Central Truth

Paul is concerned for the Galatians because they have forsaken the Gospel of Christ to be enslaved by the things of the world.

Reflections

Have you ever heard of someone inheriting a large sum of money and throwing it away? Probably not. Have you ever heard of someone being given a new Lexus, but instead demanding an old Pinto? Highly doubtful. These things seem odd, abnormal, and strange. When you know the value of something, you know know its worth and significance. When you compare two things, one of great value and one of much less value, it's not hard to imagine which you might prefer to have. Even more, when someone is offered freedom, why would they instead demand slavery? This is exactly Paul's frustration with the Galatians.

Paul spent time with these people, teaching the value and significance of what Christ did on the cross for them! He preached that Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament law and that through Christ's substitutionary death we are saved by grace through faith alone and not by our own unavailing efforts at rule-keeping. When he heard that the Galatians had gone back to being enslaved to "worthless elemental things" (Galatians 4:9) and ritual observance of the law, he was indeed saddened and perplexed.  

As believers, we have inherited eternal life, as sons and daughters of God Almighty. Not because of what we do, but because of who He is. We accept His gift by faith, and are released from the law and its principles. When you've inherited a Kingdom, don't ask for a shack! Even more, don't ask for your shackles back.  

Our shackles are probably not the same as the Galatians'. Our shackles are, however, anything that may cause us to become slaves or place our faith and trust in anything other than God and what His Son did on the cross. We cannot do anything to cause Christ to love us more (or less!), nor make our way into heaven apart from Christ.

Once you know Christ, you know significance of who He is, the value of what He did and your own worth. Don't turn your back on these truths for what the world is trying to sell you: Lies.

Discussion Questions

1. What was Paul's deep concern for the Galatians?  Why?
2. What is the truth about how we are saved?
3. What lie is the world trying to sell you personally?
4. Are you currently being enslaved by or held in shackles by something in your life?  Would you ask God to help you come to freedom through Him and receive a place in His kingdom instead of your shack?