Be Like Paul Who Never Let the Gospel of Christ Waver
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
New home owner are excited about the process of finding the right home to make many new happy memories in North Carolina. They find the right realtor to help them and She is very knowledgeable about the current market they are in. The couple is excited and calling their agent daily wanting to see homes or ask questions. They finally found the right home and are ready to write the offer. The agent set a time the next day to go over contracts and write up the offer. The couple comes to the agents office the next day, the excitement is no longer there. It is gone. They both look like a huge weight is on there shoulders. The husband says my dad told me that when he brought his home in TX, he got the home fifty thousand dollars less they what they are asking and sellers gave them a boat for buying their home. It was fifty five years ago when his dad brought his home. That market was totally different then the market now and every state is very different. The wife speaks up and says my friend that lives three homes down from the house that we like , had to pay fifteen thousand over the asking price and had to pay all their closing cost at closing and the sellers would not do any repairs. She told me it was the 10th time they put in an offer because everyone was biding higher then them. The husband leans back in his chair, lifts his chin and says, “ I will not pay higher then asking and I want to go at least twenty thousand lower then asking.” The wife leans closer to her husband, glares at him and in a stern voice says, “I WANT THIS HOUSE” The friend brought her house, which was 3 years ago and at that time was a sellers market. It is now slowly turning into a Buyers market. Now the Realtor has to get the couple to get their excitement back and listen to her and not other people.
New home owner are excited about the process of finding the right home to make many new happy memories in North Carolina. They find the right realtor to help them and She is very knowledgeable about the current market they are in. The couple is excited and calling their agent daily wanting to see homes or ask questions. They finally found the right home and are ready to write the offer. The agent set a time the next day to go over contracts and write up the offer. The couple comes to the agents office the next day, the excitement is no longer there. It is gone. They both look like a huge weight is on there shoulders. The husband says my dad told me that when he brought his home in TX, he got the home fifty thousand dollars less they what they are asking and sellers gave them a boat for buying their home. It was fifty five years ago when his dad brought his home. That market was totally different then the market now and every state is very different. The wife speaks up and says my friend that lives three homes down from the house that we like , had to pay fifteen thousand over the asking price and had to pay all their closing cost at closing and the sellers would not do any repairs. She told me it was the 10th time they put in an offer because everyone was biding higher then them. The husband leans back in his chair, lifts his chin and says, “ I will not pay higher then asking and I want to go at least twenty thousand lower then asking.” The wife leans closer to her husband, glares at him and in a stern voice says, “I WANT THIS HOUSE” The friend brought her house, which was 3 years ago and at that time was a sellers market. It is now slowly turning into a Buyers market. Now the Realtor has to get the couple to get their excitement back and listen to her and not other people.
Paul had a church that was excited about the gospel. They even treated Paul like an angel or Jesus. A group of Judaizers came in and turned the church of Galatians from loving Paul and being excited about the gospel to distrusting Paul and the gospel. According to Merrill Chaplin Tenney, Galatians: The Charter of Christian Liberty, This simile occurs in Paul’s remonstrance with the Galatians concerning the change in their attitude toward him. On his first visit to them, occasioned by sickness which made him appear at his worst, they had received him as if he were an angel of God. Perhaps he was thinking of the account in Genesis 18 concerning Abraham’s hospitable reception of the visitors who turned out to be angels, or perhaps he was using the simile without any allusion to the Old Testament story. In any case, it implies that the Galatians had honored him as a distinguished guest, and that they had given great deference to his spiritual authority. His feeling for them had not changed; but their reversal of attitude is reflected in his question: “So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?”
Paul had a church that was excited about the gospel. They even treated Paul like an angel or Jesus. A group of Judaizers came in and turned the church of Galatians from loving Paul and being excited about the gospel to distrusting Paul and the gospel. According to Merrill Chaplin Tenney, Galatians: The Charter of Christian Liberty, This simile occurs in Paul’s remonstrance with the Galatians concerning the change in their attitude toward him. On his first visit to them, occasioned by sickness which made him appear at his worst, they had received him as if he were an angel of God. Perhaps he was thinking of the account in Genesis 18 concerning Abraham’s hospitable reception of the visitors who turned out to be angels, or perhaps he was using the simile without any allusion to the Old Testament story. In any case, it implies that the Galatians had honored him as a distinguished guest, and that they had given great deference to his spiritual authority. His feeling for them had not changed; but their reversal of attitude is reflected in his question: “So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?”
Take your Bible and begin turning with me to Galatians 4:12-20
Take your Bible and begin turning with me to Galatians 4:12-20
In 4:12 ,as Lehman Strauss, Devotional Studies in Galatians and Ephesians is saying, Paul is simply telling them that there was a time in his own life when, as a devout Jew, he observed all of those Mosaic rites to which the Galatians were turning to now. He kept the feast days and observed the Passover and looked upon certain food as unclean. But when he came among the Galatians Paul had been set utterly free from the Law of Moses. He was now a Christian, saved by God’s grace, and as such he had laid aside the law for which he was at one time a zealous. Paul is begging them to become like him.
