The book of Galatians is commonly quoted off point and out of context to demonstrate that the Law of God is abolished.  This simply is not true, rather, Galatians proves that the law of God still exists and should be followed. 

         This is a continuation of the study on Galatians Chapter three.  If you have not read Galatians Chapter three please read that first here or begin at the beginning of the Galations articles by clicking here.  Galatians chapter four continues the same line of thinking from Galatians chapter three.  Please read Galatians chapter four before you continue.
 

We are now heirs:

          Galatians Chapter four begins with a comparison between two people, a child and a servant.  A child is not different than a servant, but instead, he is under "tutors" and "governors" until the time appointed by his father (Gal. 4:1-2).  It was customary during Paul's time to have someone in authority over your child to discipline and train up the child.  We have the same relationship with God.  We are in "bondage under the elements of the world," which is why we have "tutors" and "governors" to discipline us.  This will last until the "fullness of the time" when God sent His Messiah to "redeem [us] that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:3-5).  Many claim "the elements of the world" refers to God's ceremonial law, such as feasts, and holy days.  It should be plain to see, that God's law is not the "elements of the world," but instead this refers to the pagan holy days and feasts.  This will become more clear as we read on.  Paul is echoing what he said in chapter three where the "law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ" (Gal. 3:24).  As you remember, the law referred to here was the penal clause, or the "curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13).  Paul is still using the term "law" in the same way.  We are in bondage to this world's system of holy days and God's penal clause disciplines us to make us aware and bring us to the Messiah.

           Since we are sons, God "sent forth the Spirit of his Son into [our] hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6).  Now that we have the "Spirit of his Son" we can "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16, which will "cause [us] to walk in [His] statutes, and we shall keep [His] judgments, and do them" (Eze. 36:27).  The whole point Paul is making is that we were once in bondage to the world, practicing what God did not want us to practice.  This put us under the curse of the law (penal clause).  Now, we have His Spirit which makes us cry, "Abba, Father," and gives us the desire to follow His laws (walk in the Spirit).  With the "Spirit of his Son," we are "no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Gal. 4:7).
 

The weak and beggarly elements:

          Paul continues, "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods" (Gal. 4:8).  This is further proof that the elements of the world refer not to God's laws, but to pagan gods.  How else could they "turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage" (Gal. 4:9).  Remember, the Galatians are Gentiles.  They have never known nor practiced God's law.  How could they "turn ye again" to a law they did not even know and never practiced before?  The weak and beggarly elements are clearly not God's law, but a worldly system which the Galatians had previously turned from.  They "observe days, and months, and times, and years" (Gal. 4:10).  These are clearly pagan "days, and months, and times, and years" for there are specific words Paul uses to refer to biblical holy days, and these words are not them (Col. 2:16).  If Paul wanted to refer to God's holy days I am certain he would have used the specific terms.  The fact he did not is strong evidence that this does not refer to God's holy days.  Especially since the Galatians could not have "turn[ed] ye again" back to something they never practiced in the first place.
 

Paul's concern for the Galatians:

          Paul now turns to concern for the Galatians.  He is "afraid of [them], lest [he has] bestowed ... labour in vain" (Gal. 4:11).  The Galatians have turned so far from what Paul has taught them, he is afraid they do not have salvation after all.  He encourages them to "be as I am" (Gal. 4:12).  And how was Paul?  Paul practiced the laws of God, His feasts, His sacrifices and offerings, even after the Messiah's resurrection. (Acts 16:13, Acts 17:1-2, Acts 18:21, Acts 20:16, Acts 21:24, Acts 21:26, Acts 24:17, etc.).  Paul was urging the Galatians to "be as [he was]" and practice God's law over the world's law.  After all, Paul preached the Gospel to them with an "infirmity of the flesh" (Gal. 4:13) and they "received [him] as an angel of God" (Gal. 4:14).  They received him so well that they would have "plucked out [their] own eyes, and have given them to [him]," implying his "infirmity of the flesh" was poor eye sight (Gal. 4:15).  But now, he asks, has he become their "enemy" because he tells them the "truth" (Gal. 4:16).

          The false teachers of the circumcision, however, "zealously affect [them], but not well" (Gal. 4:17).  This would be good for them, if this zealously was done for their benefit (Gal. 4:18), but the "false brethren" (Gal. 2:4) of the circumcision did not have their best interest in mind.  Paul's concern for them will not stop "until Christ be formed in [them]" (Gal. 4:19), that is, until they embrace the doctrines of Christ and walk in His Spirit.  This is why Paul "desire[s] to be present with [them]" for he wants to "change [his] voice" towards them and no longer doubt their conversion (Gal. 4:20).  The Galatians desire to go back to their old ways and traditions gives Paul reason to doubt their true belief in the Messiah.
 

Isaac and Ishamael serve as an example:

          Now Paul moves to an example of two men in scripture, Isaac and Ishmael, to make his point regarding the law of God.  He asks them that "desire to be under the law, do [they] not hear the law" (Gal. 4:21).  Then he explains how the story of Isaac and Ishmael is an allegory of the two covenants, one of promise and the other of bondage (Gal. 4:24).  Isaac was born of promise and Ishmael was born of the flesh (Gal. 4:22-23).  God promised Abraham a son, but Abraham doubted God and had a son through his bondmaid Hagar.  God rebuked Abraham for his doubt and gave him a son through Sarah despite Abraham's doubt (Genesis 21).  Hagar and Ishmael represent the covenant to Moses and God's law, Sarah and Isaac represent the covenant to Abraham and God's promise (Gal. 4:25-27).  Hagar was a bondwoman who brought forth a child in slavery (Ishmael), Sarah was a freewoman who brought forth a child in freedom.  We, then, are children of the promise (Gal. 4:28).  Why?  Because we practice faith in the Messiah of Israel and have His Spirit which causes us to say "Abba, Father" (Gal. 4:6).  This Spirit causes us to walk in His statutes (Eze. 36:27).  Those of the promise follow God's law through the power of the Holy Spirit, not their own power.  Those in bondage follow after the world and are under the curse of the law because they do not practice the law of God.  They persecute those of the promise, just as those of the circumcision persecute those who have faith in the Messiah (Gal. 4:29).
 

           The conclusion is that those in bondage to the law will be cast out for they are not an heir, or a son (Gal. 4:30).  That is who we are.  If we have faith in the Messiah, then we are His heirs and are under His promise (Gal. 4:31).  This relationship does not deter us from practicing the Law of God, rather, we have His Spirit to teach and help us to practice God's law (Eze. 36:27).  Those of the circumcision use their flesh to practice God's law, and were unsuccessful.  We need to not use just our flesh, but also our faith and His Spirit to grow in our relationship with God to practice His Law.  To continue this study in chapter five and six click here.

By Steve Siefken

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Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth

not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV