#154-G100 ~ Galatians 4:11-12a
I begin with a brief review of the fact that while all the Bible is FOR us it is not all TO us or about us. I mention this often because this is a principle every believer needs to understand if they’re to ever reach spiritual maturity. Without this understanding Scripture seems contradictory. The reality is that it is not at all. But it is in understanding the principle of right division that enables someone to sort things out correctly.
Since the time the apostle Paul was with these people they’ve come to believe some false doctrine that’s been put out. Paul here seeks to correct them, as he so often works to do with all those to whom he was ministering.
We here continue with Galatians 4:9. We must always realize that the Christian way of life is a whole lot more than just a system of do’s and don’ts. In this case they had gotten back involved with trying to live under the teachings of the Mosaic Law. Paul’s teaching is quite different. But it represents God’s way of life for His people then and today.
We then continue with Galatians 4:11. I here pose several important questions and discuss them. 1-How long do you work with someone to convince them of the truth? 2-If people don’t respond to your help, does that mean you have failed in your work with them?
We then look at 2 Timothy 1:15 and what follows. What lessons we can learn from this? Then we look at the earthly ministry of Christ and how few there were who responded. Matthew 26:29 and what follows tells us about this. What great lessons we can learn from this passage!
We then conclude this lesson with some comments about Galatians 4:1 and 1 Corinthians 4:15-16. If only the church of today would heed this command to follow Paul and his teaching. It is denominationalism that is the outcome of disobedience to this. Commands such as 1 Corinthians 11:1 have been ignored. The end result has been a tremendous amount of confusion and division.
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