Galatians
Unbound, Unchained, Unbroken
Week 8 | Galatians 4:8-20
Lisa Scheffler, author
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We’ve all had the experience of trying to persuade someone to come around to our way of thinking. Maybe you were craving Mexican food and worked to convince your family that they also wanted enchiladas for dinner. If you got your way, great. But if not, Chinese or barbeque was probably fine.
Sometimes, we try a lot harder to convince others because the stakes are much higher than what’s for dinner. When it really matters, we use every tool of persuasion in our toolbox. When it’s about more than getting our way, we’ll work to persuade out of love.
Paul used every tool in his toolbox to convince the Galatian Christians that they were believing a false gospel opposed to the one he originally shared with them. He appealed to his authority as an apostle, his personal testimony, and cited the trust the other apostles had in his message. He then took the Galatians deep into scripture to consider how God has always saved, and what the law was for. He used analogies and even resorted to calling them foolish. Paul tried everything to persuade these beloved believers to return to the one, true gospel, because it is the only place true freedom is found.
In our passage for this week, we’ll see Paul wrapping up one more theological argument and then turning to a personal appeal to persuade the Galatian Christians.
Day 1
In chapter 3, Paul made a radical comparison that would have outraged his Jewish Christian opponents. He spoke of the law as an enslaving force. Because the law revealed sin, it was an instrument of judgment that trapped those under it. Paul also characterized it as a guardian that was no longer needed because Christ had come. God adopts all people who trust in Christ as children and heirs. To return to the works of the law like circumcision or dietary restrictions is to go back into slavery, instead of embracing the freedom and privilege of a child and heir.
In the passage we’ll focus on this week, notice how Paul continues to compare those who return to the law to slaves. Then notice how he makes a personal appeal to the Galatian believers. Notice his tone. Can you relate to how Paul was feeling?
Read
Galatians 4:8-20
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 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.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
What tools in Paul’s persuasion toolbox do you see him using?
Based on everything we’ve studied in Galatians, why is Paul working so hard to convince these Christians? What is at stake?
Respond
Paul reminds me of an exasperated parent in these verses. Maybe you’ve known a child who has gone astray, maybe you’ve watched his or her parents do everything in their power to reach them. Maybe you’ve been that parent. Maybe you’ve had a friend or family member who is on course to go off a cliff, and nothing you have said or done has convinced them to change course. Can you relate to Paul’s tone?
To me it sounds like Paul is frustrated, and he is hurt. He invested his life into these people and they’ve questioned his motives and doubted his word. They’ve allowed other voices to drown out Paul’s, and he’s trying to speak louder. But, he hasn’t given up on them.
As we move through our passage this week, pray for “prodigals” in your life — the ones who have wandered from God and gone their own way. Pray for the Spirit’s discernment as to how to relate to them. Paul’s methods are not the best for every situation, but his motive is. Paul loves these people and is trying every tactic he can think of to help them recognize and believe the true gospel, and experience the true freedom that comes from being a child of God.
A mid-letter challenge
Galatians has six chapter, and last week we crossed over into chapter 4. Sometime this week, go back and read Galatians 1–3. Review the arguments Paul has made so far, and consider what your biggest takeaways from Galatians have been.
