We are all born without any knowledge of the world around us and without any understanding of the realm of the spirit where God is. Just as we grow and gain natural knowledge about the world around us, we also grow from a state of innocence, into a knowledge of sin. We are, as it says in Galatians 4:3 “enslaved under the elemental spirits of the world”. But there is also a knowledge of the kingdom of God and the work done by Jesus Christ to free us to become the children of God as it says in Galatians 4:5–6 “in order that we might receive the adoption. 6 And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! (Father!),”. It is in the knowledge that we grow in Galatians 4:19 “until Christ is formed in you!”.
When We Were Children
Galatians 4:1–7
We understand that we are born into this world as infants and grow to become children, and finally become adults. But Paul uses this cycle of life to illustrate spiritual growth. We are born as natural beings with no understanding of, or access to, the spirit realm. We are born “enslaved under the elemental spirits of the world” in Galatians 4:3 bound by the laws of nature, the fallen nature that gave dominion to the devil and his fallen angels. This is the dominion the devil used to tempt Jesus in
Luke 4:5–8 And he led him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to him, “I will give you all this domain and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I can give it to whomever I want. 7 So if you will worship before me, all this will be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”
Jesus didn’t accept this offer because our relationship is to be directly with the father and Jesus had been sent to pay the price for our redemption in
Galatians 4:4–6 But when the fullness of time came, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order that he might redeem those under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption. 6 And because you are sons, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! (Father!),”
At That Time … You Were Enslaved
Until Christ Is Formed In You
Galatians 4:13–20
Paul has explained that when they were children they were under the law. But in Christ, they are free, forgiven, reconciled to God as his sons and daughters, heirs with Christ. When Paul brought them this message, he says “you welcomed me like an angel of God, like Christ Jesus” in Galatians 4:14.
So who are these that “zealously seek you, not commendably. but they want to exclude you” in Galatians 4:17? These are not people that are seeking the good of the believer but are seeking their own good by bringing people under the law again so Paul questions them in
Galatians 4:21 Tell me, you who are wanting to be under the law, do you not understand the law?
The message Paul is trying to get across to them is that they should grow up, they must become full grown. Paul gave them the message and they were born again, but now he labors again to raise them to maturity in
Galatians 4:19 My children, for whom I am having birth pains again, until Christ is formed in you!
Do You Not Understand The Law?
For Freedom, Christ Has Made Us Free
Galatians 5:1–6
Paul has made the point that the promise first came to Abraham when he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Then, circumcision was done as an outward sign. But it was many years later that the law was introduced through Moses. This law, which had a type of sacrifice for sin, could never make one free from sin and death. Freedom came when Jesus Christ, the perfect sacrifice, gave himself as atonement that the penalty of death was paid, and we were free. Now, Paul offers this declaration in Galatians 5:1 to “Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery”.
Paul makes it very clear that if you are depending on the law for salvation, then Christ can not save you … justification, salvation, reconciliation with God, is only in Galatians 5:6 “in Christ Jesus … (by) faith working through love”.
Who Hindered You?
Galatians 5:7–15
Study Verses
- Galatians 4:1–7 When We Were Children
- Galatians 4:13–20 Until Christ Is Formed In You
- Galatians 5:1–6 For Freedom, Christ Has Made Us Free
Today’s Reading
- Galatians 4:1-31
- Galatians 5:1-15