8 But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all. 9 Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 [For example,] you observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [to the point of exhaustion] over you in vain.

Galatians 4:8-11 (AMP) 中文

Pure Gospel of Jesus

This letter from Paul to Christ followers living in the area of Galatia is all about the means of salvation. The Judiazer’s were spreading a false gospel of faith plus works. With full apostolic authority Paul sharply corrects this false teaching. In chapter 3, Paul compares the law to the promise. He has shown how they are complementary, not contrary and, the law’s purpose. He is now focusing in chapter 4 on the Gentiles – to address freedom from the law, the “elementary principles” (4:3).

Worshiping gods

Are you headed to the temple today to baibai (as they’d say in Taiwan) or to burn incense at the family altar? These Galatians did. However, those in Western civilizations don’t traditionally outright worship gods, statues, etc. But even in Western cultures there has been an incorporation of more gods. In fact, truth be told, westerners, even followers of Christ, do indeed worship gods. We set up idols in our hearts. Money, job, power, sex, favorite actor, desire to get some thing and get it the way we like it; these things can all become idols.

Known by God

Did this phrase jump out at you like it did me? It is so interesting that not only does Paul use this phrase, he highlights it by first intentionally saying “we know God” but then amends it to “known by God”. This seems so powerful. In the miniseries, The Chosen, in the end of the first episode, Jesus says to Mary, “you are mine”. God calls us His. He found us. We were the ones lost.  “It is really more important that God knows us (in the sense of an intimate, accepting relationship) than it is that we know God. Remember the terrible words of judgment in Matthew 7:21-23: ‘I never knew you.’” (enduringword.com)

Wasted effort?

Paul continues his reprimand of his beloved church in the Galatia area. He genuinely cares about them and cares a great deal. He has, as with all his churches, invested a great deal – even his whole life – in seeing them saved and grounded in the faith, and growing in their knowledge of the Lord (Coll 1:10, 2 Peter 3:18). If they fall for this false gospel (chapter 3) or return to pagan religions, the state of the salvation is in jeopardy. Not that they can lose it, but that maybe they never truly understood and believed.

RЯeflection

• Have we turned from the idols or our hearts? Or are we like these foolish Galatians who are going back to them and leaving the freedom and salvation found in faith in Christ alone? It’s always a good time to take a break, get alone with the Lord, ask His Spirit to search us (Psalm 51) then confess & repent. If we have idols in our heart, take steps to address them.

• Are you lost? Do you need to be found by God, to be known by the Almighty creator God?  If so click here.
• Rest and rejoice in the truth that God found us (followers of Christ) and He knows us.