Presented by Bob DeWaay

November 24, 2013

The Danger of Turning Back

Galatians 4:8-11

Our Previous Status in Unbelief

Galatians 4:8 (NRSV)

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.

They had gone from slaves to sons through the gospel, they had been slaves to the stoicheia

These “beings” were at the same time sham “gods” and demons (1Corinthians 10:20)

“know” is relational as in the next verse

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Known by God

Galatians 4:9a

Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God,

Verse 8 “formerly” contrasts “now” with the difference being conversion

Paul uses a literary device of “rhetorical self correction” to emphasize God’s priority in conversion

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Back to the Stoicheia

Galatians 4:9b “NRSV”

how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again?

“turn back” (epistrepho_) is a term used in Acts for conversion, here it would be reverse conversion

A return to Torah is considered a return to paganism!

The stoicheia are demonic beings feared by the people of Asia Minor as the source of bad fate

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There is no Religious Calendar under the New Covenant

Galatians 4:10 (NRSV)

You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years.

They were evidently keeping the Jewish calendar Days of worship are a matter of Christian liberty

under the New Covenant To keep the Old Covenant religious calendar is to

be under demonic slavery

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Paul’s Serious Concern

Galatians 4:11 (NRSV)

I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted

Reversion to the Law of Moses would be apostasy However, God will preserve us from apostasy by

issuing serious warnings like this Paul addresses the Galatians as ‘brothers’ (1:11;

3:15; 4:12; 4:31; 5:11; 6:1; 6:18)

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Faith is about Christ and what God has done for us in Christ, not what we do for God

Works righteousness is a poison pill to faith

If we are unthankful for freedom, we shall blaspheme God’s work of salvation by opting for religious slavery

Implications and Applications

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What God has done for us

2Corinthians 5:21

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Verse 20 says; . . .we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Conversion is turning to God from idolatry (1Thessalonians 1:9)

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Works Righteousness is a Poison Pill

Galatians 5:4

You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

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Thank God for Freedom and do not go back!

Galatians 5:1

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

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