KCCBR Sunday Worship 8-15-2023 Until Christ is Formed in You Gal. 4:12-20

Introduction: The Gentleness of Christ (2 Cor. 10:1) 

Paul began this letter unlike any other letter he wrote. There is no commendation as he opens this letter. Paul greeted them with grace and peace and immediately in Gal 1:6, says this: 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, Up until today's text, Paul is very strong and direct with his message to the Galatians churches. . In Gal. 4:12-20, we will see a change in tone from Paul. This is a moment in the letter when Paul’s gentleness and pastoral love appears. I think it was because of a significant event in his life. I can't help but think of how often Paul must have thought of his conversion experience. In the midst of Paul’s violent attack on the church, Jesus stopped him in his tracks. At that moment Jesus showed him gentle mercy, forgiveness and ultimately - salvation. Imagine how Saul felt in that moment. Paul learned about the gentleness of Christ at a time he deserved only God's wrath. So, even though there is an urgency and strong rebuke in this epistle up until now, Paul also has a gentleness that he learned from his relationship with Jesus. When Paul spoke to the Corinthian church, he also appealed to them with this gentleness. 2 Cor. 10:1a 10 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! Paul was quite capable of being bold. But, the Corinthians had mistaken his gentleness towards them for weakness. Paul, as a pastor, was both strong and gentle. He knew that there was only one gospel. His life proved it. He loved those in Galatia as his own children. He endured much pain in ministry, but all for a purpose. Which brings us to our message.Until Christ is Formed in You 1. Paul’s Appeal (Become as I am, vs. 12-16) 12 I beg of you, brothers and sisters, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; Paul tells them:I beg of you. Paul begins his appeal by begging them to hear him. He then says:become as I am . What did Paul mean when he said that? We should look at Galatians 2:19 -20: 19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Paul tried to live by the law. In Philippians 3 speaking as one zealous for the law he said this in verses 5-6 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. In begging the Galatians to become as he is is not begging them to return to what he left behind. In verse 7 of Philippians 3 we read this:7 But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. To become as Paul for the Galatians was all centered on faith in Christ. To go back to the law would be to go back to what Paul counted as loss and rubbish. It is no longer I who live. I died to the law. I live for the one who loved me and gave Himself for me. Paul continues his gentle appeal to the Galatians by bringing to memory their past relationship. Look at verse 13. 13 but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; Paul was led to preaching to the churches in Galatia because of some illness he had. Many commentators believe this could have been malaria. Malaria can lead to eye diseases and blindness. There are several scriptures that indicate Paul had possible issues with his eyes, but I don’t want to dwell long here. I think it is important to note however, that when people had any kind of illness in these times, it was often percieved as God's judgment on them. We can recall in Acts 28 when Paul landed on Malta and was bitten by a snake, the natives said he escaped the sea, but now justice is being served. They believed he would die, but he lived. And then they wanted to worship him. Both Jews and gentiles looked on illness as judgment. But, he is reminding the Galatians that they treated Him like an angel. Look at verse 14: 14 and you did not despise that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition, nor express contempt, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. Paul is calling their attention to how well they treated him. During this time, the Jews were quite the opposite towards him. We can get a clear picture of how Paul was treated by the Jews and gentiles in Pisidian Antioch in Acts 13: 48-50 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region. Paul and Barnabas had been speaking the gospel and the gentiles received him while the Jews were blaspheming and persecuting Paul and Barnabas. In Acts 14:19, we also know Paul was stoned by Jews in Galatia at Lystra. .I am sure the Galatians hadn’t forgotten these things. In verse 15 he says: 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I testify about you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? Closing our his appeal for them to become like him, Paul asks them a question. What happened? Where then is that sense of blessing you had? Paul is perplexed. He really doesn’t know what to say. Verse 15 is one of the verses that indicated Paul likely had issues with his eyes. Pauls says: if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.Now, there was no way they could have given them his eyes. Paul is expressing the extent of their kindness to him. And he asks one more piercing question: So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? What happened to make Paul like an enemy to the Galatians? Their enemy should be the Judaizers. After Paul’s gentle appeal, he moves on to a genuine warning. 2.Paul’s Warning (They wish to shut you out, vs. 17-18) 17 They eagerly seek you, not in a commendable way, but they want to shut you out so that you will seek them. 18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable way, and not only when I am present with you. In these verses, Paul is contrasting his motivations with those of the Judaizers. The Judaizers sought the Galatians falsely, to shut them out from Paul and the true gospel. Their motive was self-seeking. I guess the question for the Galatians can be, who would they rather be “shut out” by? Or who would they rather be included with? And what about us? What choice do we make when faced with following the truth or compromising to counterfeits? In verse 18, we can see that Paul was seeking the Galatians for their good. It is just like any good parent wants to do so for their child. This finality of Paul’s motive is seen in verses 19-20. 3.Paul’s Pastoral Concern( Until Christ is formed in you, vs. 19-20)19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for I am at a loss about you! Paul addresses the Galatians very intimately here as in the place of a mother loving her children. He says:My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—Paul is being direct. His feeling for them is as a woman agonizing over them as a woman in labor. It hurts a pastor when his spiritual children make bad choices. Paul’s agony in this context is because his children were ignoring him and listening to others who had no concern at all for them. Over the years of ministry, many pastors agonize over the choices of those under their care. Even so, just as Paul, the pastor keeps appealing, warning, and loving his own. The pastor who loves his flock like Paul longs to see them grow in faith, love, and service. He has a heart like the father of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Paul said: I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone of voice, for I am at a loss about you! Paul would like to change his tone of voice. He is so puzzled to see them where they are. His whole motivation in serving is summed up in his desire that Christ be formed in them. That is why it is crucial for us to have an intimate relationship with God. Paul should be making that point to all of us. Conclusion: Sanctify Them by Your Truth (John 17:17) As we close, let us reflect on the title of this message. “Until Christ is Formed in You”. How does that happen? Actually, we are talking about the doctrine of sanctification. If we are born again Christians, we know we are justified before God when we put our faith in Christ. We know that one day we will be glorified when we go into the presence of our Savior. But I guess the question we all can ask ourselves as we close is: Is Christ being formed in Me? In John 17:17, as Jesus prayed for the Disciples, He said: 17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Brothers and sisters,let us love this word like Paul wanted the Galatians to love it. If we do, then Christ surely will be formed in us.