Dedicated to Truth

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Dedicated to Truth -> Sabbath School Lesson Study -> Lesson 9 Gal. 4:12-20 Paul's pastorial appeal
Post Info TOPIC: Lesson 9 Gal. 4:12-20 Paul's pastorial appeal
Dedication


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 303
Date:
Lesson 9 Gal. 4:12-20 Paul's pastorial appeal
Permalink  
 

Galatians 4:12-20

New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. 13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. 14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 What[a] then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. 18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, 20 I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

 

Memory Text:
“ Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are” (Galatians 4:12-20)

 

Quote from lesson:
"Paul has made a number of detailed and theologically sophisticated arguments to persuade the Galatians of their errors, and now he makes a more personal, pastoral appeal. Unlike the false teachers who had no true interest in the Galatians, Paul reveals the genuine concern, worry, hope, and love of a good shepherd for his wayward flock. He was not just correcting theology; he was seeking to minister to those whom he loved."

 

Paul had thought that his previous “labor” had been sufficient for their “safe delivery” when he founded the church. But now that the Galatians had wandered from the truth, Paul was experiencing those labor pains all over again in order to secure their well-being.

What goal did Paul have in mind for the Galatians? What result did he want to see from all his “labor” in their behalf? Gal. 4:19.

That Christ be formed in them.

Having first described the Galatians as being formed in the womb, Paul now speaks of the Galatians as if they were expectant mothers themselves. The word translated as “formed” was used medically to refer to the development of an embryo. Through this metaphor Paul describes what it means to be Christian, both individually and collectively as a church. To be a follower of Christ is more than just the profession of faith; it involves a radical transformation into the likeness of Christ.



__________________
Dedication


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 303
Date:
Permalink  
 

(from Waggoner, "The Glad Tidings, Studies in Galatians")

"Ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the Gospel unto you the first time."

From the incidental statements in this Epistle we can easily gather the history of the experience of the Galatian brethren, and of Paul's relation to it. Having been detained in Galatia by physical weakness, he preached the Gospel "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power," so that the people saw Christ crucified among them, and, accepting Him, were filled with the power and joy of the Holy Ghost. Their joy and blessedness in the Lord was testified to publicly, and they suffered much persecution in consequence; but this they counted as nothing. Paul, in spite of his physical handicaps  (compare 1Cor.2:1-5; 2Cor.10:10), was received as God's own messenger, because of the joyful news that he brought. So highly did they appreciate the riches of grace which he had opened up to them, that they would gladly have given their own eyes to supply his deficiency. All this is referred to in order that the Galatians may see from what they have fallen, as they consider their present barrenness, and that they may know that the apostle was disinterested in his solicitude for them. He told them the truth once, and they rejoiced in it; it is not possible that he is become their enemy because he continues to tell them the same truth.

But there is still more in these personal references. We must not imagine that Paul was pleading for personal sympathy when he referred to his afflictions, and to the great inconvenience under which he had labored. Far from it. Not for a moment did he lose sight of the purpose for which he was writing, namely, to show that "the flesh profiteth nothing," but that everything of good is from the Holy Spirit of God. The Galatians had "begun in the Spirit." Paul was naturally small of stature, and weak in body, and was suffering special affliction when he first met them; yet, in spite of his almost absolute helplessness, he preached the Gospel with such mighty power that none could fail to see that there was a real, although unseen, presence with him. The Gospel is not of man, but of God.

It was not made known to them by the flesh, and they were not indebted to the flesh for any of the blessings that they had received. What blindness, what infatuation, then, for them to think to perfect by their own efforts that which nothing but the power of God could begin! Have we learned this lesson?



__________________
Dedication


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 303
Date:
Permalink  
 

"become as I am, for I also have become as you are"

To understand this statement we need to go back to Paul's confrontation with Peter. 

"I said to Peter in front of everyone, If you, being a Jew, are living after the manner of Gentiles, and not as the Jews are living, why do you compell  the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?"  (2:14)

So how had Paul (and Peter) become as Gentiles?

By giving up the idea that because they were Jews (their circumcision proving it) they were God's special people.  Instead they realized they were sinners on the same level as everyone else needing to come to the cross of Christ for forgiveness.  Thus they became as the Gentiles in desperate need of a Savior.

The Gentiles to become like them -- in coming to Jesus for their salvation and walking with Him in newness of life.  

 So the former self righteous Saul realized none of that ritual legalism that was a driving force in his early life, earned him salvation.  He became Paul, the man whose only glory was the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross; the One who saved him from his sins and accepted him as a child of God.   Paul gave  all the energies of the rest of his life in sharing the gospel and serving His Savior.



__________________
Dedication


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 303
Date:
Permalink  
 

The main thrust in the message is --

Don't return to walking by the flesh (ie. outward rituals and ceremonies to please the gods but the life remains unchanged)

But walk after the spirit (ie. depending fully upon God's presence in our lives which changes, transforms the whole person.)

 

 

2 Corinthians 10

 

The Spiritual War

 

1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

This is not berating the Galatians for walking according to the commandments of God, but for looking to outward rituals and ceremonies as the key to acceptance with God, while depending upon self and doing their own thing in their daily lives.

While even the ten commandments can be REDUCED to this in the minds of people when they walk according to the flesh, yet they are NOT really kept in that state.

It is ONLY when we live by the spirit, that the warfare against sin, evil desires and thoughts can be thrown down and kept in subjection in our lives.  Only then can God's law be fulfilled in us.

Only then can people see that we "let (y)our light so shine before men that they see (y)our good works and glorify God"  Matt. 5:16



__________________
Dedication


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 303
Date:
Permalink  
 

Note the pattern.

Paul's advise to "be as I am".

Philippians 4:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

 

Paul is asking People to take note of those who walk placing their full confidence and hope in Christ. 
Their minds are set on heavenly things and their lives change.

In contrast, those walk according to the flesh may follow the rituals and ceremonies but their minds are set on earthly things, they are controlled by the lusts and desires of the flesh.  Their lives are not changed and their future is sadly destruction.



__________________
Dedication


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 303
Date:
Permalink  
 

Acts 26:28-30

New King James Version (NKJV)

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
29 And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”

What does Paul have that King Agrippa does not?

It's the message Paul was sharing with the king:

(vs18) to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

Paul may be bound by chains, but he is free from the power of Satan and in the care and keeping of the redeeming God of heaven.

The king may have things of earth but they are all bound for destruction, Paul is assured of an eternal inheritance in the kingdom of God!



__________________
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Dedicated to Truth -> Sabbath School Lesson Study -> Lesson 9 Gal. 4:12-20 Paul's pastorial appeal


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard