(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
Galatians Chapter 4
(Galatians 4:1-2 [KJV])
Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Son Servant, the Heir, Servant, The Heir Sons
Before the inheritance, the son of Royalty or a wealthy person has to learn, grow, mature and is under the tutelage of the other very servants of his father who are not heirs
Irregardless of this, he is a future reigning lord on earth-just not now
This servant son, as an heir, is naturally, genetically the reigning prince; the future king on earth
Jesus, LORD of all, Sovereign Creator, became a subservient servant for us to become heirs of salvation, adopted sons
He set aside His natural succession while on earth, so we could be heirs
All heirs must wait for the father to die to inherit a throne. So did we, until Jesus died
Whether earthly reigns of kings or us as adopted sons/princes of the King, it is all, always, in due time, God's Sovereign timing
We were servants under the law, servants of the law, servants of the flesh, and, because God the Son was sent to earth as a fleshly man to die for us in our place as a gift to uss, offered freely, we
were then adopted as sons upon acceptance of that gift, given by God the Father the Spirit of God, and are now heirs with God the Son
(1 Corinthians 4:8 [KJV])
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
(Mark 10:45 [KJV])
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(2 Corinthians 4:5 [KJV])
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
(Philippians 2:5-7 [KJV])
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
(1 Timothy 2:6 [KJV])
Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
(Hebrews 9:16 [KJV])
For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
(Galatians 4:3 [KJV])
Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
While a child prince to a royal on earth, in the flesh, they can do all sorts of things to shame that throne
This is stated here as because we are in bondage to the elements of the world, regardless of our lineage, bloodline
We were children of the woprld, where the wicked one rules in the hearts of men
(Galatians 4:4-5 [KJV])
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Because of the work of Christ, we inherited that which was NOT ours initially
We becamse heirs to the Throne by adoption, not by succession
No child who is adopted does the work of adoption-filling out papers, interviews, background checks, preparing the home for inspection
They simply are told "You were adopted! Here is your new family and your new home!"
(Galatians 4:6 [KJV])
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
At that point, God is truly now our Father, Papa, Daddy
The Spirit of God then indwells us, impels us to say these words of adopted children here
This verse has the Trinity in it, God the Father sent the Spirit of God, of the Son of God, God the Son, into our hearts
The heart here is that inner part of us, the chief part, the vital part, the seat of the affections and passions, love, joy, grief, enmity, courage, pleasure etc. The heart is used for an affection or passion,
and particularly for love. Also the seat of the understanding; as an understanding heart. The seat of the will; the disposition of our mind. Hence, secret purposes, intentions, designs, or determined
purpose. Also a person; character; used with respect to courage or kindness. The place of our courage, our inner spirit, our secret thoughts; the recesses of our mind, our secret meaning, our real
intention(s), our conscience, or sense of good or ill, our strength, our power of producing; our vigor; our fertility.
(Galatians 4:7 [KJV])
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Having been saved, we have received our inheritance because of the death of the testator, the LORD Jesus Christ
We are sons, not strangers, pilgrims, aliens. God knows us, not just us knowing Him
We serve Him, not the worldly lusts, not our flesh, not sin
(Galatians 4:8-9 [KJV])
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
We either serve the Living God, or we serve those dead who are not gods, before getting saved
This would include ourselves, our own will, our own flesh, as our own little "gods"
Paul is asking them this, not because he does not know, but because he wants them to think about what they are doing, Who they have left serving, and why
If God does not know us, we cannot know God. We are merely religious, not saved
Beggarly means either poor or despicable
BEG'GARLY, a. Mean; poor; in the condition of a beggar; extremely indigent.
BEG'GARLY, adv. Meanly; indigently; despicable.
(Galatians 4:10 [KJV])
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
We, as Christians, do not "have to have" Holy Days; we just need to be thankful for every day we breathe, for our salvation
Paul here calls series of unnecessary rites, practices, observations "service unto them which by nature are no gods"
(Galatians 4:11 [KJV])
I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Paul is fearful that they have gone back into their legalism, returned to their law, their own works which cannot save
His labor bestowed is preaching, discipling them
(Galatians 4:12 [KJV])
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I [am]; for I [am] as ye [are]: ye have not injured me at all.
Paul is asking them to be like him spiritually, as he is a man in the flesh the same as they are, having to go through this life, this world, and relates to what thy are tempted with, daily
They grieve him, but did not injure him, and his infirmity is from the LORD, not them
(Galatians 4:13 [KJV])
Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Paul is known to have some sort of medical issue-some believe eyesight problems-but definitely a "thorn in the flesh"
It is not recorded here or elsewhere, only speculated
PAUL'S INFIRMITY
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10 [KJV])
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
(Galatians 4:14 [KJV])
And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.
