Galatians 4:8-12

 

Rachel Workman: ⁸ Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. ⁹ So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? ¹⁰ You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. ¹¹ I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. ¹² Dear brothers and sisters,^[f] I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws.

My question to you is what god are you a slave to? I can answer that question for myself.

I am forever grateful that we are subject to God's grace and mercy and not the law.

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John Burnett:   However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless [a]elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You meticulously observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [b]over you in vain.  Verse 9 is a deep verse.  Those who are born again are known by God and are given the Holy Spirit.  Their eyes have been opened to their sinful nature and how truly sinful they are and that Jesus Christ is their only hope.  The how-to sermons preached in many churches today are like the elementary worthless principles mentioned in verse 9.  Following the law is something believers do out of gratitude to Jesus because of what He did for us but the Galatians were falling back into a works-based system that does nothing but enslaves you to sin.  Ephesians 2:8-9, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  Saving faith is a gift of God and the Galatians were struggling with that point.  

12 I beg of you, brothers and sisters, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong;

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Tomorrow’s reading for Galatians 4:13-16

You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. ¹³ Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. ¹⁴ But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵ Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?