THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

MAY 15TH, 2005

GALATIANS 4:10-16

THE RESPONSE OF PAUL

 

 

 

 

I.     The Galatian Christians were returning to the rituals of the Law (10).

 

     A.     “Days” include the Sabbaths and feasts.

     B.     “Months” refer to the celebration of new months.

     C.     “Times” refer to Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

     D.     “Years” refer to Sabbatical years, and he year of Jubilee.

 

II.     Paul expresses an inner fear for these Galatian Christians (11).

 

     A.     “I am afraid of you.” - Paul is afraid that these people may not really be Justified.

 

     B.     “....lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.”

 

          1.     Paul had invested much time in teaching these Christians the truth.

          2.     Paul is concerned that his labor on their behalf has been in vain.

          3.     We see Paul’s desire to outwardly succeed in the ministry.

          4.     Paul desired outward evidence in Philippians 4:17.

 

III.     Paul appeals to the Galatian Christians as their mentor (12-15).

 

     A.     “Brethren” is a family title, and Paul reminds them of their spiritual bonds of love as members of  God’s family.

 

     B.     “I beseech you, be as I am, for I am as ye are.”

 

          1.     Paul had left his Jewish identity to be counted with Gentile believers.

          2.     He is asking them to have courage, and stand for the truth with him.

 

     C.     “....ye have not injured me at all.”

 

          1.     They were turning away from all that he had taught them.

          2.     Paul is concerned that they are injuring themselves, not him.

 

     D.     We should be concerned about the spiritual plight of others, but we should not be effected, spiritually, by their backsliding.

 

               -     There is a difference between reacting and responding, and Christians are NOT reactionaries.

 

    

 

     E.     “At the first (13).

 

          -     Paul is reminding them of his original ministry with them.

 

     F.     “And ye know how through infirmity of the flesh.....(13).

 

          1.     Paul ministered to them even though he was physically weak.

          2.     Paul was not stopped by his physical problem.

 

     G.     “I preached the Gospel unto you” (13).

 

          1.     When Paul accepted the call of God, it was “til death do us part.”

          2.     It was also “in sickness and in health.”

          3.     All of us who are Justified (declared innocent) have made a life-time commitment to Christ.

 

     H.     The Galatian Christians over-looked his physical infirmity when he was originally there (14).

 

          1.     His appearance was  evidently effected.

          2.     They originally received him “as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

 

     I.     The Galatians would have “plucked out” their eyes for Paul (15) in the past.

 

IV.     Paul asks: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

 

     A.     The real enemy was the false teacher leading them away from God.

     B.     Paul is attempting to regain their affections.

     C.     Paul’s question is valid for us as well:

 

          1.     Is a person who preaches or teaches the truth your enemy?

          2.     Is a parent or grandparent your enemy because they want you to turn back to the truth?

 

 

Conclusion:   All of us should be so dedicated to the truth that we cannot be turned away from it, regardless of how flattering the words of the false teacher are.