Despite all of this, they treated hm with love, respect, kindness
This means his message as an angel was also accepted, which is why he is concerned for their apostasy
Receiving Paul meant receiving Jesus. This should be the same for us
(Matthew 10:40 [KJV])
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
(Galatians 4:15-16 [KJV])
Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if [it had been] possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
Apparently, in the context here, the blessedness they spake of was their self-righteousness in keeping the law
At the onset, they were grateful to Paul when he brought them to the LORD
Afterwards, they resented him telling them they did not have to keep it to be saved, but rather because they were, in thankfulness to God
As the saying goes, "Doctrine Divides"....always because of the sins of unbelief and pride
(Galatians 4:17-18 [KJV])
They zealously affect you, [but] not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But [it is] good to be zealously affected always in [a] good [thing], and not only when I am present with you.
Zeal has nothing to do with truth!
Cults always exclude anyone who tries to expose the lies, such as when a Jehovah's Witness or a Mormon knocks on a door and the person is prepared to destroy their falsehoods with the Word of God
-they run, zealously fast
"That ye might affect them".........they either do not want to come to faith, or come back. They enjoy their lies and their life
Being zealously affected is OK, just not when lies are involved. Paul was zealous, all of the disciples were zealots, for Judaism and Christ both
(Galatians 4:19-20 [KJV])
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Spiritual fathers can call their disciples their children
Watching people walk away from the faith is here compared to labor pains
Christ formed in us (inwardly via the Holy Spirit/maturation/spiritual growth) is us conforming to the image of Jesus (outwardly witness/testimony)
He sired them spiritually, they need an inner revival back to grace through faith
Changing his voice would mean he is probably sick of yelling at them to learn truth for once!
(Galatians 4:21 [KJV])
Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Who on earth gets saved by grace through faith and "desires to be under the law", thinking that will save them AGAIN!?
ANSWER:
One who does not understand the Gospel
One who is not saved
One who is saved, yet goes back to a false, works salvation
"Do ye not hear the law"? Hearing the law means, "Do you not get it that the law saves no one?"
It is not that they involuntarily were put under the law again, but they do it on purpose and want to be there!
(Galatians 4:22-26 [KJV])
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
This is the difference between Law and Grace
One husband, Abraham. Two wives (one chosen by Abraham's lust, willing to listen to his wife over God's promise, and Sarah's eagerness to get ahead of God, Hagar, one chosen of God, Sarah herself),
two children from two desires (follow God, wait and get Isaac vs. get ahead of God and do it myself, Ishmael), two completely different
results
Israel was always preserved over the Ishmaelites, (Arabians, Muslims, etc.), over Egyptian captivity, Assyrian captivity, Babylonian captivity, Roman rule, Hitler, to this day
The New Jerusalem is for those who wait, believe, trust and follow God by grace through faith; bondage is from all of the religions of men, following their own laws
(Galatians 4:27 [KJV])
For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Regardless of Sarah's temporary barren womb, her children of promise (believing Israel via lineage, later the Church via faith), outnumber her enemies
Even when and if she does not have more number on earth, she outnumbers them because...
GOD
(Galatians 4:28 [KJV])
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Isaac: by faith, the promised child, given by grace, to start the nation after father Abraham, before Isaac and his twelve sons
In that manner we are by grace through faith, a great number, Jesus Christ being the Head of us, we being His body
(Galatians 4:29 [KJV])
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, even so [it is] now.
The supplanter, Ishmael through Hagar Sarah's handmaid, representing and giving rise to the nations around her, always resented Isaac/Jacob (Israel) still does, will until the end
Isaac, it says here, was born after the Spirit of God
The world hates the church (indwelt with the Holy Spirit), in the same way, using persecution
(Galatians 4:30 [KJV])
Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
"What saith the Scripture?" should be our answer to so much
Likewise, the world is to be cast out of us, as Hagar and Ishmael were cast from Abraham and Sarah
THE BONDWOMAN/HANDMAIDEN HAGAR CAST OUT
(Genesis 21:10-21 [KJV])
Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, [even] with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he [is] thy seed.
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave [it] unto Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against [him], and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he [is]. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
(Galatians 4:31 [KJV])
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
We belong to Sarah's lineage via Abraham, through David, down to the LORD Jesus Christ, not the world
We are free because we were freed.
The enemy did not let us go; we were incapable of freeing ourselves; Jesus won over our enemy and got our freedom for us
