Paul certainly knows how to shock his readers!
Before they were in Christ, the Galatians' background of paganism showed they were enslaved to Satan and his demons (vv3, 8). BUT the truth is, if they go with what these dictate-touting, truth-twisting, gospel-garbling Judaizers are teaching, then they won't be taking a step forward to a better Christian life, it'll be enslavement all over again (vv. 9-10). What's more, it'll be enslavement to Satan whose workers love to pretend to be servants of righteousness (2 Cor 11:13-15). In fact, that's what they are, but it's not a righteousness freely given by God, rather it's a self righteousness that is clean and moral and damning.
Never mind witches, ouija or voodoo...rule keeping DIY Christianity is probably Satan's greatest ploy to enslave a vain and self-assured heart.
That should warn us and shock us into hating all forms of religion that exalt our performance and downplay his grace.
That's the shock, now Paul reminds us of something to make us awestruck. Something that should so astonish us and make us so thankful that we'd never again want to even consider anything but living in the light of his kindness in the gospel. 4:4-7:
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.Doesn't that make you grateful for free grace?
Doesn't that make you realise how utterly bananas, perverse and loathsome it is to start thinking 'my performance can bring security and acceptance'?
You are redeemed...you are God's adopted child....he gave you his Spirit...everything he has is yours! What else is there? Beat that! You can't!!
Be shocked
Stand in awe.
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