We are still in the middle of Paul's theological case to the Galatian church. After he had gone to them with the full, true, and simple gospel, they had begun to drift from it. False teachers had arrived in their midst, telling them they needed to attach the practices of Judaism to their new faith in Christ. Soon, these brand-new Gentile Christians were acting out Old Testament practices in an attempt to become fully accepted in God's sight.
All this was abhorrent to Paul—he referred to it as a gospel contrary to the one they had received, a distorted gospel, a different gospel, one worthy of a curse on all who proclaim it (Galatians 1:6-9). Since the argument of the false teachers was that Paul did not know the true gospel, the first portion of the letter had to do with how widely Paul and his gospel were accepted in the early church—Paul's personal case for the gospel (Galatians 1-2). And since the argument of the false teachers was that Paul's gospel would produce a wild and sinful people who thought grace allowed them to follow their sinful impulses, the last portion of Paul's letter will cover the radical changes the gospel is meant to produce in us (Galatians 5-6). But the middle section of the letter is Paul's theological argument. The false teachers thought they had Scripture on their side, but they had wrongly divided the word, so Paul broke down the Old Testament in a demonstration that the simple gospel of grace and faith in Christ, not works and law, has always been God's plan.
But Paul is not a dry theologian. Today, amid his scriptural teaching, Paul made a loving appeal. This section is one of the most intimate in Galatians. He referred to the false teachers, but only twice. But he used personal words like I, me, and you forty-five times. With a bleeding heart, Paul begged the Galatians to stay firm in the gospel of grace. And, as he expressed his heart to them, it was the Spirit expressing his heart for all of us. This passage, in other words, shows us God's desire for us to stay firm in the gospel of grace. And, as I hope to show, he longs for us to stay simple in our relationship with him, free in Christ, and focused on Christ being formed in us.
1. Stay Simple: God Is Our Father (8-11)
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. (Galatians 4:8-11)
Dead Legalism Is Slavery To False Gods
This paragraph shows us that God wants us to stay simple in our relationship with him. What I mean is that he doesn't want us to make our relationship with him a complex affair, but to relate to Him as our Father. He has just taught them that God was their good Father through the power of the gospel (Gal. 4:1-7). So Paul is saying here, "God is your Father. You are now in a relationship with him. Don't add the legal code of the Old Testament. You don't need to. Stay simple."
Notice how Paul viewed their current actions. Before Jesus had saved them, before they knew God, they were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods—false gods like Zeus and Hermes (8). But now the Galatians were going back to those days of slavery! As they did, Paul thought of them as turning back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world (9). He thought of them as becoming slaves of those principles once again (9).
But here's where Paul's words become shocking. He called these Galatians out for observing features of Judaism that were rooted in the Old Testament law. They kept the special days of the weekly Sabbath. They observed the monthly new moon celebration and seasonal festivals like Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. They were even inclined to keep the sabbatical and jubilee years (10). When Paul witnessed all this, he concluded that they were going back to their old life—slavery to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world.
Zeus. Hermes. Dead religions. False gods. These Galatians were in danger of being enslaved to all that again! It made Paul fearful that they had not understood the message of grace he had proclaimed to them (11).
The Galatians were trading sonship for slavery. And the version of legalism the Galatians were submitting to is a pervasive and significant problem for people who are sensitive to God. We love God. We want to honor him with our lives. And the slip into a works-based relationship with him, what Paul called slavery to the elementary principles of this world, is all too easy. As Tim Keller wrote about this passage:
"The idolatry and slavery of religion is more dangerous than the idolatry and slavery of irreligion, because it is less obvious. The irreligious person knows he is far away from God, but the religious person does not."[^1]
Keller went on to utilize—as he often does—the example of the two brothers in the story of the prodigal in Luke 15. It was the immoral prodigal who enjoyed his father at the end of the story, but the moral son distanced himself from his father. Because he wanted his good works to give him a high standing before his dad, he was demoralized and angry when they didn't. He preferred servitude over sonship, works over grace, and law over the gospel. The point is clear: God wants us to remember we are sons.
Remember Who You Are
The key to all this is to always remember who you are. Paul told the Galatians, "But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God..." (9). This is what they had forgotten. Had they kept it simple and remained forever conscious that they knew God and, more importantly, God knew them, they would have been protected from legalism.
If you've trusted Christ, stay current in the simple truth that God is your Father. No earning. No works. Don't let your Christian life devolve into anything less than a relationship with your Father in heaven. Christ shed his blood to win you that position. Cherish it! Don't allow external forms of Christianity to take the place of joyful communion with the living God.
