Galatians 4 - After Receiving God's Grace, Why Would You Return to Rule Keeping?

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Though there is a sense that we are all born with God's image stamped on us. We all at least start with a sense of right and wrong. We are still subject to the elemental spirits of the world in that we may break the law but in the end what we reap is what we sow. We might call it immutable principles established by God that cannot be overturned.

But God the Father sent Jesus the Son, to redeem us to buy us back from being a slave to the law. We were once slaves to sin, yet Jesus purchased us and set us free by his death on the cross. At just the right "time" God sent His Son free us. Paul uses the language of adoption. A child who is adopted into a family during that time, had all the rights of the family members including being heirs of the estate. 

As evidence of this adoption to be God's sons and daughters, God sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts. It is by the Holy Spirit that we cry, "Abba Father". "Abba" in the Aramaic term of personal intimacy used for instance in the relationship between a child and their father.  

We also can’t miss the way the truth of the Trinity is woven into the text: God the Father sends God the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of God the Son, into our hearts to give us an assurance that we are the sons and daughters of God.

Do you have a sense that you are God's son or daughter? Though we are all sinful, Jesus' death on the cross bought us back and freed us from the curse of the Law. Because you are a son or daughter of God, you don't have to be afraid of God. He loves you just like a loving parent would. He wants the best for you and wants you to come to him. 

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Paul then asks a rhetorical question. If they had been redeemed from the slavery to the Law and been adopted as God's sons and daughters, why did the Galatians want to return to being slaves of the very laws they could not keep in the first place? You can sense Paul is really frustrated by their behavior. 

 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. Galatians 4:9-11

Paul then turns the conversation into a more personal one. The Galatians had invited him in and treated him with great respect when he was with them. Apparently they helped him through an illness, which was the reason he came to them. 

What exactly was Paul’s physical infirmity? Some believe his problem was depression, or epilepsy, or that his illness was connected with the thorn in the flesh mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12. None of these can be established with certainty.

 Even though Paul was not a great example of strength and power because of his physical infirmity, the Galatians still received him, and they received him honorably. They embraced Paul so generously that they would have plucked out [their] own eyes and given them to Paul if that could somehow meet his need.

Paul often talked about his weaknesses, which gave him the opportunity to show God's strength. Paul says in another passage, 

"Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16  

They people who have influenced them to go back to the miserable principles of legalism are taking "potshots" at him. They were creating doubt about Paul and his leadership qualities and if he could be trusted. They were appealing to the fleshly nature of the Galatians. Finally, Paul again shows his pastor's heart for the Galatians that sets him apart from his adversaries. He says this, 

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you. Galatians 4:19

Paul's deepest desire was that the Galatians would grow to be spiritually mature, which means they would become more and more like Christ. Paul describes how ardently he feels about this and compares it to being in the "pains of childbirth". (Though he didn't really know what that felt like.) LOL. 

Paul likens himself to a “mother” who gave spiritual “birth” to the Galatians (my little children).

The idea of Christ is formed in you is similar to the idea of Romans 8:29: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.

Our purpose as Christians is to grow to be more Christ-like. What does this mean? It means our character changes and is transformed as we respond in the ways Jesus would if he were living in our skin. 

Do we treat people the way Jesus did? Do we see people the way Jesus did, especially those who are E.G.R. "extra grace required"? Do we forgive others like Jesus did? Do we serve others like Jesus did? 

We will never become fully Christ-like in this life, but the Holy Spirit is at work in us conforming us to Jesus' image. We need to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and not return to gratifying the flesh as our modus operandi.