1. Presented by Bob DeWaay November 24, 2013 The Danger of Turning Back Galatians 4:8-11

2. Our Previous Status in Unbelief Galatians 4:8 (NRSV) Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.  They had gone from slaves to sons through the gospel, they had been slaves to the stoicheia  These “beings” were at the same time sham “gods” and demons (1Corinthians 10:20)  “know” is relational as in the next verse 2

3. Known by God Galatians 4:9a Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God,  Verse 8 “formerly” contrasts “now” with the difference being conversion  Paul uses a literary device of “rhetorical self correction” to emphasize God’s priority in conversion 3

4. Back to the Stoicheia Galatians 4:9b “NRSV” how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again?  “turn back” (epistrepho_) is a term used in Acts for conversion, here it would be reverse conversion  A return to Torah is considered a return to paganism!  The stoicheia are demonic beings feared by the people of Asia Minor as the source of bad fate 4

5. There is no Religious Calendar under the New Covenant Galatians 4:10 (NRSV) You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years.  They were evidently keeping the Jewish calendar  Days of worship are a matter of Christian liberty under the New Covenant  To keep the Old Covenant religious calendar is to be under demonic slavery 5

6. Paul’s Serious Concern Galatians 4:11 (NRSV) I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted  Reversion to the Law of Moses would be apostasy  However, God will preserve us from apostasy by issuing serious warnings like this  Paul addresses the Galatians as ‘brothers’ (1:11; 3:15; 4:12; 4:31; 5:11; 6:1; 6:18) 6

7.  Faith is about Christ and what God has done for us in Christ, not what we do for God  Works righteousness is a poison pill to faith  If we are unthankful for freedom, we shall blaspheme God’s work of salvation by opting for religious slavery Implications and Applications 7

8. What God has done for us 2Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Verse 20 says;... we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  Conversion is turning to God from idolatry (1Thessalonians 1:9) 8

9. Works Righteousness is a Poison Pill Galatians 5:4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 9

10. Thank God for Freedom and do not go back! Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 10