In this lesson on Galatians 4:8-11, we will be covering Paul's appeal for Christians to avoid legalism (keeping some form of man made rules in order to be right with God). Part of Paul's argument deals with his audience's former manner of life, in contrasting their knowing and not knowing God.

Live Grace Not Legalism (Gal. 4:8-11)
I. Their past slavery to superstition (v.8)
A. Before conversion, everyone is ignorant of God and a slave to religious superstition (idolatry).
a. Explanation of Idolatry-
b. Example of Idolatry- Exodus 32:1-28
c. Expense of Idolatry- Romans I :21-25
II. Their personal salvation in the Son (v.9a)
A. Man knows God (salvation) only after God enters into a relationship with them through Jesus Christ.
a. God's Knows His People
1.God's knowing is more that to have a knowledge of something.
2.God knowing someone deals with having a loving relationship with someone. [John 10:14-15, 17:3; Phil. 3:8•, Jer. 9:23-24; Amos 3:2; John 10:27-28; Rom. 8:29-30•, 2 Tim. 2:19]
III. Their present slump in sanctification (v.9b-11)
A. If saved, one should not engage in legalism to grow in Christ.
B. The Law and Grace do not mix.
C. Legalism demonstrates immature faith or no faith at all. [l John 2: 19; Rom 7:2-4]

Points to Ponder:
1. Live to honor God because of what He has done for us, not because of what we do to gain merit with God.
2. Be careful to guard your liberty so as not to be a stumbling block for others. [Rom. 14:1-9]
3. Use your Christian freedom to treat people from Christ's point of view and not the subjective, traditional, standards of men.


Thomas R. Schreiner, Galatians, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 277.

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Steve Lawson, The Danger of Legalism, Online. Accessed September 29. 2018.

https://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=1030091010220

Donald K. Campbell, "Galatians," in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 Victor Books, 1985), 602.

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Tony Evans, Free at Last: Experiencing Freedom Through Your Identity in Christ (Chicago: Publishers, 2001), 77.

https://amzn.to/2NeFmsz

Steve Lawson, Law & Liberty: A Biblical Look at Legalism, Online. Accessed September 29, 2018.

https://books.google.com/books?id=kv1RBwAAQBAJ&pg=PT18&1pg=PT18&dq#v=onepage&q&f=false

Got Questions, What it mean that Christians are not under the law? Online. September 29, 2018. https://vvww.gotquestions.orynot-under-the-law-html Schreiner, Galatians, 279.
Charles Spurgeon, Galatians, ed Elliot Ritzema, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013), Ga 4:1011.