Paul has already established that salvation is only by grace through faith and there is no need to continue following the ceremonies and rituals of the Mosaic law. The false teachers had been seeking to deceive the churches at Galatia into thinking that salvation was a mixture of works and grace, but Paul defended that it was a free gift through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ death removed the demands and penalty of the law and brought salvation to those who believed. Now that the Galatians had believed, Paul questioned why they turned “again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” He goes on to say that they “observe days and months and seasons and years.” Paul could not understand how they turned to God in faith, but then quickly were deceived into thinking that they could earn favor with Him through keeping ceremonies, traditions, and festivals (4:9-10). His fear was he had “labored for you in vain” meaning they had accepted the gospel of grace, but then returned to legalism (system of works righteousness). Paul was once a Pharisee, thinking he could attain salvation through good works, but he soon trusted in Jesus Christ and rejected his own efforts to save himself. He knew the pressures that the Galatians were facing from these false teachers because he used to be one (4:12). Paul had ministered to the Galatians the first time through some type of “physical infirmity” and they received him “as an angel of God” (4:13-14). He points out that they greatly loved him and accepted his preaching as truth (4:15-16), but now they are beginning to be influenced by the message of the Judaizers (4:17). Instead, Paul wanted them to be zealous for the message of grace, even when he was not physically with them (4:18). Paul desired that the Galatians would continue to mature spiritually “until Christ is formed in you.” The goal for these Galatians was that they would continue following the truth and reject the false teachings of the Judaizers. If they kept consistent, their faith would grow and they would become more like Christ in their attitudes and actions.
Dear God, may I never think I can earn favor with You through doing good things, but rather may I continually allow Your grace to grow within and result in Christlike character.
