Best Laid Plans of Man

We always have a plan.

Dinner the other night.

Galatians 4:8–31 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. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Not gods

Paul is genuinely concerned for the Galatians and ghe dangerous path they are on.

The ESV Study Bible (Chapter 4)

The slavery that the Galatians are in danger of embracing again is not just a matter of forfeiting sonship but of abandoning the true God. They would be returning to false gods (v. 8), to worldly principles and structures (vv. 9–10). It would be as if they had never even heard the gospel from Paul (v. 11). For these Gentile Galatian Christians, turning to the Jewish law would be like returning to their paganism.

Galatians 4:8 ESV

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.

I am afraid, I entreat you, I am in anquish, I am perplexed by you.

He has just come out of a section where he supported and defended justification by faith. Now he seems to be speaking more directly to the Galatians.

He is saying,

Do Not Go Back!

Luke 9:62 ESV

62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Exclusive Club

Galatians 4:17 ESV

17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.

He reminds them that he preached to them because he was held up there for some type of illness.

God used that time to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.

They readily believed and are now seemingly abandoning it due to pressure from those who demanded legal adherence to the Jewish law.

If they go there,

Self righteousness will quickly follow.

Sarah and Hagar

Galatians 4:21–31 ESV

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. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Slave verses Free

Here is the overarching meaning of this section. I hope it will be a help to us.

Man is always trying to find something he/she can add to the work of God.

When someone preaches to you some gospel that tells you that need Jesus plus something else, may they be accursed.

Our salvation produces change in us. The change does not produce salvation in us. It simply verifies its existence.

Why is this important?

Salvation comes through the promise of God, not the work of man.

We rely on the finished work, rather than constantly trying to finish the work ourselves.

You have a gift! A gift of salvation in God

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do not believe the lie and become again a slave.

one quick caveat.

Galatians 4:12 ESV

12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Are you tired of trying to measure up, tired of missing purpose in your life. Tired of rejection and tired of the yoke of slavery that the world offers? Do you desire the chains of the world to be removed? Then turn to Jesus.

You will find the freedom you desire in Christ.

And when you find it, do not yield again to the yoke of slavery.

Christ completed the work, He offers it to those who believe and we can rest in Him.

Man will always try to find a better way. He will promise you all kinds of deliverance.

Why? Because the cross of Christ is foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

And that power has come to set you free.