Galatians 4:12-20

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Paul’s Concern for the Galatian Believers to Grow in Christ

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. False teachers are not concerned about their own integrity.

  2. False teachers are not concerned about the welfare of others.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Have you gone into labor lately?

  2. Would the apostle Paul be perplexed about you?

QUESTIONS

  1. Why did the apostle Paul say to the Galatians that he was perplexed about them?

  2. What were the non-Christian Judaizers teaching?

  3. What were the Christian Judaizers teaching?

  4. “Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you.” What did Paul mean by this?

  5. What is meant by the expression, “pluck out your own eyes?”

ANSWERS

  1. Because the Galatian Christians had come under the influence of the false teaching of Judaism, and Paul was concerned that they were turning away from the pure gospel of God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

  2. They were teaching that the keeping of the law was necessary for salvation.

  3. They acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior, but they said that sanctification came by keeping the Mosaic Law.

  4. Paul said this because he had been under the law before he became a Christian, but then he was free from the law after he became a Christian. He was refuting the works-oriented salvation and works-oriented sanctification as taught by the Judaizers. He was concerned when some of the Galatian believers were under the spell of the Judaizers.

  5. It means giving up everything for someone.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Paul asked the Galatian believers, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16) The same is true today. When false teachers cannot deny the message, they attack the messenger, with no concern about their own integrity. Have you seen this happen?

  2. The false teachers did whatever they could to alienate the Galatian converts from the apostle Paul. How is the same thing happening today?

CHALLENGE

  1. Paul likened his relationship with the Galatians to a mother with a baby. He wanted the Galatian converts to grow in grace, and he was so concerned for them that he went into labor for them, figuratively speaking. Are you as concerned about the new Christians that you know?

  2. Paul wrote to the Galatian church, “I have my doubts about you.” (Galatians 4:20) Suppose the apostle Paul looked at your life and lifestyle; would he have doubts about your commitment to Christ? Would he see a woeful lack of Bible teaching? Would he see church-going and rule-keeping, but not a lot of love and devotion to Christ?

KEY VERSES

  • “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16) “They zealously court you, but for no good…” (Galatians 4:17) “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19) “I have doubts about you.” (Galatians 4:20)

Galatians, New Testament, TalksDeb HarmsGalatians 4:12-20