Authentic Christianity Loves the Truth

1. Read: Galatians 4:1-7

2. About the Text:

1) Paul concludes his thoughts about being children of God in these verses.

2) He ends with this point, “Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son….”

3) But the Christians in the churches of Galatia were enslaving themselves again.

4) They had abandoned the truth of the gospel for the “comfort” of the formalism.

5) It’s easy for us to do today also – to just practice a “checklist” religion.

6) Paul argues that this is just another form of slavery.

7) The truth sets us free (John 8:32).

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Before the gospel, we embraced lies.

1) The gentiles served idols, which are not gods (8).

2) This was slavery to false, nonexistent, beings – lies.

3) “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess.1:9).

4) “We know that an idol is nothing” (1 Corinthians 8:4).

2. After the gospel, we know and are known by God (9) – a relationship of truth.

1) We know God through the gospel – John 1:18.

2) God knows us – we are His children.

a. Who knows the relationship better, the child or the father?

b. The father knows the child better than the child knows the father.

3) “God knows the heart” (Acts 15:8).

4) “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'” (2 Timothy 2:19).

5) This is a relationship based on truth, not lies.

6) “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

3. We should not turn away from the truth back to the “weak and beggarly elements” (9-11).

1) What are these?

2) The “feast” days of the Law of Moses (10).

3) This is symbolic of any “system” that we may invent to replace faith in Christ.

4) When we are trusting in a “system,” we are just trusting in self, not Christ.

5) We re-enslave ourselves if we do this.

a. “Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34).

b. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

c. “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage” (2 Peter 2:19).

6) This is just a return to another lie.

4. We must embrace the truth!

1. By imitating those who exemplify the message of the gospel.

1) “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

2) “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess.1:6).

3) A great way to preach the gospel is to be a good example to others!

4) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

2. By preaching the gospel despite setbacks.

1) The apostle Paul had a physical affliction.

a. He talks about their giving him their eyes.

b. He did not let that stop him from preaching.

2) Consider Paul’s afflictions in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27.

3) We cannot let obstacles stand in the way of preaching the gospel!

4) “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

3. By supporting those who preach the gospel.

1) In prayer – “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you” (2 Thess.3:1).

2) With words – “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13).

3) Training others – “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

4) Financially – “I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you” (2 Corinthians 11:8).

4. We must uphold and preach the truth always!

1. Zeal is not a tool for manipulating people.

1) These false teachers were trying to manipulate people.

2) “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

3) “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2 Peter 2:1-3).

2. We must be zealous in good things!

1) “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).

2) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

3. We must be zealous for Christ to be formed in us.

1) “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

2) “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10).

3) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

4. We must be zealous for truth!

1. Authentic Christianity loves truth!

1) It Embraces Truth

2) It Preaches Truth

3) It is Zealous for Truth

2. Invitation