23rd June 2023 – Galatians 4:8-11
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[d]? 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.
Different explanations have been offered to explain why people should develop such a misleading idea of God as that described in yesterday's Note. Some would have us believe that an overdue emphasis on the sovereignty of God, His holiness and majesty, tends to create this kind of attitude. But this is itself a misunderstanding; for the most thoroughgoing views of divine sovereignty have often gone hand in hand with the greatest kind of filial trust - as may be seen in the words of the lovely hymn, 'My God, how wonderful Thou art' O how I fear Thee, living God With deepest, tenderest fears Yet I may love Thee too, O Lord Almighty as Thou art. It may be nearer the mark to speak of the very real psychological disability of an unhappy family background. Parents are to children in the place of God in the first instance, and children get their first instinctive ideas of what God is like from their parents. If a parent has been harsh, arbitrary, indifferent, tyrannical, or demanding, it is hardly surprising that this kind of 'picture' should be imposed on a young mind - and, alas, imposed permanently, making belief in a loving God very uphill work for such an one. But, whatever the reason, the need is really to know this truth about the Fatherhood of God, and know it in the depths of our being, allowing the healing grace of our sonship by adoption to touch and transform us there.
22nd June 2023 – Galatians 4:8-11
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[d]? Do…
21st June 2023 – Galatians 4:8-11
“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again…
20th June 2023 – Galatians 4:8-11
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles…
19th June 2023 – Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his…
18th June 2023 – Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his…
17th June 2023 – Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his…
16th June 2023 – Galatians 4:4
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, In the fullness of the time, says Paul, God sent forth His Son. There is indeed great drama in these words, for we must…
15th June 2023 – Galatians 4:4
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, We have already said that the teaching in this section of the epistle is true both dispensationally, in terms of the history of the…
14th June 2023 – Galatians 4:4
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, Paul has been speaking of the ‘coming’ of faith, and now he refers to that coming as being in ‘the fullness of the time’.…