Gal. 4:31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Paul has taken quite some time with his logical application of the Scripture for these ‘bewitched’ Galatians. He is concerned for them, because a “fall from grace” stops the forming of the Christ within. (cf. v. 19)
The “falling from grace” (5:4) will be probably be dealt with by others next week as we delve into chapter 5; but let me say plainly here that it is not about losing one’s salvation. It is about forgetting the reality.
Paul concludes this part of his argument by stating a fact: we are not children of the slave woman, Hagar (flesh); and we do not answer to Sinai (legalism).
Many Christians have a problem with this reality, even though it is a fact plainly stated here and elsewhere in the Word (Romans 7).
The problem with the fact is that we do not reckon it to be so. We choose to believe what our senses tell us rather than what the Spirit says. Our senses tell us that we are still in bondage, because we sin. Satan “verifies” this for us by telling us that we will always be sinners. And, when we look at our situation, we believe him.
And so we do not ‘see’ the reality in our life.
And since we believe this lie, it is easy to accept the next lie: we must DO SOMETHING. And the more we “do” the more we discover that we can’t keep up with the do’s. When we fall short on a ‘do’, we come under condemnation. The condemnation brings about a greater sense of unworthiness. The unworthiness brings about a loss of hope. And despair brings about a whole set of its own problems.
Pretty soon, we believe we are not saved, and we turn to the Lord in faith (once again) to start all over again.
I have watched and lived this cycle.
This cycle is not of God.
What is missing? Why do so many have these problems?
The surest, quickest glib answer is a lack of teaching. And this is somewhat true (Hos. 4:6). But there is plenty of teaching around. Sadly to say, however, there are not many students. That is, there are not many who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matt. 5:6).
What is lacking is revelation.
Without revelation, one gets the letter of the Word, but not the spirit. Without revelation, one fills their mind, but not their heart. Without revelation, one has the behavior, but not the attitude. Without revelation, one has the words, but not the truth.
Ther is no magic formula to produce revelation. Jesus said some have been given eyes to see and ears to hear, and some have not. Revelation is the gift of God. He gives it to those who want it.
Do you hunger for God? (Psalm 42:1) Do you pursue righteousness? (1 Tim. 6:11) Do you strive for holiness? (Heb. 12:14)
If you do, and you are still having times of being in the recurring cycle mentioned above, then I would encourage you to spend much time in chapters 3 & 4 of Galatians. Stay there until the revelation dawns on your heart.
Between the reckoning and the reality is the revelation.
NOTE: This is the fourth in a weekly posting on the Epistle to the Galatians. I am not the only one who is writing on this book. There are others who will be posting something on their blog each day of the week. We are each bringing something that the Lord gives us from chapter four of the epistle. You will be greatly blessed and encouraged, and your heart will be filled if you will take the time to read each day’s posting from one of the other saints involved in this collective effort. Put this link in your “favorites” or on your link bar at the top of your browser: http://www.philter48.com/bbs/ and make it a point to visit everyday.
Practical Bible Teaching 
I hear you addressing the issue of assurance of our Salvation. If God saved us, he surely is capable of keeping us. The enemy attacks on this one all the time. A few passages of scripture to nail him with:
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
“We accept man’s testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Any one who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
(I John 5:9-12)
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (I John 5:13)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you. Through faith you are shielded by God’s power until the coming of salvation…” (1 Peter 1:3-5)
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Thanks for the arsenal
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My pleasure, Dale! They have done me well. Our assurance rests in Him and and His word, not in our emotions.
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God has been showing me about His grace lately… it is truly sufficient, in every aspect of our lives and walk with Him. It’s enough…. how could we ever think we could add a single thing to what He did, or does that would make it better? I’ve tried, it’s so much easier to just rest in Him. Thank you Dale. 🙂
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So good Dale. I so desire revelation of His word for my life.
It’s there for the asking. I know this and intend to ask for more time in the Word and more revelation to live the live He died for us to have.
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This is just incredibly good writing, Dale. In one sense, I don’t know you from the proverbial “Adam”, but you’ve helped me in many ways in just one short week of reading your “stuff”. Big thanks to Deb for pointing me to Carl’s BBS.
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Thank you for the kind words. We write in hopes that someone, somewhere, somehow will gain a benefit from our labor. Sometimes we are given the benefit of someone actually saying so–like you did here. Thanks.
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love this Dale! We are spiritual offspring of Abraham, chapter 3 specifies that. The enemy is a sneaky serpent even today (figuratively of course), and we are still no match for him, but if we stay in the shadow of our KING, we are promised to be overcomers. This is a beautiful well written post, and one I am sure to read again and again. (Sorry i am so late in getting to the blog! love ya)
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Stop on by anytime. Ain’t no such thing as late when we are following the Spirit.
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