So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world." The elemental principles of the world are the bondage of the legalistic practice of the Jews and the bondage of the pagan practice of the Gentiles.

Verses four through seven is the good news to both Jew and Gentile, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.'" He who was truly God for our sakes became man; and He who was Lord of all consented to come into a state of subjection and to take upon Him the form of a servant to redeem those that were under the Law.

When Jesus came into the world He came to do something greater than merely deliver us from the bondage of the ceremonial law. He came in our nature, and consented to suffer and die for us, that He might redeem us from the wrath of God and from the curse of the moral law so that we receive the adoption of sons. As sons and not servants, we have greater freedoms, and privileges, than when we were under tutors and governors. Because we are sons, "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father;" this is the fullest expression of God's love and mercy.

In these verses, Paul reminds the Galatians what they were before their conversion to the faith of Christ, and what a blessed change their conversion had made upon them. He reminds them of their past state and behavior, and what they were before he preached the gospel to them. They did not know God; they were ignorant of the nature of the true God, and the way He wants men and women to worship Him. Before they heard the gospel they were the worst of slaves, they served gods who were not gods. They were involved in superstitious and idolatrous services to those who, though they were accounted gods, were mere creatures, and perhaps of their own making, and therefore were unable to hear and help them.

Those who are ignorant of the true God are inclined to worship false gods. Those who forsook the God who made the world, rather than be without gods, worshiped the corruptible man, nature, bird, four-footed animals, crawling things, and images made of metal, stone and wood. Paul is showing the Galatians and us, worship is due to none but to Him who is truly God. Now that they have received the knowledge of the true God and of His Son Jesus Christ, and been delivered out of ignorance and the bondage they were under, why are they listening to the Judaizers? They have turned from idols to the living God. Through Jesus Christ they received the adoption of sons. Why are they placing themselves under another form of bondage? Why are they turning to the weak, worthless, and elemental things of the world? They were never under the Mosaic Law. Why come under it? It is beyond reason and understanding why they are turning to another form of bondage.

Here is the expression of every pastor who sees those who have begun following Jesus turn from the straight and narrow way that leads to eternal life, to the broad way that leads to destruction. Read carefully the words Paul wrote. Do you hear the sorrow in his voice? Do you see the tears rolling down his cheeks as he says, "I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you" (Galatians 4:11). I can understand what Paul was feeling. I have been there.

Following his explanation of justification by faith, Paul presents his fourth argument; the argument from personal experience - Galatians 4:12-20.

Paul reminds the Galatians of the great affection they formerly had for him and his ministry. He does not call them "foolish Galatians" but brethren, though he knew their hearts were in a great measure alienated from him. He desires they lay aside resentments and that they would have the same state of mind towards him that he did toward them. He had no quarrel with them, it was their conduct. He expressed himself with warmth and concern. He assured them that it was not any sense of personal injury or affront. He wanted the Galatians to know the writing of this letter proceeded wholly from a zeal for the truth and purity of the gospel, and their welfare and happiness.

There is a lesson here for us; in reproving others we should take care to convince them that our reproofs do not proceed from any resentment, but from a sincere desire to honor God and their welfare.

Paul reminds the Galatians of illness he was suffering when he first came among them. He reminds them of their reaction; they did not despise nor reject him because of his illness. They showed a great deal of respect to him. He was a welcome messenger to them, even as though an angel of God or Jesus Christ Himself had preached to them.

Paul reminds the Galatians there was a time when they expressed great joy and satisfaction in the good news of the gospel, and were pouring their blessings upon Paul. Those who have left their first love would do well to consider, where are the blessings they once received and the pleasure they found in communion with God, and in the company of His servants? What happened? Paul wants to know is he now the Galatians enemy? Can they give him any reason why he is now their enemy? Is it because he has told them the truth, endeavored to reveal and confirm them in, the truth of the gospel? It is not uncommon for men to account those their enemies who are really their best friends; who tell them the truth, and deal freely and faithfully with them in matters relating to their eternal salvation, as Paul did with these Christians. Ministers may sometimes create enemies by the faithful discharge of their duty. We must not avoid or neglect speaking the truth, for fear of offending others and drawing their displeasure upon us. Jesus spoke the truth; He was nailed to a cross. Paul told the truth, he was beheaded.

Paul's fifth argument is the argument from an allegory -Galatians 4:21-31.

In these verses, Paul illustrates the difference between believers who rest in Christ only and Judaizers who trusted in the law, by a comparison taken from the story of Isaac and Ishmael. This he introduces in such a manner that will get their attention, make an impression on their minds, and convince them they are making a big mistake in falling away from the truth. He takes it for granted that they did hear the law, for among the Jews it was read in their public assemblies every Sabbath day. Since they were so very fond of being under the law, Paul wanted them to know what is written in Genesis sixteen and twenty-one. His idea was, if they knew what was written in the two chapters they might see how little reason they had to trust in the law.

Paul asks the Galatians if they desire to be under the law. He also told them, they do not listen to the law. "For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the handmaid, Hagar, was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman, Sarah, was born through promise.

Note what Paul wrote in verses twenty-four through twenty-six, "These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all." Hagar represents the Mosaic Law, slavery. Sarah represents the promise given to Abraham. Mount Sinai represents Jerusalem in its present state under slavery to Rome and the flesh and the Jews, who, continuing in their infidelity and adhering to the law are still in bondage with their children. The Jerusalem above represents the new and better covenant, which is free from both the curse of the moral law and the bondage of the ceremonial law.

We Christians, who have accepted Christ, and rely upon him, and look for justification and salvation by Him alone, we become the spiritual descendants of Abraham, though we are not the natural, seed of Abraham, so we are entitled to the promised inheritance and interested in the blessings of it. If the Galatians are tempted to fall away from the gospel because of the Judaizers who demand obedience of the ceremonial law and will persecute those who would not submit, Paul tells them what they should do. He quotes Genesis 21:10-12, "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."

The conclusion of the arguments of Paul, justification is by faith only and not faith and works. Those who advocate justification by faith and works are walking in darkness. Paul closes this part of his letter with the good news, "So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman" (v 31).

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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