Paul’s Concern for the Galatians
Galations 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Many mistakenly believe and teach others that Paul undid all the instructions (law) of God. On that line though, one thought to consider is the book of Galations was a personal letter written specifically to the church in Galatia. It was not written to any of the other churches. So, if Paul was indeed saying that the law no longer needed to be observed why did he fail to write such important information to all the churches instead of just the one? Answer: because he didn't abolish the law. He was speaking something specifically to what was happening within the Galation church.
In the scripture given Paul was dealing with people who had come out of a life style deep in spiritual blindness and falseness. In verse 8 he reminds them that they were slaves to things that were not gods. They did not know Adoni and in ignorance they served idols. In verse 9 he says not only that they now know God but that God knows them and Paul asks them "how can you go back to those things? Do you wish to be enslaved by them again?". Verse 10 he says "you are observing special days, months, seasons, and years and I fear for you".
Now think about this...the Galations were not Jews so it was not the seasons the Lord set up ( Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shabbat, etc. seasons they had never observed until they came to know Adoni) that Paul was referring to. It was the pagan holidays and observances of the pagan Galations that Paul was talking about.
In verse 11 Paul states that in their returning to observing their previous alliance that he is fearful for them. He felt his time with them was a waste because he saw them returning to their past way of life.
Now there is much debate over many of the celebrations of the Christian church. Many do not celebrate at all what God says in His word that we are to observe. Instead, God's appointed days have been replaced with other observances. When we look closely at these replacement observances, they resemble many of the practices of ancient pagan religions. People try to say that they redeem the pagan celebrating by turning it to being all about Jesus. However, in Deut 12:1-4 Adoni specifically says "
Do the homework on your own. Check out the seasons that you observe and see if they might be something that Paul would have been fearful for you about.
Something to think about for sure!
Galations 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Many mistakenly believe and teach others that Paul undid all the instructions (law) of God. On that line though, one thought to consider is the book of Galations was a personal letter written specifically to the church in Galatia. It was not written to any of the other churches. So, if Paul was indeed saying that the law no longer needed to be observed why did he fail to write such important information to all the churches instead of just the one? Answer: because he didn't abolish the law. He was speaking something specifically to what was happening within the Galation church.
In the scripture given Paul was dealing with people who had come out of a life style deep in spiritual blindness and falseness. In verse 8 he reminds them that they were slaves to things that were not gods. They did not know Adoni and in ignorance they served idols. In verse 9 he says not only that they now know God but that God knows them and Paul asks them "how can you go back to those things? Do you wish to be enslaved by them again?". Verse 10 he says "you are observing special days, months, seasons, and years and I fear for you".
Now think about this...the Galations were not Jews so it was not the seasons the Lord set up ( Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shabbat, etc. seasons they had never observed until they came to know Adoni) that Paul was referring to. It was the pagan holidays and observances of the pagan Galations that Paul was talking about.
In verse 11 Paul states that in their returning to observing their previous alliance that he is fearful for them. He felt his time with them was a waste because he saw them returning to their past way of life.
Now there is much debate over many of the celebrations of the Christian church. Many do not celebrate at all what God says in His word that we are to observe. Instead, God's appointed days have been replaced with other observances. When we look closely at these replacement observances, they resemble many of the practices of ancient pagan religions. People try to say that they redeem the pagan celebrating by turning it to being all about Jesus. However, in Deut 12:1-4 Adoni specifically says "
12 These are the decrees and laws you must be careful to follow in the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you to possess—as long as you live in the land. 2 Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains, on the hills and under every spreading tree, where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. 3 Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from those places.
4 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way.
God spells it out that we are not to adopt pagan means of worship to fit in with worshiping HIM. He says we are to destroy it all. We are not to use it in any way, shape, or form.
Do the homework on your own. Check out the seasons that you observe and see if they might be something that Paul would have been fearful for you about.
Something to think about for sure!
