The Threat of Legalism. Galatians 4:8-11.
Dear Redeemed of the Lord,
Paul has explained to the Galatians that the purpose of the law has been accomplished in Christ and they have no need of it anymore. Not satisfied that they have fully grasped his argument, he now says to them that the law is actually as irrelevant as their former heathen religion!
Past Idolatry (v. 8). The Roman world was polytheistic and idolatrous. Both the Romans and the Greeks each had a plethora of gods and their temples were a display of idols.
But these were false gods made by men. When the Galatians came to Christ, they got to know the true God who made man.
Present Ideal (v. 9a)Knowing God is the pinnacle of any sinners’ experience. In the words of Jesus, it is a crossing over “from death to life (John 5:24). In modern parlance, one who has found Christ has “arrived”.
Paul’s indignation (vv. 9b-11). Paul cannot understand that the Galatians are blind to the fact that legalism is a futile human effort, just like their former, hopeless idolatry. The same efforts produce the same results! Slavery (v. 9). They were in bondage to the ritualism of idolatry before, but to yield themselves to legalism would simply result in bondage to the law. It would be a simple switch of masters with no benefits accruing.
Seasons (v. 10). The nature of legalism is routine. It is like observing seasons. The seasons change, but they do not change you. The most you get out of it is a predictable regularity which unfortunately has no impact on your inner motives and attitudes.
Slide (v. 11)Paul’s fear is that they will fall back to the folly of human religion. That after his great and often painful effort, they would slide back to a way of life that was no better than what they had abandoned.
Paul wants the Christians to see that legalism is not an option for believers. We have an either/or situation.
It is not possible to be truly Christian and legalistic at the same time. If such a situation exists, then someone somewhere is engaged in some major self-deception exercise.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.