Gal. 4:8-20, Doctrinal Application

Let’s talk a little about “application” in the Bible.  There are two important levels of application.  In our case here, Paul has been making a theological point in Ch. 3-4.  He has taught about the purpose of the Law, and about the necessity of faith to both become a Christian (be justified) and to live as a Christian (sanctification).  Application has to do with taking the doctrine and putting it into practice in our lives.  But application must first involve believing and embracing the doctrine.  Our minds must be renewed before our behavior can be changed.  This is seen throughout Paul’s writings. 

In case you are wondering, this is a critical issue.  If you adopt the correct lifestyle without embracing the correct doctrine you open yourself to significant problems.  The easiest picture of this is right here in Galatians.  They were already trying to live the life of Christ, but they were working out of the flesh.  They were doing the best they could, in their own strength.  They were doing it the Jewish way, if I can put it like that.  Thus (Ch. 5 will show this), they were failing in the lifestyle arena because their minds were still thinking the old way.  Remember: the new way is yet not I but Christ lives in me (2:20).  By the work of the Holy Spirit, I must think the new way.  That’s where the power comes from to live the new way.

In today’s passage it is clear that the Galatian believers had understood this truth when Paul was with them.  But now they are returning to the former life of slavery to sin.  While persecution might have been a motivation, the prime reason for this return Paul lays at the feet of false teachers that have crept into the churches.  In other words, the problem is that they have embraced what Paul called in 1:8-9 another gospel.  They still are aiming to live the Christian life; but they have lost the victorious power of the resurrected Christ.  Thus they are not attaining what they are striving for.

Here is a survey of today’s passage; in our next post we will consider some of the issues that present themselves in these verses.

·       4:8-11: the danger they are in.

o   Of returning to the former life which was weak and beggarly, bondage! I.e. returning to slave status.

o   Paul’s labor would turn out to be vain.

·       4:12-15: the call to “remain” as they had been when he ministered among them.

o   v12-13: become like me as I became like you

o   v14-15: as you received me before, so believe me now.

·       4:16-18: I am not the enemy but “they” are, who covet you. False brothers.

·       4:19-20: you are “in process” – I have doubts about you! Christ has not been fully formed in you.