Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: Gal. 4:8-20 Feb. 23, 2025

Message: “Pains of Childbirth!

by Pastor George Gnade

Intro.:

1. As most of you know, we are studying Paul’s letter to the Galatians. On his first missionary journey, he led many of them to Christ.

a. But Judaizers had come immediately after Paul left and convinced many of them that they had to be circum-cised and follow all the rules of the O.T. in addition to accepting Christ.

b. Paul had taught them that salvation was a free gift that could not be bought or earned. But God’s law said you had to keep the whole law if you were going to save yourself. Keeping some but not others could not save you.

2. So the Galatians were trying to do two incompatible things. 

a. If Jesus died and paid the penalty for all our sins, then eternal life was a free gift given to those who asked Jesus to forgive them and come into their hearts. And Jesus gets all the credit.

b. But if we also have to keep all the laws of the O.T., then we would have earned eternal life, and we would get all the credit.

3. But the truth of the matter is that none of us can keep the law perfectly. While the law is good, it cannot save us. It only condemns us. 

a. The only one who kept the law perfectly was Jesus. 

Since He never sinned, He qualified to pay the penalty for our sins.

b. As it says in Rom. 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” And “whosever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

4. In Gal. 1-4, Paul has explained all of this. But he was not sure the Galatians were listening to him. That is what the passage we are studying today is all about. He approaches this in three ways.

A. First of all, he warns them of the danger of turning back.

1. In Gal. 4: 8-9, Paul writes: “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God…, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?”

a. Haven’t you ever said: “I can’t do  this?”Haven’t you ever felt like you were a slave to some sin and you couldn’t help it?

b. There were 613 laws given to the Israelites. Trying to keep all those laws was like a heavy burden. It included all kinds of “special days and months and seasons and years” (Vs. 10). 

2. Jesus came to set us free from all of that! Paul wrote in vs. 11: “I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”

a. Paul felt like everything he had taught them was going in one ear and out the other. He was afraid he had wasted his time! As a pastor, I have often felt that way too. 

b. When Christians say to me: “I’m afraid I am not good enough to go to heaven”, they are looking at them- selves instead of claiming the promise of Jesus that He paid the penalty for all their sins.

c. Or when people say: “When I look at other Christians, I know I’m as good as they are. So I’m sure I will get to heaven.” They are still assuming they can save themselves by comparing themselves to others. They can’t. 

3. As it says in Rom. 3:23, “All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” If you are still trusting in yourself and not the Lord Jesus Christ, then I have wasted my time. You are still trying to work for your salvation instead of thanking Jesus for your salvation. 

B. Secondly, he tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. In vs. 12, he writes: “I plead with you brothers…”

1. In Gal. 4: 7, Paul had explained how in Christ, we are sons and daughters of God and heirs of heaven. That means God wants us to treat each other as spiritual brothers and sisters. 

a. Apparently, while Paul was on his first missionary journey, he became sick and could not travel much farther. That is why he came to Galatia in the first place. Yet in spite of his illness, they were very kind to him and believed the gospel he shared with them.

b. This illness seems to have had something to do with his eyes. Paul shares how the gospel filled their hearts with so much joy that “ if (they) could have done so, (they) would have torn out (their) own eyes and given them to (him)” (Gal. 4:15).

2. But after the Judaizers came and influenced what apparently they now believed, it also affected how they treated Paul. In vs. 16, Paul says: “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”

a. What Paul experienced has often happened to you or me. Our families and friends may like us until we have to correct them.

b. Sometimes it has to do with what the Bible says about an issue of importance. Other times it may be because of wrong behavior that needs to be corrected. 

For one reason or another, they suddenly begin to treat us differently, as if we were their enemies.  

3. The Bible wants us to share the truth. But we are commanded to share the truth in a loving way. If we do it in an unloving way, then we ourselves may be partially to blame for the change in their behavior toward us.

4. Other times we may be judged for “judging them.” But sharing the truth of God’s Word in a loving way is not judging them. Otherwise we could never preach the gospel or call people to repent.  

a. When Jesus said: “Judge not lest you be judged,” it has more to do with getting even with others who hurt us. 

God says: “Vengeance is mine. I will repay.” 

b. How we treat others is how God may treat us. 

5. But the Bible commands pastors and evangelists to share the gospel and call people to repent. Otherwise, He may hold us guilty for not warning them while we could. 

6. If they claim to be our brother or sister in Christ, certainly we should be concerned about what they believe and how they live. But pray before you do so and hope you don’t become their enemy for telling them the truth.

C. Thirdly, Paul talks about “the pains of childbirth” 

(vs. 19). Of course, he is talking spiritually.

1. Many women go through extreme pain while bearing children, and many times they think the baby is coming only to be told it will take a lot longer. Sadly, many times the baby does not make it, and sometimes the mother doesn’t make it either.

a. Spiritually speaking, sharing Christ is not always easy. Paul was literally stoned while preaching in Lystra; by grace, he was raised back up. All over the world today, it is becoming more and more dangerous to preach the gospel. Many men and women suffer for it.

b. Why do they suffer? They suffer because they want to bring others to salvation in Christ. They want spiritual children. They want the joy of seeing people they love in heaven. And by God’s grace, they will!

2. But sadly, Paul is admitting that sometimes our efforts may not succeed. Sometimes, after a person seems sincere and accepts Christ, they turn back. It is like getting ready to deliver a baby, only to be told he is not ready. Paul calls this becoming “perplexed about you” (Vs. 20). 

a. He does not want to judge them, and obviously he is continuing to try to persuade them. But in the end, he senses that “Christ has (not yet) been formed” in them.

b. We have all heard the saying: “If you don’t succeed, try, try again.” So we don’t want to give up on others. But in the end, only God knows a person’s heart and God will be the final judge. 

In conclusion: 1. Paul certainly believed that at least some of them were truly saved. But based on how easily they slipped away, he was concerned that others didn’t know what they were doing.

2. Praise God, “the Lord knows those who are His…” The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit. We can trust Him.

By God’s grace, I pray all of us may have the privilege of leading someone else to the Lord. Amen!