Adoption
by God While Finding the Correct Church
[Galatians
chapter 4, verses 1-20]
When
we left off last week in our study of the Book of Galatians, we were
examining the apostle Paul's explanation of what it means to be a
true Christian and a real disciple, and how we are literally adopted
into the Family of God as his newly chosen people as a result of
doing so. While it was the Israelites – the original Jewish nation
freed from Egyptian captivity – that the Bible called God's chosen
people in the Old Testament, that status is now available for
everyone who believes unconditionally in the name, the unequaled
power of eternal salvation, and the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, the
son of the Living God. It's just like children being adopted. Once
that legal process is complete, those kids have the same last name as
their adopted parents, and they have the same rights under the law
that their biological siblings. That's exactly what happens when we
place our faith in Jesus Christ as the only way to eternal life. We
become siblings with the Christ, and part of the family at the church
we attend. Today as we begin chapter 4 of Galatians, we find Paul
continuing with his commentary regarding this critical issue of
Christianity and how it applies to each of us.
“What
I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no
different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is
subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.
So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic
principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent
his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under the
law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are
sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who
calls out 'Abba, Father'. So you are no longer a slave, but a son;
and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Gal. 4,
verses 1-7, NIV)
When the apostle Paul wrote that “God sent his Son
… born under law, to redeem those under law ...”, he is
making a direct reference to what was then called the “old law”,
or law of Moses – the first five books of the Old Testament. Jesus
was born under the law because he was born to Jewish parents, and
because He was the Jewish messiah sent to save Judaism, although He
was rejected as such by his own people. Knowing this would happen,
God's plan was simply to include all non-Jews along with the Jewish
people – modern Israel – in His divine plan of salvation. Since
all who believe inherit eternal salvation through Christ, we are
heirs according to the original promise of God to Abraham, which was
that his descendants would be as numerous as the grains of sand on a
beach. When God made that promise to Abraham, He was talking about
us, the Gentile multitudes who claim eternal salvation by the blood
of Jesus. Let's now continue beginning at verse 8.
“Formerly,
when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are
not gods. But now that you know God – or rather are known by Him –
how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable
principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You
are celebrating special days and months and seasons and years! I fear
for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. I plead with
you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done
me no wrong. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first
preached the Gospel to you. Even though my illness was a trial to
you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you
welcomed me as if I were an angel from God, as if I were Christ Jesus
Himself. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if
you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given
them to me. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
(Gal. 4, verses 8-16, NIV)
There is no doubt in my mind that as Paul was writing
these words, he was referring once again to all the false teachings
and twisted doctrines that he wrote about in the first two chapters
of Galatians. He is returning to his original contention that the
Galatians were “foolish” by believing many of these teachings,
implying that the false doctrines he mentioned must have been really
far-fetched and sensational in nature, presumably to attract more
followers. These kinds of churches are still around today, except
that the modern terminology we use to describe them is “cults”.
That single word sums up what those heretic churches of Paul's day
must have been just as it sums up what cult churches are today. My
advice to you all is that if you ever find yourself in a church that
looks more and more like a cult each time you visit, get yourself out
of there and go find a church where the Holy Spirit is present. Don't
worry about how you will know that, trust me, you just will. It is
vitally important to remember here that when one is undergoing a
Spiritual change such as this one should pray directly to Jesus about
making the correct church selection. Through prayer, the Spirit of
Christ will lead us to the church that is right for us, and in so
doing steer us away from false churches with bogus doctrines, and
there are plenty out there. Let's now conclude today's study
beginning at verse 17.
“Those
people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want
is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It
is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so
always and not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I
am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am
perplexed about you!” (Gal. 4, verses 17-20, NIV)
As it was back then, so things continue in much the
same way today. Cult churches are out to win you over, but for all
the wrong reasons. I'm not going to mention any names here, but some
of them are well-known “Christian” denominations. Until you meet
some of the members, that is, which is when you will discover that
there isn't a damn thing Christian about any of them. Jesus defined
the two greatest commandments as being, “to love the Lord your God
with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your
strength”, and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (see Matt.
22: 34-39). Don't forget it was the apostle John, the half-brother of
Jesus, who wrote, “This new commandment I give you, that you are
to love one another”. That is one of the best ways to tell if
you are in a cult or not. Are they loving, tolerant, and
compassionate? Are they kind and gentle, or rough and disrespectful?
Do they seem arrogant and opinionated? How do they treat other
people, particularly those who are considerably different from them?
That is how you tell – by the quantity and the quality of their
love for other people.
It is up to us to take the responsibility of finding a
good church, which can often consist of several tries before the
right church for that person or family is found. Under no
circumstances should we ever let this deter us from finding the right
church that teaches and preaches the Truth of Christ. We are morally
bound by our faith in Jesus Christ to be on the alert against false
teachings and strange doctrines. The best way to accomplish this is
to read our Bible and study the Word, preferably on a daily basis
whenever possible. We have been given the power by Almighty God
through Jesus Christ his Son to discern pure teaching from impure,
and sound doctrine from that which is unsound. If anyone is unsure
how to tap into and utilize this Spiritual power, they should ask God
for it. Trust me, He will give it to you as soon as you are ready for
it (and, if there is a delay in receiving it, that's why). Jesus
said, “Seek, and you will find, ask and you shall receive, knock
and the door will be opened”. (Matt. 7: 7-8) Believe me, it
works like a charm every time I apply it. Do not be concerned if you
do not receive what you ask for right away. It doesn't always work
like that, but God's timing is always perfect. I know this to be true
because this has been the case in the past for me, and I have no
doubt that His timing will soon be perfect once again no matter what
happens. If it can work that way for me, it surely can for you was
well.
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