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Galatians 4:1 - 4:31

     In this Book of Galatians, Paul is teaching us the freedom we now have in our faith on Jesus Christ, our Savior. Before Christ died on the cross for us, offering us Salvation, God's Law through Moses is all there was, besides a Promise of the coming Salvation through Christ. God's Law merely pointed the Way to Christ in righteousness. Paul continues further in Galatians with the meaning of faith in Christ verses those who wish to be justified by The Law.
     We ask a Word of Wisdom from our Father in Christ's Name, Amen.

Gal 4:1   Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
2    But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

     Paul's using the analogy of a child prince who is to be 'heir' to the throne, but not yet ready, needing to be taught the ways of the kingdom. That child prince is going to be under tutors and governesses until the transfer of the reign. Even though those tutors are servants to the king and his child, they have authority over the child until the appointed time of rule. That child has to learn how to become useful to the kingdom.

Gal 4:3   Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
4    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5    To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

     This word 'elements' is 'stoicheion' in the Greek meaning 'something orderly; to march in (military) rank (keep step)' (Strong's nos. 4747; 4748). This word 'elements' is also the rudiments of this flesh world named by Peter in 2 Peter 3:10. When God's Kingdom comes in, those 'elements' will exist no longer.
     Paul is talking about how God's People were in bondage under God's Law before Christ came in the flesh. Christ was born 'under the law' just as we, but He showed us The Way, as He was Perfect in God's Law. And Christ died on the cross for all, not just for Israelites, if... we be Christ's. That means we must make the move to accept Him as our Savior. God's Law handed down through Moses couldn't, and still can't offer that Salvation in Christ.
     It's important to remember why Paul began this Message to the Galatians, as some of Judah were trying to bring the Gentiles into bondage of being justified by The Law instead of Christ. The particular grievance was over flesh circumcision. Is God's Law bad then? God forbid. Some will take Paul's Message here in Galatians and teach that we are to just throw away all of God's Law, not just the 'ordinances' and dogma which Christ fulfilled on the cross. I John 3 tells us what the definition of sin is:

I Jn 3:4   Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5    And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.

     How do we know when we sin? God's Law tells us. The coming of Messiah Jesus Christ to offer Salvation fulfilled The Law upon the cross. But does that mean do away with It? Christ would even teach in His Gospel about following His Commandments, which shows that all of God's Law is not just thrown out the window (John 14:15; 21; 15:10; Luke 10:25-28; Matt.22:36-40; Matt.7:12;).
     Paul taught these same Messages in Romans, which helps lay the foundation of Christianity. Let's turn to Rom.7:6:

Rom 7:6   But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

     In what sense does Paul mean 'delivered from the law'? What part of us was delivered from The Law? Paul means our 'soul', our 'inner spiritual man'. It can be no other way, since Christ did not offer us Salvation of the 'flesh', but of our 'spirit', the real part of us. Our 'spirit' has need of being renewed (reborn) through Christ for each soul to claim His offer of eternal life.

Rom 7:7    What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, "Thou shalt not covet."

     Our 'inner spiritual self' in Christ is now dead to the Law, but not our flesh. Our flesh will ever sin against God's Perfect Law. That Law was to show us that we can't do our own Salvation, that we need Jesus Christ. When we break God's Law by sinning, but have a change of heart and repent to Christ, we now have the opportunity for redemption through forgiveness in Christ. So then, we are to live by Christ's Spirit in us, and not seek to be justified by The Law. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us in that manner. So does this mean it's OK to go out and commit adultery, fornication, sorcery, witchcraft, etc.? Of course not. Do you think God's Spirit would lead us into any of those sins? No again, because those acts are of the flesh, i.e. Satan's kingdom.
     Another question; are we to just let murderers run free now? What about thieves, child molesters, those who lay with beasts, etc.? How do these evils compare with Paul's Message here in Galatians dealing with circumcision according to God's Law? Isn't it extreme to think that since the Law of circumcision was fulfilled upon the cross by Christ, that all murderers are now to go free? Yet many people can't seem to separate the difference, listening to false prophets and Satan's workers. And for these deceptions, the evil exists right among us today, and it was all foretold by God's prophets in The Old Testament, by Paul's Epistles, and through John in Revelation.
     At the same time, today many in Christ are being led back into bondage of The Law by not understanding our 'Rest' in Christ Who became our Sabbath (Heb.4); and by re-instituting ordinances which were fulfilled on the cross. And some are very judgmental about other Christians who don't comply, saying they take part in a certain ancient Christian Church which changed the day of worship centuries ago. How is it that many hard criminals are set free today, while many Christians are being led back into bondage?
     Now back to Galatians 4:

