Galatians 4:9
9 But [de] now [nun], after that ye have known [ginosko] God [theos], or [de] rather [mallon] are known [ginosko] of [hupo] God [theos], how [pos] turn ye [epistrepho] again [palin] to [epi] the weak [asthenes] and [kai] beggarly [ptochos] elements
[stoicheion], whereunto [hos] ye desire [thelo] again [palin] [anothen] to be in bondage [douleuo]? KJV-Interlinear
9 But now that you have come to
know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to
the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all
over again? NASB
The word for know, ‘ginosko,’ is similar to the
Hebrew word for to know, ‘yada,’ which refers to an intimate knowledge or
personal knowledge or private knowledge as well as a public awareness of a
particular subject.
And here Paul is making a point in principle, that
the Galatians knew very well the details of their relationship with God through
Christ. So much so, that he describes their knowledge and relationship in terms
of an intimate relationship between husband and wife, ie. Adam knew Eve.
In one sense, they knew God which was a personal
knowledge, also God knew them which was someone else knowing them making that a
private knowledge between the two of them, God and believer, and thirdly they
were known to be of God which is a public knowledge of others looking on,
knowing or understanding that they had professed to be Christians.
This is a similar sense of a marriage relationship
between husband and wife. First, it is personal to each person. Second, it is
private and only between the two of them. And third, it is public in that the
general public knows of their marriage.
When you incorporate all of this into the spiritual
life, then Paul is stating very clearly that the Galatians knew and understood
the principle of faith in Christ and salvation. And not only that, they had a
more thorough knowledge of the scriptures and Bible doctrine, so much so that
one would say they had intimate knowledge, a thorough knowledge and
understanding of what the scriptures taught, of what Paul taught, and the whole
truth surrounding the spiritual life.
So the point here is, when you have a perfect and
beautiful relationship now, whereas before you had no relationship and nothing
beautiful in your life. Then, why would you go from something that was
beautiful and wonderful, back to a time when you had nothing?
We have already covered in many studies, that life
without God, without Christ, without doctrine, is a life of slavery and nothing
more.
Faith in Christ begins your life with God, while
learning Bible doctrine enhances and completes your life with God through
Christ, and this results in a freedom for your life in your life, that doesn’t
exist in this world.
The contrasting views here are faith versus works.
And in Paul’s teaching, he brought the Galatians to Christ through faith. However,
subsequent to that, others came along and taught works as a requirement for
salvation and the spiritual life, and more specifically they taught circumcision
as a requirement for salvation.
And of course we know this is a ridiculous course
of belief because it would only apply to men and not women. And when you pursue
one ridiculous course of belief, then in order to correct it to include
everyone, you have to make even more ridiculous rules, which only compounds the
ridiculousness, which makes it all absurd.
Works, is a concept that was taught by the mosaic
law, but not for the purpose of salvation, but for the purpose of demonstrating
that humanity was incapable of living a perfect life, and therefore pointing to
the need of a Savior which was promised by God to man, and therefore dependent
on faith.
So Paul states very clearly, that salvation creates
a very intimate and personal and private as well as public knowledge and
understanding. And this gives to the believer the freedom of action and the
freedom of life that does not exist in this world.
Under the concept of works there is only slavery
and loss and failure and not much to speak of as far as ones destiny is
concerned.
Works gives you nothing, provides nothing, and you
end up with nothing.
Faith is eternal, provides everything, and sets you
on course whereby you can complete your life.
So the choice is between having the infinite or
having nothing.
