Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
Galatians 4:8-20 (NLT)
8-12 “Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so called gods that do not even exist. (9) So now that you know God (or should I say now that God knows you), why do you want to go back and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? (10) You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons of years. (11) I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. (12) Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws. You did not mistreat me when I first preached this to you.”
13-16 “Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. (14) But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God, or even Christ himself. (15) Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. (16) Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?”
17-18 “Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. (18) If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I am with you.”
19-20 Oh my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. (20) I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.”
Questions to ponder Copied from:
http://my-ccm.com/new-testament-questions/questions-about-the-book-of-galatians/
1) Who observed the days, months, times and years? (Galatians 4:10)
2) Who asked the Galatians “am I therefore your enemy, because I tell you the truth”? (Galatians 4:16)
3) What figurative birth does Paul wish to occur in the Galatians? (Galatians 4:19)
Answer: Paul wanted Christ to be fully developed in the Galatians. He wanted them to live in freedom from the law, and not to keep trying to earn God's favor. Our right standing with God cannot be earned, our justification comes only through faith in Jesus. That does not mean they were free to sin. Later in Paul's letter (chapter 5:16-17), he tells them to let the Holy Spirit guide their lives, and then they won't be doing what their sinful nature desires. The Holy Spirit places the correct desires in our hearts. Being led by the Holy Spirit is part of spiritual maturity, and that is was what Paul wished he could give birth to in the Galatian people.