THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
MAY 22ND, 2005
FLATTERY AND ZEAL
I. The
Galatian Christians were guilty of loving flattery (17-18).
A. “They zealously affect you.”
1. The Galatians were impressed by t he “show”
of the false teachers.
2. They would have done well had they
remembered the wise words of Solomon in Proverbs 27:6.
B. “but not well,”
- They were impressed, but it wasn’t the
truth that impressed them.
C. “they would exclude you, that ye might
affect them.”
1. The false teachers wanted to bind them
with the chains of legalism in order to control and manipulate them.
2. The false teachers flattered the Galatians
in order to imprison them with their false doctrines.
D. Paul commends the zeal of the Galatians
(18).
1. To do good works with zeal is good.
2. To learn the Bible with zeal is good.
3. To remain zealous in the absence of your
teachers is good.
E. The problems comes when your zeal is
misdirected.
1. The Galatians were as zealous in their
false doctrines as they were in the truth.
2. They were a good example of spiritual
gullibility - believing anything that anyone tells you if they flatter you
enough.
II. Paul
refers to the Galatians as “children” instead of “brethren.” (19-20)
A. Paul was responsible for preaching the
Gospel to these Galatians, and leading them to Christ. (19)
1. Paul describes his agony over them: “I
travail in birth again.”
2. Paul had a parent’s concern to teach them
the truth.
3. Now Paul is in an agonized concern that
they return to the truth.
B. Paul’s desire for these Galatians is very
clear: “that “Christ be formed in you.” (19)
1. They have Christ; now he wants Christ to
have them.
2. The idea of Christ being formed in you is
the same as an empty glass being filled with water.
3. To be Christ-like was the desire of Paul
for his spiritual children, and should be the desire of all fathers for their
children.
C. “I desire to be present with you now”
(20).
1. Paul understands the value of a human
presence when the situation is difficult.
2. When he comes to Galatia, Paul hopes “to
change my voice.”
- In other words, Paul hopes
that his conversation will not have to be as harsh as the letter he is writing.
D. “I stand in doubt of you.” (20)
1. Paul is hoping for the best, in
that the Galatians can change and return to the truth.
2. But Paul is prepared for the worst,
in that he is doubting the authenticity of their original professions, and the
authenticity of their present faith.
3. Is it possible to know the truth to the
degree that they knew the truth, and follow a lie to the degree that they chose
to follow a lie?
- Paul wrestled with this
himself.
Conclusion -
Next Sunday, Paul returns to the Old Testament for another example of
Law versus Grace.