In 4:12 ,as Lehman Strauss, Devotional Studies in Galatians and Ephesians is saying, Paul is simply telling them that there was a time in his own life when, as a devout Jew, he observed all of those Mosaic rites to which the Galatians were turning to now. He kept the feast days and observed the Passover and looked upon certain food as unclean. But when he came among the Galatians Paul had been set utterly free from the Law of Moses. He was now a Christian, saved by God’s grace, and as such he had laid aside the law for which he was at one time a zealous. Paul is begging them to become like him.
lets pause for a moment and consider this. Parents have you ever worried that a group of good for nothing that will turn your child against everyone that loves and cares for them. That is what the Judaizers are doing to the Galatians. Paul is begging them to become like him. A parent telling their kids you need to look at my example. Paul has never wavered from the Gospel. His faith in Jesus is strong in his heart. They accepted Jesus in their heart and embrace the gospel. Paul is trying to let them know it is not him that is their enemy, but the Judaizers that are trying to lead them astray.
lets pause for a moment and consider this. Parents have you ever worried that a group of good for nothing that will turn your child against everyone that loves and cares for them. That is what the Judaizers are doing to the Galatians. Paul is begging them to become like him. A parent telling their kids you need to look at my example. Paul has never wavered from the Gospel. His faith in Jesus is strong in his heart. They accepted Jesus in their heart and embrace the gospel. Paul is trying to let them know it is not him that is their enemy, but the Judaizers that are trying to lead them astray.
There is no way of determining the exact date chapter 4 in Galatians was written, but it can be narrowed down. Galatians chapter two talks about the council Jerusalem. Ernest De Witt Burton, “ Of these the conference at Jerusalem (2:1-10) is expressly said to have taken place fourteen years after the conversion of Paul, or more probably fourteen years after his previous visit to Jerusalem, which itself took place three years after his conversion” The letter was written after Peter visited Antioch in Galatians 2:11-14.
There is no way of determining the exact date chapter 4 in Galatians was written, but it can be narrowed down. Galatians chapter two talks about the council Jerusalem. Ernest De Witt Burton, “ Of these the conference at Jerusalem (2:1-10) is expressly said to have taken place fourteen years after the conversion of Paul, or more probably fourteen years after his previous visit to Jerusalem, which itself took place three years after his conversion” The letter was written after Peter visited Antioch in Galatians 2:11-14.
Galatians is the English word that comes from the Latin Galatae, which in turn is an exact interpretation from the Greek. The word Galatae is also known in both Greek and Latin as Celts and Gauls. According to Timothy George, “the Celts were known for their bravery in battle because of their relentless spirit. Caesar described the Celts he encountered in Western Europe as a fierce and hearty race, impetuous and fickle in their dealings with one another”. First known appearance is when they occupied the Danube River basin in central Europe. There was a group of Celts that spread southeastward into the Balkan peninsula and from there into Asia Minor. The people of Asia Minor fell into the Roman Empire. Once the Romans overtook the area, the Celt’s called Galatians were organized into an independent kingdom with their own language. Caesar reorganized the Galatian kingdom into a Roman province. The province extended to include not only the original Galatian territory around Ancyra known as North Galatia, but also Southern regions of Phrygia and Lycaonia know as South Galatia.
Galatians is the English word that comes from the Latin Galatae, which in turn is an exact interpretation from the Greek. The word Galatae is also known in both Greek and Latin as Celts and Gauls. According to Timothy George, “the Celts were known for their bravery in battle because of their relentless spirit. Caesar described the Celts he encountered in Western Europe as a fierce and hearty race, impetuous and fickle in their dealings with one another”. First known appearance is when they occupied the Danube River basin in central Europe. There was a group of Celts that spread southeastward into the Balkan peninsula and from there into Asia Minor. The people of Asia Minor fell into the Roman Empire. Once the Romans overtook the area, the Celt’s called Galatians were organized into an independent kingdom with their own language. Caesar reorganized the Galatian kingdom into a Roman province. The province extended to include not only the original Galatian territory around Ancyra known as North Galatia, but also Southern regions of Phrygia and Lycaonia know as South Galatia.
