Saved or Lost? #2

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

“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” (Galatians 4:19,20 KJV).

Are these people really saved—or really lost?

Galatia was an enormous territory stretching through modern central Turkey. The Apostle Paul met Gentile pagan idolaters here in Acts chapters 13–14 during his first apostolic journey. He won them to the Lord Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel of Grace to them (“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day;” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

After leaving Galatia, Paul learned some unsettling news about them, which he addressed by writing this epistle to Galatia: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6,7). False teachers—commonly called “Judaizers” but better termed “denominationalists!”—had infiltrated Galatia after Paul’s departure. To say the least, the Apostle was astonished at how quickly these Galatians had abandoned the sound Bible doctrine he had taught them!

Chapter 3 is more of the Holy Spirit’s criticism: “[1] O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? [2] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Deceived (!), these Galatians were now “fools.” They were engaging in spiritual insanity or silliness. Forsaking the Message of God’s Grace (Christ-based acceptance system), they had taken up the Law system (performance-based acceptance system, or works-religion as they had before Paul’s visit!).

These people, whom Paul himself saw desert spiritual darkness as they came to the Lord’s light, have (most pitifully!) returned to Satan’s lie program! In other words, they think and act like they have never heard the Lord’s words through Paul at all….