Christ Formed In Us

Intro

Galatians 4:8-20

I was content for a long time to only cook things when we needed something grilled. Bethany did the vast majority of the cooking. That changed when I got a smoker. My friends had smokers, and I wanted one. Then I wanted to cook all the time. Subscribed to meat distribution company. My actions and motivations changed when I realized smoking meats was amazing.

Things have changed for the Galatians, and they are acting different. Paul calls out their spiritual changes, but now also their physical behaviors.

Commands #1: Worship God with your whole self (8-11)

Exp. Verses 8-9. Formerly, pre-Christian. Enslaved to “gods.” Ultimately, enslaved to sin and weak and worthless elementary principles. Enslaved = Sin & natural forces of the world. Weak & worthless = poor and destitute. What are they moving toward? Not godless paganism, but godless Judaism. Sacred Jewish calendar. Treated the calendar as the new thing to worship. Calendar isn’t wrong, but they have enslaved themselves to it. Enslaved to the rhythm and schedule.

Ill. Schedule for Thanksgiving or Christmas. If plans change, you get frazzled because the date has become more important than the reason for the date.

App. David Platt says, “What if Satan’s strategy to condemn your soul involves not tempting you to do all the wrong things, but instead leading you to do all the right things with the wrong spirit?” Satan is good with you going to church, reading the Bible, singing songs in an attempt to earn favor with God. Just like every other religion. This keeps you from relationship.

Exp. Verse 9. Come to know God and be known by God. John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Implies intimate relationship. They know God but God knows them.

App. Do you know God? Do you know him? His will for your life?

Do you know God or do just know about God?

Is relationship at the core of your faith?

Christ - Jesus brings us in relationship with the Father. We are adopted because he made a way. God is not some distant deity, but he is a close father.

Command #2: Serve others sacrificially (12-16)

Exp. Paul switches from knowing God to their relationship with Paul. How the gospel affected how they treated Paul. Verses 12-14. Came in ailment. Could have been physical injury or sickness. They treated him well. So well, it was like he was an angel or Jesus himself. If Jesus would have showed up, their hospitality wouldn’t have been any better.

Ill. If you found out the pope or king of England were coming to your house next week, you would roll out the red carpet. Paul said the Galatians were of the utmost hospitable.

Exp. Something changed though. They were acting different to Paul after the Judaizers arrived. Verse 15. Blessedness = happiness. What you had in Christ you seem to no longer have. You would have gouged your eye out. Sacrificially serving.

Christ - Matthew 5:28–29 “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”

Exp. Verse 16. The swing went from sacrificially hospitality to enemy. This is not the blessedness that the gospel had brought to them. Paul was willing to face rejection for the truth to go out. The truth of the gospel is worth speaking, and the gospel is worth speaking truth.

App. The relativity of truth is nothing new to 2023. Truth being relative has been a theme of humanity that is found in Scripture. However, one can make an argument that less truth is spoken today than in the past. And yet, opposition abounds. Paul calls out what they are no longer doing: serving sacrificially.

Rake up neighbor’s leaves

Host someone for Thanksgiving; invite for Christmas

Be creative, but let it be out of the overflow of generosity from the gospel

Command #3: Withstand opposition righteously (17-20)

Exp. Paul turns their attention to how the Judaizers have treated the Galatians. Verse 17. Look at context. Judaizers want Galatians as outsiders. Then, becoming a Jew is something they would aspire to. Paul’s message of the gospel is not that there is a family you need to work your way into, but there is a family who opened the doors for you to become a part of. The Judaizers are giving a false testimony to these churches. Literally doing the opposite of what Jesus came to do.

App. Not uncommon for believers to face opposition like this. A simple tactic that is used is slightly change the narrative. You can find any type of Christianity in the world today. What is the outcome of this? Verse 17, so you can make much of them. “If I can change the narrative, I can make much of myself.” That’s legalism. Paul said it’s equivalent to paganism. Just like Hindus all over the world.

Christ - Garden of Eden. That’s what Satan did. Slightly change the narrative. Christ corrected it in Matthew 4.

Exp. What’s Paul’s goal here? Verse 19. Until Christ is formed in you. He uses labor pains as his illustration. If you’ve ever discipled someone from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity, you know what this feels like.

Ill. Bethany giving birth to Christian. He was stuck. She pushed for 2.5 hours. He would move closer, then go back. That is what Paul feels. That is what discipleship feels like.

App. Withstanding opposition righteously is both a means and an end. You need Christ formed in you to withstand opposition righteously. Jesus withstood it. You can too. What you’ll find is movement from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. How do you withstand opposition righteously?

Test your beliefs. Find out what opposition is out there, and defend yours.

Turn off nonsense. Too many distractions, so turn them off.

Take on a disciple. Nothing grows your maturity than leading someone else.

Trust in Christ. You can only do this through Christ. Trust in him.

Conclusion

Christ being formed in you looks like an intimate relationship with the Father, serving others sacrificially, and withstanding opposition.

You make need to take a step in some direction. Now is your chance to respond. Let’s pray.