"We are in an age of religious complexity. The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us. In its place are programs, methods, organizations, and a world of nervous activities which occupy time and attention but can never satisfy the longing of the heart. The shallowness of our inner experience, the hollowness of our worship, and that servile imitation of the world which marks our promotional methods all testify that we, in this day, know God only imperfectly, and the peace of God scarcely at all." —A.W. Tozer, 1948[^2]
Ruth is a good example of a biblical character who stayed simple in the knowledge of God as her Father. She was not an Israelite but had come to faith through the witness of her Jewish husband's family. When her husband and her father-in-law both died, she and her mother-in-law Naomi found themselves in a vulnerable position. But, all throughout her story, she did not waiver in simple trust in God. To her, he was Father, provider, protector, guide, and friend. She knew who he was, and she knew who she was in his sight, so she kept it simple and walked by faith. May we do the same.
Stay Free: In Christian Liberty (12-16)
12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? (Galatians 4:12-16)
This second paragraph shows us that God wants us to stay free, firmly entrenched in the Christian liberty Christ won for us. It is an exhortation to be as Paul was, steeped in Christian liberty and freedom.
Freedom is a tough word these days, partly because while Paul talked about it in relationship to God, many want to talk about it in relationship to institutions, political entities, or even biological design—Freedom! Nothing can restrict us!
But this isn't the freedom Paul alludes to here. To him, we should remain free from a works-based relationship with God. We should stay free from legalism.
It might be lost on us that this is the first time Paul gives the Galatians (and us) something to do in response to the truth of his letter. It's the first exhortation.
And what is it we must do? We must become as Paul was (12). "Become is the first imperative of the letter."[^3] In context, Paul has agonized over the Galatian insistence on entering a works-based relationship with God. Paul rejected that and asked them to become like he was—free in Christ before God! He was, after all, a Jewish man who lived like a Gentile when he visited the Galatians (12). He was clearly free from the law—and so should they.
1. Grace-Oriented
I would like to explain and approach this paragraph as a textbook on how to stay free in Christian liberty, free in Christ. The first step to freedom is to remain grace-oriented, just like Paul. He was convinced that a law-free approach to the Christian life was the right approach. He did not feel he could earn anything in God's sight. His view of God, human brokenness, and his own sin were too high to believe anything he did could merit God's favor. He clung to the cross and applied Christ's freedom to the way he lived.
The Galatians knew this about Paul. They watched this ex-Pharisee befriend non-Jewish people, eat non-Jewish food, and partake in non-Jewish cultures. This was a vulnerable thing for Paul to do. Even modern church leaders are sometimes afraid to talk about their hobbies or interests because a mere mention of them can drive the legalists to their door. But Paul was grace-oriented, and he exemplified that grace by not yielding for even a second to the legalistic branch of the Galatian church.
2. Culturally Flexible
To stay free in Christ, we must be, second, culturally flexible. This point draws from the first. Paul said, "I also have become as you are" (12). Again, he had become like these Gentiles even though he was a Jew. Paul was culturally flexible, willing to become like the Galatians in order to reach the Galatians.
A couple of weeks ago, one of our children's ministry classes prayed for a family that was moving to Africa. Pastor Matt asked if any other kids would like to pray for them, and many kids raised their hands to participate. As they prayed, one child began praying that the traffic on the way to Africa would not be bad. Soon, other kids were echoing that prayer. I think they've all seen what bad traffic does to their parents, so that became prayer #1.
In the minds of these children, all journeys are the same. If you've traveled to grandma's, you know what it's like to travel to Africa. But, obviously, the two journeys could not be more different—unless your grandma lives in Africa, of course!
I like this because it illustrates the way we often think about Christianity. We think it must look the same way everywhere, at all times, and for all people. But anytime we tie the gospel to the specifics of any culture or custom, we have removed it from other cultures and customs, which is something Jesus (and Paul) would not do. The gospel has a cultural flexibility to it, rebuking and affirming various aspects of every society on earth. It can work anywhere, and Christians who want to stay free will learn to adapt to their culture in godly and appropriate ways.
3. Focused On The Inner Person
Third, to stay free in Christ, we must be focused on the inner person. When Paul arrived in Galatia for the first time, he had some type of bodily ailment (13). No one knows with certainty what it was. Some guess that it was a disfiguring eye condition because he said they were willing to gouge out their eyes and give them to him (15). Some think he had contracted malaria in mosquito-infested Pamphylia and was driven to the mountain plateaus of Galatia.[^4] Others think he was weak from beatings he'd received in previous cities.
Whatever his malady—and I don't know what it was—the important thing is that the Galatians received him while in that condition. They might've been tempted to scorn or despise him but instead received him as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus (13-14).
What this means is that the Galatians were not superficial about their minister. They weren't looking for the handsome, healthy, and smooth. They weren't into appearance, but the truth, when he first arrived. He was a messenger of Christ, preaching Christ's truth, so even though his condition was a trial to them, they received him like they would've received Jesus!
We get into trouble when we become attracted to style over substance. Outward appearance lends itself to legalism because legalism is all about appearances. But the gospel is about the inner matters of the heart, changing someone from within. If we value that, we can stay free.