Gal 4:6   And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father."
7    Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

     Paul is referring to the term 'sons of God' in these verses (John 1:12; Rom.8; Phil.2:15; 1 John 3;). Is that office of the flesh? No. What then? Of the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us, even while we are still in this flesh body! This goes back to what Paul taught in I Cor.15:50 that 'flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God'. That coming Kingdom will not be a flesh existence, but a spiritual one. So then, our 'spirit' in Christ is no longer a servant to The Law, because we are joint-heirs through Jesus Christ, a Kingdom to come on earth, of The Spirit, and not of the flesh.

Gal 4:8   Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

     There's more than one Message by Paul in this verse. GOD cast away His People out of the land He gave them, for following idols of the nations instead of our Father. Since Paul is speaking here in Galatians, to the Gauls, or Celts, part of this Message is to the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. The other part is to all those, Jew and Gentile both, who once served idols of wood, metal, and stone, "...which by nature are no gods," but now turn to Christ.

Gal 4:9   But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

     Going back to those 'idols' is what the word apostasy means. Christ set us free from all those traditions which cause bondage. Now that Christ became our Perfect Sacrifice, our Passover, why would anyone want to go back to practicing those things?
     Then how does The Holy Spirit guide us today? Does God's Spirit guide us to do evil, or good? Question; do you think a 'convicted' murderer should be able to pay a ransom to escape punishment? What answer is God's Spirit telling you right now, if you listen? Letting a murderer go free for a price after being found guilty is crazy isn't it? Do you know what God's Law says:

Num 35:31   Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

     The word 'satisfaction' is kopher in the Hebrew meaning 'a cover; a redemption price' (Strong's no.3724). If you said no, that a guilty murderer should not go free, then you just agreed to God's Law. Another question: did Christ fulfill on the cross The Law dealing with the sin of murder? No, and murder is still punishable by execution in several States. Now you know where that Law originated. A couple verses back in Num.35 lets us know that the death penalty is a 'statute of judgment', not an 'ordinance', such as circumcision.

Gal 4:10   Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

     Christ became our 'Sabbath', our 'Rest' (Heb.4). He also became our Passover sacrificed for us (1 Cor.5:7). Just as flesh circumcision is a healthy practice, if you want to do that for health reasons, great! But don't make a religion out of it. That's all Paul is saying. If you want to hold to a Saturday Church service instead of Sunday, fine. But don't make a religion out of it. Likewise, to slaughter a lamb for dinner, is OK; but don't make a religion out it, trying to bring back ritual sacrifice! "If you step on a crack, you break your grandmother's...", or "hold up your feet when you go over a railroad track", so goes old sayings by children. Get rid of all those silly hang-ups which will keep you in bondage, and not in freedom to Christ.

Gal 4:11   I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12    Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13    Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14    And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

     Paul is saying he's afraid 'for' them, lest they forget The Gospel of Christ once preached to them, Which is freedom, not bondage. Paul's speaking especially to his brethren the Jews, with 'be as I am'. Paul being born a Benjamite, he was strict in The Law also, as they. But being in Christ, now means forgiveness when we sin against God's Law. Not a license to sin, but redemption because we can't be perfect in It.
     If these Jews had understood Paul's Message here, then they wouldn't have been trying to pressure the Gentiles into being justified by The Law instead of Christ. We know they were failing in being perfect to God's Law, so maybe they wanted company in bondage?

Gal 4:15   Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

     Paul's asking them where that receiving of The Gospel of Christ in happiness and joy was which they so gladly received at the beginning. He's letting them know that he remembers that first preaching, so how could they let themselves be so misled from That Beautiful Gospel?
     Isn't that how the flesh gets misled so easily, that is to say, through appearances? How many times have we accepted what someone with a bunch of worldly credentials taught or said, or one backed by some big world organization, wearing nice clothes, driving up in a fancy car, etc.? But the old farmer back in the hills, the deceived ones think is dumber than a rock. If the sight of wealth and smell of money stirs their respect, then they've got problems that'll tear them away from Christ.

