NOW I SAY _THAT_ THE HEIR, AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD, DOES NOT DIFFER AT ALL FROM A SLAVE, THOUGH HE IS MASTER OF ALL, We do not enter God's family by adoption. We enter by being born again. Adoption has to do with our standing as an adult son. 2 BUT IS UNDER GUARDIANS AND STEWARDS UNTIL THE TIME A... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEN, INDEED, WHEN YOU DID NOT KNOW GOD, YOU SERVED THOSE WHICH BY NATURE ARE NOT GODS. Nature = long standing practice, habit, standard accepted custom NOW: You know God. And, God knows you. Why turn back? 9 BUT NOW AFTER YOU HAVE KNOWN GOD, OR RATHER ARE KNOWN BY GOD, HOW _IS IT THAT_ YOU T... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU OBSERVE DAYS AND MONTHS AND SEASONS AND YEARS. Days = Sabbaths, Holy Days Months = New Moon festivals Times = Annual feasts like Pentecost, Passover, etc. Years = Sabbath year, Jubilee 11 I AM AFRAID FOR YOU, LEST I HAVE LABORED FOR YOU IN VAIN. The real issue is their binding of their obs... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN, I URGE YOU TO BECOME LIKE ME, FOR I _BECAME_ LIKE YOU. YOU HAVE NOT INJURED ME AT ALL. Paul turns from "spanking" them to "embracing" them as a father. 13 YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL INFIRMITY I PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO YOU AT THE FIRST. Some believe this is a reference to Paul's "t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN WAS THE BLESSING YOU _ENJOYED?_ FOR I BEAR YOU WITNESS THAT, IF POSSIBLE, YOU WOULD HAVE PLUCKED OUT YOUR OWN EYES AND GIVEN THEM TO ME. Where is the blessing? How are you blessed: IF you reject the gospel? IF you bind yourselves under the old law? IF you return to that which can not s... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE I THEREFORE BECOME YOUR ENEMY BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH? Who is the enemy? Truth? Messenger? False teachers who take away your liberty as a son.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ZEALOUSLY COURT YOU, _BUT_ FOR NO GOOD; YES, THEY WANT TO EXCLUDE YOU, THAT YOU MAY BE ZEALOUS FOR THEM. Zeal is good (to a point). When it has knowledge - Romans 10:3 When you obey the doctrine of Christ. Acts 2:43 18 BUT IT IS GOOD TO BE ZEALOUS IN A GOOD THING ALWAYS, AND NOT ONLY WHEN I... [ Continue Reading ]
MY LITTLE CHILDREN, FOR WHOM I LABOR IN BIRTH AGAIN UNTIL CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU, Children = term of endearment, love, affection Not - childish, immature... [ Continue Reading ]
I WOULD LIKE TO BE PRESENT WITH YOU NOW AND TO CHANGE MY TONE; FOR I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT YOU. Paul has three wishes: 1. To be present with them 2. To change the tone of voice used here 3. To remove doubt about their stand. NOTE: Parents never outgrow their children. When they are little, they are... [ Continue Reading ]
TELL ME, YOU WHO DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW, DO YOU NOT HEAR THE LAW? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. Notice Abraham's age: 75 - Promise was made 85 - Still waiting 86 - Hagar bears Ishmael 99 - Promise reaffirmed 100 - Isaac... [ Continue Reading ]