One Gospel (Part 4)

Why the Gospel

Galatians 4:8-23

Scripture

Galatians 4: 8-23 (ESV)

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.

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? 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.

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise.

Pray

Help us to understand why Your word is important

Story 1

Story of workers hired to dig a whole

Application 1

I think a lot about how the Bible is relevant. I talk a lot about how we can live our lives God’s way. Most of you know this as the basis of what we do here at church. But what I don’t do a great job of is explaining the why.

So, that being said, that is what I want to do this morning. I want to look at Galatians chapter 4 as the answer to the question that you may be asked at some point if you represent Christ. Why does it have to be the gospel?

If we understand the how but never the why, then we can never develop a passionate relationship with Christ, because we don’t ever understand the need. Paul points to this need as he addresses the why of the gospel to the Galatians.

1. The truth of the gospel is powerful.

Paul points out first who they once were. He says once they were worshipping things like they were gods, but then they learned who God was. The funny thing here is that Paul wouldn’t even give them credit for that. He clarified this by saying that God had drawn them to Himself.

This speaks to the mindset that they had fallen victim to. They were all about what they had done or could do. Paul says it wasn’t even you who learned about God. It was God who, in His love, came to know you. Then Paul points to the life-changing power of the gospel, which is the point. He compares their former life to the power of the gospel.

This is why the gospel is important. It is powerful and life-changing. Paul explains the depth of the power of the gospel in Titus 2. It is because of the grace we see from the gospel that we are drawn to Christ. In being changed because of the gospel, we become mirrors of Christ. But what happens when our mirror becomes distorted?

2. Don’t let your reflection of Christ deteriorate.

Paul points out the distorted and deteriorated view of Christ that is being represented by the Galatians. Think about it this way: we are called to reflect Christ accurately. But when we add to the gospel, we add to that reflection. And because it is man adding to it, it is tainted by sin.

Here, I held up two mirrors—one clean, and one dirty

If you were going to use one of these mirrors, which one would you pick? The clear one, right? This is why our self-righteousness won’t work. Our works, apart from the grace of God and the gospel, are a poor representation of Christ.

Paul makes a contrast between the freedom we have in Christ and the bondage we experience in sin. He says in Christ, we are transformed into the same image of glory. He’s talking about Jesus. We are called to be transformed in the image of God.

But why do we or should we seek this? The Judaizers sought to change people’s behavior, but not necessarily for the same reasons Christ does.

3. Seek Godly guidance for the glory of God and not the elevation of man.

Paul clarifies that He knew they had received the gospel because of how they responded to Paul. But they have been lured from the gospel of grace, not so that they could be made to better reflect Jesus, but so that they could make much of people, not God.

Paul’s plea for the Galatians is that they should watch those who influence them in order to seek godly guidance, all in an effort to make much of God in His grace toward us. Why should godly wisdom and guidance be what we seek?

This passage points to a God who is a lot smarter than you or me. How many you have ever had the thought, "My parents just don’t understand?" The thing we have to understand about God is that He does.

Jesus suffered all types of temptation. God, the Creator of the universe, made us and the earth that we live on. This is why we say His way is the best way. This is why Paul urges the Galatians to not get sucked back into the Law and sin.

Story 2

Returning to a bad relationship

Supporting Scripture

John 8:34-37 (ESV)

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you.

Application 2

4. Do not return to slavery when freedom is freely given.

Paul points out that returning to the Law is returning to slavery, similar to the bondage we experience in sin. But because of the promise of Christ, we can walk and live in freedom. As disciples, let’s walk in the freedom we have in Christ, not in the slavery that comes from self-righteousness.

Jesus points out that we are born as slaves to sin, and because of this nature, we cannot build a relationship with our Creator. But if we are in Christ, we have access to the Father. IF we are in Christ. His Word has to be in us. If His word is in us, then let’s let it refine us.

Pray

Do you trust the gospel or your works for salvation?