The occasion and purpose of this letter was for rebuking, Paul’s letters normally have a section designated for thanksgiving. He will lift them up then go to the main reason for the letter. This time Paul is quick to get to the point in why he was writing. As Allen C Myers points out, “He is countering the teaching of extremist Jewish-Christian teachers. The Judaizers , who were leading astray members of the Galatian church by a distorted gospel and with presumptions of apostolic authority.” He tells them how upset he is to hear they are deserting the Gospel and going to a different gospel. Reverend Buckland states Paul writes strongly because he feels strongly. A glorious message had been committed to him. He had told it out to these Galatians. Many of them had broken away from heathenism and some from Judaism. But there were many enemies. The world, the flesh, and the devil constituted strong, sleepless forces against which the Christian soldier had-and has-to fight. Paul is trying to stop the Christians in Galatia to to stop antinomianism from the Jewish Christians that were preaching a false religion. That is God saved us from sin by grace, then let us keep sinning that way more grace will be shown. Are we to continue to sin so that grace will increase?
The occasion and purpose of this letter was for rebuking, Paul’s letters normally have a section designated for thanksgiving. He will lift them up then go to the main reason for the letter. This time Paul is quick to get to the point in why he was writing. As Allen C Myers points out, “He is countering the teaching of extremist Jewish-Christian teachers. The Judaizers , who were leading astray members of the Galatian church by a distorted gospel and with presumptions of apostolic authority.” He tells them how upset he is to hear they are deserting the Gospel and going to a different gospel. Reverend Buckland states Paul writes strongly because he feels strongly. A glorious message had been committed to him. He had told it out to these Galatians. Many of them had broken away from heathenism and some from Judaism. But there were many enemies. The world, the flesh, and the devil constituted strong, sleepless forces against which the Christian soldier had-and has-to fight. Paul is trying to stop the Christians in Galatia to to stop antinomianism from the Jewish Christians that were preaching a false religion. That is God saved us from sin by grace, then let us keep sinning that way more grace will be shown. Are we to continue to sin so that grace will increase?
The book of Galatians talks about a group that are infiltrating the church there and distorting the gospel. As Richard N. Longenecker wrote,” So much as been written ion the identity of Paul’s opponents at Galatia and there is such a welter of opposing opinions and conflicting theories that exegesis can easily become swamped. As we noted earlier, the common, almost uncontested view during patristic and reformation periods was that Paul’s opponents were Jewish Christian Judaizers” The letter starts of really quick on addressing the huge issue of Judaizers coming into the church and distorting the gospel with the Jewish laws. If we go back to chapter two of Galatians, it shows that Paul, Barnabas and Titus went up to the council at Jerusalem. The council was the discussion of circumcision. George S. Duncan stated the gospel was meant for the Jews was never doubted, and Peter is here specially mentioned as a representative leader in that department of the Church’s missionary work, but Gentiles too were marked out to receive it, and now after Paul’s exposition, the Jerusalem leaders recognized that for that work Paul had been called by God. Paul lets the Galatians know its not works that make you righteous but faith. He even gives an example of a righteous man. He tells them that Abraham believed God and was credited as a righteous man. Without Christ we are slaves to sin. We are all born under the bondage of sin. Once we have the spirit of Jesus in our hearts, we are no longer slaves to sin but the heir to the kingdom of God. We need to keep standing in faith. The gospel has set you free. Paul tells them do not fall into the patterns of the Judaizers. They need to keep their eyes on Jesus and keep walking by the spirit not the flesh. Paul has a heart for the gospel of Christ. He wants the Galatians to stay loyal to the Gospel because he is loyal and that he is like them, a gentile that is free of the law and under sin. He needs the gospel of Jesus. When Paul says you have done me no wrong, he is suggesting to them even though you have moved over to the Judaizers, he is still feeling the love for them. He is letting them know you treated me wrong, but freely overlooking the injustices you have done to me. He has forgiven them for the hurt he has felt over the harsh words they are saying about him.
The book of Galatians talks about a group that are infiltrating the church there and distorting the gospel. As Richard N. Longenecker wrote,” So much as been written ion the identity of Paul’s opponents at Galatia and there is such a welter of opposing opinions and conflicting theories that exegesis can easily become swamped. As we noted earlier, the common, almost uncontested view during patristic and reformation periods was that Paul’s opponents were Jewish Christian Judaizers” The letter starts of really quick on addressing the huge issue of Judaizers coming into the church and distorting the gospel with the Jewish laws. If we go back to chapter two of Galatians, it shows that Paul, Barnabas and Titus went up to the council at Jerusalem. The council was the discussion of circumcision. George S. Duncan stated the gospel was meant for the Jews was never doubted, and Peter is here specially mentioned as a representative leader in that department of the Church’s missionary work, but Gentiles too were marked out to receive it, and now after Paul’s exposition, the Jerusalem leaders recognized that for that work Paul had been called by God. Paul lets the Galatians know its not works that make you righteous but faith. He even gives an example of a righteous man. He tells them that Abraham believed God and was credited as a righteous man. Without Christ we are slaves to sin. We are all born under the bondage of sin. Once we have the spirit of Jesus in our hearts, we are no longer slaves to sin but the heir to the kingdom of God. We need to keep standing in faith. The gospel has set you free. Paul tells them do not fall into the patterns of the Judaizers. They need to keep their eyes on Jesus and keep walking by the spirit not the flesh. Paul has a heart for the gospel of Christ. He wants the Galatians to stay loyal to the Gospel because he is loyal and that he is like them, a gentile that is free of the law and under sin. He needs the gospel of Jesus. When Paul says you have done me no wrong, he is suggesting to them even though you have moved over to the Judaizers, he is still feeling the love for them. He is letting them know you treated me wrong, but freely overlooking the injustices you have done to me. He has forgiven them for the hurt he has felt over the harsh words they are saying about him.
