PAUL’S CONCERN FOR THE GALATIANS
Keywords 4:19
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of
childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
1. Do not be enslaved by them again (8-11)
The Galatian
Christians had allowed Judaizers to influence them into believing
that they must add Jewish practices to their faith in order
to be saved. So, they
had to eat certain foods or celebrate certain festivals.
Those “weak and miserable
forces” were destroying the Galatians’ faith. Paul preached a
pure gospel. Faith is
all that is needed for salvation! Had Paul wasted his effort
on them?
2. Become like me (12-20)
Paul pleaded with the
Galatian Christians to become like him. That is, to come
back to the pure gospel as he himself had taught them. The
first time Paul visited
them, he was ill. The Galatians welcomed him and took care
of him. In return, Paul
taught the gospel to them. This made it all the more
perplexing to Paul that they
had turned cool to him after meeting false teachers. Paul saw
their zealousness,
but they were zealous for the wrong thing. Paul was in pain
for them as if in the
pains of childbirth. He was praying for Christ to be formed
in them.
Prayer Lord, help me to watch out for false teachers.
Make me zealous for the
pure and unadulterated gospel of Jesus’ death and
resurrection.
One Word Become like Paul
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