4. Receptive To Truth
Fourth, we can stay free in Christ by being receptive to the truth. Paul was shocked at how quickly they had changed their minds about him. They'd gone from a sacrificial love towards him that made them willing to hurt themselves for his sake to declaring Paul their enemy in no time at all (16). And how had he become their enemy? By telling them the truth (16).
Paul was confused by this new reality. He had told them the truth, the legalists had lied to them, and the Galatians were upset at him! How quickly these believers had soured on the truth of the gospel. They wanted something else, something more, something additional, and they were willing to drive Paul out in order to get it. They didn't like Paul anymore because he didn't affirm their theological whims.
Once we are no longer receptive to the truth, we are prime candidates to slip into legalism because our law-prone hearts need constant course correction lest we slip from Christ. But once we are no longer receptive to course correction, we are doomed.
Stay Focused: Christ Formed In Us (17-20)
17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. (Galatians 4:17–20)
The False Teachers' Aim
So God wants us to stay free and also simple. This third paragraph tells us that God wants us to stay focused on the ultimate goal of having Christ formed within us. We aren't to try to fake Christlikeness but to learn of Christ and submit to the Spirit so much that Christ's life is formed in us.
To make this point, Paul was clear about the false teachers' aim for the Galatians. They made a big deal about the Galatians so that the Galatians would be cut off from everyone else. Why? Because the false teachers knew that once a wall of division went up, the Galatians would make much of the false teachers. Many false teachers do this today. They make much of their listeners so they can shut them off from other voices, so their platform becomes the celebrated one.
I have always been instinctively cautious about messengers who seek to alienate me from other Christians. Don't listen to that preacher. Don't read that author. Don't attend that meeting. Don't go outside your tribe; they aren't balanced enough.
But I have resisted that message, and I'm glad I have, because so many other scholars and pastors from other orthodox streams within Christianity have radically blessed my life. I'm not talking about embracing cults or ecumenicalism, but other true Christians.
I want you to remember this when you are listening to Christian pastors, teachers, and podcasters. If they are trying to separate you from other orthodox and godly strains of Christianity, be wary.
Christ Formed In You
Paul, however, did not want to separate the Galatians unto himself. He wanted to, like a parent, make much of the Galatians for a good purpose (18). With mother-like labor, Paul worked to see Christ formed in them (19).
This phrase is the essence of the Christian life—Christ formed in you.[^5] It is a phrase that depicts God working to develop us as his children into the image of his only begotten Son. Slowly, steadily, and faithfully, he transforms us to become more like Jesus. It isn't fake. We aren't acting. It's not a legalistic front. It's true transformation from the inside out.
We must keep this as our main focus. When we do, we throw ourselves into the study of Christ, we yield to the Spirit, and we spend time with the Father. Like a cucumber slowly turning into a pickle as it soaks in brine, Christ is formed in us as we soak in our relationship with him. But we must keep this goal as our main focus. The second we drift, we will settle for legalism as a cheap replacement.
But it's our nature to lose focus. I recently heard the story about the company Stitch Fix. They had to lay off 20% of their workforce and close a brand new massive warehouse in Utah because they lost focus. When they began, women signed up for their wardrobe design services in droves. Then they expanded to men and kids, only to discover that many men don't care much about their fashion and kids grow too fast to make it worthwhile. But their lack of focus cost them.[^6]
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem 2,500 years ago, he knew he had a job to do. He wanted God's people to live in devotion to God. It would take many steps to get there. First, he had to have funding and a plan for rebuilding Jerusalem, the city that housed God's temple at that time. Second, he had to gather the people around the mission of rebuilding. Third, he had to resist the enemies around them that sought to attack and distract them. Fourth, he had to keep people motivated for hard work. Fifth, he had to call for the scribes to teach the people the word. Sixth, he had to deal with sins and issues that threatened their unity and fruitfulness. But Nehemiah endured each step because he kept his focus on the goal: a revived people, a people who loved God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Keep your focus: let God produce the life of Christ in you. That's all Paul wanted. And it's what God wants for us. Keep it simple. Stay free in Christ. And remain focused on God's mission to form Christ in you.
[^1]: Keller, Timothy 2013. Galatians For You. New Malden, England: Good Book Company.
[^2]: Tozer, A. W. 1969. Pursuit of God. Glasgow, Scotland: HarperCollins Distribution Services.
[^3]: Rydelnik, Michael, and Michael Vanlaningham, eds. 2014. The Moody Bible Commentary. Chicago, IL: Moody Press.
[^4]: Stott, John R. W. 2008. Galatians: Experiencing the Grace of Christ. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press.
[^5]: Harmon, Matthew S. 2021. Galatians: Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary. Lexham Academic.
[^6]: Forman, Laura. n.d. “The Decline of Stitch Fix.” The Decline of Stitch Fix | 1min Snip from The Journal. Accessed February 16, 2023. https://share.snipd.com/snip/49c4e97a-4961-4f07-9a9a-93985898620a.