Burunche’s Blog

Galatians 4: 8-20 “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain. I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

You know that it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. And although my illness was a trial to you, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus Himself. What then has become of your blessing? For I can testify that, if it were possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you.

My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.”

Paul continues to be frustrated. While traveling through Galatia, he developed some kind of problem, possibly a severe eye infection, that forced him to stop. Finding himself with people willing to listen and learn, Paul taught the Galatians about Jesus and they readily accepted Him. Previously, the Galatians had been following a host of various pagan religious, each of which demanded frequent sacrifices and all other kinds of rituals for “days, and months, and seasons, and years.” It was a positive relief when Paul was able to show the Galatians that they had been deceived and no longer needed to mess with such things.

But now idolatrous teachers have sneaked in, frustrated that their former disciples are no longer willing to slavishly follow their instructions. These people only want power and control over Paul’s converts and are willing to twist Paul’s statements as much as possible, if only they can regain their hold on the new believers. Paul is in so much pain spiritually that he feels as if he is a pregnant lady struggling with labor pains. Paul is several hundred miles away and can only beg God to deliver the Galatians from those who would victimize them.

There’s an old saying that “Insanity is repeating the same behavior over and over and expecting different results.” When Paul preached and taught in Galatia, the Galatians accepted the Gospel of Christ because it was so much superior to the religions they had previously observed. The Holy Spirit moved in the hearts of new believers, baptizing them and undoubtedly working miracles. Nothing like this had ever been seen before in Galatia! But now the Galatians are being tempted to return to rituals that never worked in the first place-truly insane.

If you study the interview in the Garden of Eden between Satan and Eve, you will notice that Satan begins questions by asking, “Did God REALLY…..” These false teachers who are attempting to sway the Galatians away from Christ and back to idols are undoubtedly using the same kind of argument. “Did Paul REALLY tell you_____? Are you REALLY sure of ____? Frankly, it’s a good thing that Paul is at a distance, for if he were physically present in Galatia, he might be tempted to get into a fist fight with these charlatans.

Paul knows that the Galatian converts are making great strides in their quest for holiness but that these false teachers can undo everything. What about us? Are we willing to trust God and His provision and His ways of working things into our lives, or are we tempted to indulge in just a few rituals in hopes of finding shortcuts to holiness?

The reality is that holiness is a lifelong process and that we continue to grow into holiness and holiness continues to grow in us the more we earnestly seek it. But there are no rituals we can follow that will instantly produce complete holiness in our lives. We must trust God and continue to grow in His grace. May we ask God daily to take over our lives, for He is the only One who can make anyone or anything holy.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, sometimes we long for shortcuts so that we can instantly become holy. But You are the One who guides us and who guarantees that if we grow in grace, You will put Your holy nature in us. Thank You for doing this for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Galatians 3:15-29 The Changeless Promise

“Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Purpose of the Law

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Wherever there are people, there are laws governing what they can and cannot do. Even in Paul’s day, there were religious laws and the Roman law that governed all the provinces, including Galatia. It’s a big mistake to assume that the Galatians were unsophisticated illiterates. Many of these people, particularly the upper classes, may have spoken and read  fluent Latin and Greek in addition to any local languages they learned as children. Living under Roman law would give any adult a great deal of information. But in addition to laws, there were also long-standing covenants that were recognized and honored by everyone involved.

“Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

“But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

Here Paul is contrasting laws versus covenants/promises. Before the Mosaic Law was ever given, God had already cut covenant with Abraham, making incredible promises. The Mosaic Law was given to teach people how God wanted them to live; however, the Law did not cancel the covenant agreement God had already made with Abraham.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Somebody in Galatia might say, “Yes, but Abraham was a Jew, and I’m not a Jew.” Paul has the answer: God was making the covenant, not only with Abraham, but Christ Jesus, for Christ Jesus was born of the Seed of Abraham. And by extension, all who believe in Christ Jesus become Abraham’s seed. What’s even more wonderful is that once someone believes and is baptized, he joins a new family, a family in which he/she is Abraham’s seed and an heir according to the promises God gave Abraham.

Unless we understand the culture in Paul’s day, we might not realize how revolutionary this pronouncement was. Many households had slaves or servants or foster children; however, if one was adopted, past histories didn’t matter. Once you were fully adopted into a family, you enjoyed all the rights and privileges any child born into that family would enjoy. Your inheritance would be equal to anyone else’s. If your adopted father was a Roman senator, you could even wear a distinctive purple band on your clothing, indicating that you belonged to a high-class family.

What does this have to do with holiness? Paul is advising the Galatians-and us-that as believers in Christ, we are candidates for holiness, not because we are so good but because God changes our nature to conform with His. This process of sanctification has two parts – God’s and ours. God stands more than willing to change us; we must agree to be changed. The more we agree with God, the more our lives will reflect God’s goodness and God’s glory.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for Your precious promises that assure us of eternal life if we will only believe and allow You to change us into Your image. Please change us and help us to continue to yield ourselves so that all of our natures will reflect You and only You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.