It seems the Galatians (maybe even all human beings) enjoyed being “under bondage” to something, or someone!
At least Galatians 4:9 wonders about that!
Today is our third (Website) Lesson on this great Verse!
“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?” I have emphasized today’s Clause by making it all capital letters.
The verb “to be (in) bondage” as used by Paul here is “douleuo” in Greek. Remember, “doulos” is their word for an abject “slave!” The very lowest position on the Greek social scale!
Paul later will pen these amazing words: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE ….” Romans 8:2, no longer subservient to sin and all its evils! Free in the delightful Holy Spirit of God!
And the adverb “again” in our Text simply means “once more.” (As in “once more” in a whole chain of events or situations!)
“The way your Galatians are acting, behaving … ‘DO YOU ONCE MORE DESIRE TO BE IN SLAVERY, REJECTING YOUR GRACIOUS (NEWLY BESTOWED) LIBERTY IN JESUS CHRIST?'” So wonders Paul, out loud!
Then the verb “desire!” Which is “thelo” in this case. It means “to wish, to intend, to have in mind” something. And its a present “tense,” active voice word, meaning this “desiring” they are doing is habitual! A “way of life,” actually!
Honestly, it looks (to Paul) like his converts in Roman Galatia are determined not to enjoy their freedom in Jesus Christ!
Stubbornly set on being servants (at first to idolatry, from which Jesus had freed them when they were saved) then now again (as Paul writes them) menials/slaves to the Old Testament Law! (Being forced on them by certain Jews from Jerusalem who essentially worshipped Moses.)
When all the while they (the Galatians) were born-again Christians, having been redeemed (set free) by the Blood of Jesus Christ God’s Virgin-born Son!
“Whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”
But wait a minute!
Is our Text implying that Freedom in Jesus is something we ex-sinners (who have always been in bondage to the world or our flesh or the devil) have to learn to enjoy?
I think maybe so!
Here’s why Jesus came to earth in the first place: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, and THE OPENING OF PRISON TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” Wow, Isaiah 61:1-3, clearly Messianic! Note the capitalized phrases again!
Liberty!
No longer in prison!
But we are so hesitant to live up to such a thrilling “calling!”
The Liberty Jesus gives is (true enough) NOT … freedom to do what I want in my body! But it is the power to do what our Lord wants as guided and equipped by the Holy Spirit!
And living day by day (hour by hour) under the Influence of God’s Holy Spirit, enjoying every second of His being in control of my life … is really (in the truest sense) LIBERTY, as God defines it!
And apart from such (glorious) Holy Spirit dominance … we all will revert to some kind of self-imposed (or at least humanly imposed) slavery!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
By the way, God’s Word plays an important part in our Christian liberty, too. But that’s another Lesson sometime later! “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” Psalm 119:45