Illness is a noun. An impairment of normal physiological function. Bodily is a noun. The physical body of an individual. Scot McKnight shares that it is not known for a fact what bodily illness Paul was talking about . there have been a number of guesses but no consensus. Some guesses are that he had malaria, epilepsy, or and eye disease. The evidence is incomplete, and we do not know even that it was the same as the “splinter” in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Even though it was not known for a fact many scholars have come to the same conclusion. Paul was ill and because of that illness the people of Galatians heard the gospel. Paul reminds them that they did not despise him. Douglas Mangum tells Greco-Roman understanding of illness often blamed the sick person for their disease or insisted that physical deformities reveled deformities of a person’s soul. They went against what they were taught, Loved on Paul and excepted the gospel. Paul is wondering what had happened. He was telling others about how the Galatians had such a warm reception for him. So warm that they would have given him anything. Their animosity against him is for ill reason. Paul then goes and warns them that the real enemy is the Judaizers. They went from being excited about the gospel and on fire to their fire put out and no longer excited. Paul is letting the Galatians know that their straying from the gospel has it him so hard. They are is beloved children who are again lost and straying form a loving God that desperately wants them back. Judaizers are taking the gospel and making it a false religion that is more about law and works. It is not a relationship with Jesus that is faith based.
Illness is a noun. An impairment of normal physiological function. Bodily is a noun. The physical body of an individual. Scot McKnight shares that it is not known for a fact what bodily illness Paul was talking about . there have been a number of guesses but no consensus. Some guesses are that he had malaria, epilepsy, or and eye disease. The evidence is incomplete, and we do not know even that it was the same as the “splinter” in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Even though it was not known for a fact many scholars have come to the same conclusion. Paul was ill and because of that illness the people of Galatians heard the gospel. Paul reminds them that they did not despise him. Douglas Mangum tells Greco-Roman understanding of illness often blamed the sick person for their disease or insisted that physical deformities reveled deformities of a person’s soul. They went against what they were taught, Loved on Paul and excepted the gospel. Paul is wondering what had happened. He was telling others about how the Galatians had such a warm reception for him. So warm that they would have given him anything. Their animosity against him is for ill reason. Paul then goes and warns them that the real enemy is the Judaizers. They went from being excited about the gospel and on fire to their fire put out and no longer excited. Paul is letting the Galatians know that their straying from the gospel has it him so hard. They are is beloved children who are again lost and straying form a loving God that desperately wants them back. Judaizers are taking the gospel and making it a false religion that is more about law and works. It is not a relationship with Jesus that is faith based.
There are two applications we can do that will help us stay true to the Gospel of Christ and keep our excitement for the Gospel.
There are two applications we can do that will help us stay true to the Gospel of Christ and keep our excitement for the Gospel.
1. Romans 12:2 “And not be conformed to the world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. “ Read your bible daily and meditate on God’s word. When a false religion comes knocking at your door, you will be ready to share with them the true gospel.
2. Share your testimony with others so you will never lose the love for God or the one that shared the gospel with you. This will help you be always thankful for what God has done in your life.
We all need to worship with fellow believers, keep renewing our mind, keep learning more about God’s word and focus on the true gospel of Jesus so no one will every be able to lead us astray.
Bibliography
Burton, Ernest De Witt. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians,
International Critical Commentary New York: C. Scribner’s Sons, 1920
Cousar, Charles B. Galatians, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching
Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1982
Duncan, George S., The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, ed. James Moffatt, The Moffatt New
Testament Commentary New York; London: Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1934,
George, Timothy Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary Nashville: Broadman &
Holman Publishers, 1994
Girdlestone, Robert Baker, A Devotional Commentary, St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians.
Longenecker, Richard N. Galatians, vol. 41, Word Biblical Commentary Dallas: Word,
Incorporated, 1990
Mangum, Douglas ed., Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament, Lexham Context
Commentary Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020
10
McKnight, Scot Galatians, The NIV Application Commentary Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House, 1995
Myers, Allen C. The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1987
