My Dear Children

Galatians 4:17-20 - Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Ephesians 4:11-13,15 - It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ…Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Philippians 4:1 - Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Conclusions:

• "Those people" are Judaizers
• Paul has an affectionate relationship toward his converts
• "My dear children" only occurs in Galatians 4:19 in Paul's writings, but is common in John's
• The goal of Paul's ministry is to have Christ formed in his converts
• Some hold that God not only knew us before we had any knowledge of Him but that He also knew us, in the sense of choosing us by His grace, before the foundation of the world
• Others believe that Paul, in Romans 8:29, refers to the fact that in eternity past God knew those who by faith would become His people
• The reason God foreknew, predestined and conformed believers to Christ's likeness is that the Son might hold the position of highest honor in the great family of God
• Unity is not just a matter of a loving attitude or religious feeling, but of truth and a common understanding about God's Son
• In the face of libertine practices, we should follow Paul's example, having our minds set on heavenly things
• We should stand firm in the midst of present struggles for the sake of the gospel
• We all are to become mature

Application:

• Were you foreknown, predestined and now conformed to Christ's likeness?
• Do you have a conviction about Christ and the doctrines concerning Him?
• Do you stand firm in the midst of present struggles for the sake of the gospel?
• Are you becoming mature?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Children Of God

Galatians 3:6-7 - Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.

Genesis 15:6 - Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3,12 - What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."… And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

John 8:31 - To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

Conclusions:

• Abram is the father of all who believe, and Genesis 15:6 is the first specific reference to faith in God's promises
• It also teaches that God graciously responds to a man's faith by crediting righteousness to him
• Romans 4:3 references Genesis 15:6, where nothing is mentioned about works
• Abraham had kept no law, rendered no service and performed no ritual that earned credit to his account before God
• Abraham's belief in God, who had made promises to him, was credited to him as righteousness
• Abraham was the physical and spiritual father of the Jewish race
• In Galatians 3:7, all believers are called Abraham's spiritual children
• All believers are also referred to as the seed or descendants of Abraham
• Believed in John 8:31 seems to mean made a formal profession of faith
• The Jew's words in John 8 show that they are not true believers
• Abraham is also the father of believing Jews
• Thus Abraham's story shows that for Jew and Gentile alike there is only one way of justification--the way of faith

Application:

• Has righteousness been credited to you?
• Do you think keeping laws, rendering service and performing rituals credits righteousness to you?
• Are you a true believer?
• Do you believe you are justified by faith?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

To Will And To Act

Philippians 2:12-16 - Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Galatians 5:6 - For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Matthew 5:48 - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Ephesians 5:1-2 - Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Conclusions:

• Faith is not mere intellectual assent but a living trust in God’s grace that expresses itself in acts of love
• Christ sets up the high ideal of perfect love—not that we can fully attain it in this life
• Perfect love is God’s high standard for us
• One way of imitating God is to have a forgiving spirit
• The way we imitate our Lord is to act just as He did
• The sacrificial way Jesus expressed His love for us is not only the means of salvation but also an example of the way we are to live for the sake of others

Application:

• Do you have a living trust in God's grace that expresses itself in acts of love?
• Do you strive for perfect love?
• Do you express your love to others in a sacrificial way?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible