[:en]Paul used the illustration of slavery to explain how people who were in bondage to the law before and were being freed by Christ who came to die for their sins. As His own children, we can have an intimate relationship and come to His presence without fear. God sent Jesus to earth in His time to redeem those under the law so that we might receive the full right of son. We are no longer a slave but a son and share with Jesus all rights to God’s resources.
PAUL’S CONERN FOR THE GALATIANS (vs. 8-20)
When Paul visited the Galatian churches, he had an illness. Instead of treating him with contempt, or scorn, they welcomed Paul and cared for him as if he were Christ Jesus himself. But now, Paul saw that the Galatians had lost the joy of their salvation because of legalism. Legalism makes people feel guilty by pointing out shortcomings and emphasizing on performance. It produces self-hatred. If we try to live up tot he demands and expectation of other people instead of by faith in Christ, we will have less joy. The rebuke of Paul to the Galatians had made him become their enemy. Many times, when people speak the truth by pointing our mistake, we also get angry. Instead, we should be humble to receive the truth and take steps to change.
The false teachers have selfish motives. They were able to convince many people with their persuasive speech by appealing to the believers desire. We should always check all the teachings against the Bible.
Paul led many people to Christ and helped them mature spiritually. He became a spiritual father with a deep concern for his spiritual children. He compared his pain over their faithlessness to the pain of childbirth. we should also be spirutal parents to help our spirutal children grow.
HAGAR AND SARAH (vs. 21-31)
Paul made two contrast between Hagar – the slave wife with Sarah, the free woman.Hagar’s abuse of Sadrah (Gen. 16:4) was like the persecution that the Gentile Christians got from Judaizers, who insisted on keeping th law in order to be saved. Eventually, Sarah triumphed because God kept his promise and gave her a son.[:]