Bible Reading: Galatians 4
Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you…
Paul saw the people that he had led to Christ as his spiritual children. There are several times that he spoke in this way.
1 Corinthians 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
Paul had a deep affection and concern for the well-being of these disciples like a father would have concern for his children. He wanted them to prosper in the faith. However, he knew they were floundering. They had been infiltrated by false brethren who were teaching them doctrines that were contrary to the truth in Christ. They were being told that they needed to keep the law in order to be saved. Paul had led them to Christ and they had received the gospel and were believers. Yet, they were being taught false doctrine and Paul wanted to help them see the light of truth.
Paul uses a metaphor of birth pains to describe his concern and anguish for these believers. He had seen them born again when they received Jesus. Now he was in agony once again wanting them to allow Jesus to have control of their lives instead of the false teachers. Being a Christian is about knowing and following Jesus. It is not about religion and ritual. These believers had been influenced by religionists and Paul was hurting for them.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
If you are born again, Jesus lives in you. This is the mystery of the gospel and a wonderful reality. Paul knew these believers had Christ; he wanted them to allow him to fully have them. This is a powerful verse that teaches us that being Christ-like and being legalistic are not the same thing! Keeping rules and laws does not make you righteous. Seeing Christ in you is what righteousness looks like.
As a spiritual parent, Paul wanted these believers to walk in the truth of Jesus. Do you walk in the truth of Jesus? The key is to realize that Christ is in you and allow Him to have all of you. Don’t go back to bondage. Live in the liberty of Jesus!
In Christ,
Rody
