Galatians 4:18-20 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Paul continues his personal appeal to the Galatians. Zeal is a good and necessary thing in the work for the Lord. The problem with the false teachers is that their zeal is misplaced on human effort in doing “works of the law.” They wanted the Galatians to share in this same zeal. Paul, however, wants the Galatians to refocus their zeal on Christ in them. They had such zeal when Paul was with them. They had embraced the gospel and put their faith in Jesus. They had experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. But over time, their focus had shifted from faith (being) to works (doing).
This is a subtle danger for those who have been around the church for a while. When they are new believers or younger in age, they are excited about their faith in Christ. But then rules are added to faith. Over many years, these rules become substitutes for true piety. The “do’s and don’ts” replace genuine godliness. Zeal for the Lord gets shifted to from submitting ourselves on the cross to running our own race.
Paul worked hard in ministry, but he did this as an act of faith in Christ. He wanted the Galatians to follow this same path. He realizes in this letter that he is coming across strongly. The situation calls for this type of strong rhetoric because of the seriousness of what was happening. Paul is perplexed and at a loss of what to do with the Galatians. They started off well but something has happened along the way. They have been deceived, and so Paul is trying to help them see the truth through this letter.
He softens his tone by calling them my dear children. He compares himself to a pregnant mother giving birth and the Galatians are the child in his womb. This vivid imagery shows the depth of his concern and care for them. This situation has caused him great pain, but he is willing to put up with it because he wants to see Christ formed in them. The word formed is related to the “transformed” of Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18. The goal for all believers is to be in relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit and for this relationship to change who we are and how we act.
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