Gal 4:16   Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17    They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18   But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

     By these Galatians accepting what the certain 'false brethren' were teaching, they were excluding themselves from Christ. By the phrase 'that ye might affect them', Paul's saying those false ones were doing it to set themselves up as a supposed authority over these Gentiles. That's the old pride system working through the flesh, on both sides of the fence. If we know what God says in His Word through study, then no matter how 'smooth' one is in trying to turn our faith in Christ around, we won't be drawn into it. It's that simple. Then the soothsayer will have to go somewhere else to try and push their false pride authority.

Gal 4:19   My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20    I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

     Paul is saying he's going through 'labor pains' to get these Galatians back on the path to Christ. Got to get rid of all those false traditions which destroy our freedom in Christ.
     Verse 20 shows Paul's sincerity in this matter, as he would rather be present with them and speaking to these Galatians in a different tone of voice, not one of chastisement and rebuke.

Gal 4:21    Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
22    For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23    But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

     "Don't you hear The Law, didn't you understand It's purpose, haven't you read?" That's what Paul is asking them. He's getting ready to go deep here with an important analogy.
     Abraham's wife Sarai (later changed to Sarah) was barren, so she gave her Egyptian handmaiden Hagar to wife for Abraham (Gen.16). This first son was Ishmael, and was not born to the Covenant Promise, but 'was born after the flesh', as GOD had no part in this first union concerning Hagar, a bondwoman. GOD had already told Abraham that from him a seed would come to possess the land of the Canaanites (Gen.15).

Gal 4:24   Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

     The word 'allegory' means a parable, analogy, etc. Paul is telling us the True meanings of the two Covenants, the first being towards bondage, and of the flesh, while the second is of the Promise of Salvation, and is freedom through Christ Jesus.
     The word 'Agar' is 'Hagar' in the Hebrew (Strong's no.28). Since Hagar was a bondservant to Sarai, she represents the first Covenant given by GOD through Moses on Sinai. Ishmael would be blessed by GOD, even producing the dukes which formed the Arab nations of today.

Gal 4:25   For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

     Again, this word 'Agar' is Greek for 'Hagar'. Here Paul uses Hagar to represent Sinai and the Covenant of bondage. Even today, there are many of Hagar and Isaac which do not accept the New Covenant of Promise in Jesus Christ. Those still hold to the Old Covenant for their supposed salvation. It won't happen for them, not updating their knowledge of the Covenant of Promised Salvation to accept Christ as Savior. So many of both Jew and Arab, and any others not accepting Christ, are still in bondage of the Hagar, the bondwoman of Abraham.

Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

     Well where is that Jerusalem which is above? That Jerusalem above is The Holy City, where GOD dwells. It's not the one on earth right now in the Holy Land. The Heavenly Jerusalem, 'which is the mother' of all souls, is wherever GOD and His Son are. Are They here on earth today in Person? Not yet.
     Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ mentioned in John 3:3 that one must be 'born again' to partake of that Heavenly Jerusalem. Religious traditions have turned that phrase into a type of advertising slogan, and most of them don't know what it means to truly be 'born again'. The word 'again' in John 3:3 is 'anothen' in the Greek meaning 'from above' (Strong's no.509). Be born 'from above' where? Those who don't properly understand about the first time 'of old', i.e. first earth age, won't rightly get the meaning. Each soul must come down from Heaven during this flesh age, being born 'of water' one time, meaning through the sack of water in woman's womb, and that soul must also be born from above in 'newness of spirit' by accepting Christ as Savior (Rom.7; John 3). That's what Christ's answer to Nicodemus in John 3 meant.
     If you've understood about the first earth age covered in Genesis 1 and Jeremiah 4, then you should understand that Eden was a symbol for The Holy City of GOD dwelling upon earth before the sin by Adam and Eve in the Garden of GOD. All souls were created in the beginning by our Father Yahoveh (Gen.2:1; Ezek.18).
     Paul covers more about this 'heavenly Jerusalem' in Hebrews 12. You might want to go over this in Hebrews 12, as That Holy City from GOD is coming down out of Heaven to earth in the future (Rev.3; 21). This mask of flesh will soon be removed forever.

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