Slavery
© 08.22.24 By David Eric Williams
Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing (Galatians 4:8-11 NLT).
Earlier we talked about the elemental principles of the world and how the ritual of the Mosaic dispensation was a part of that. Those things were identifiers and in the case of the Mosaic dispensation, a tutor to bring us to Christ. However, an attempt to be counted as a child of God according to a system that has passed makes one a slave.
A Gentile in covenant with Christ is a free man. He is an heir to the promises of Abraham and no longer bound by the demonic chains of false worship. Likewise, the Jew in covenant with Christ is a free man, an heir to the promises of Abraham and no longer bound by the chains of the Mosaic dispensation. Indeed, to insist on the continuing necessity of circumcision is to deny the faithfulness of Jesus the Christ; it is demonic (John 8:44).
It is natural for unregenerate men to seek an overlord of limited authority. The pagan believes he has found this in the worship of gods who are much like himself. Little is required of the devotee but ritual acts. His religious actions satisfy his urge to worship in some way but do little to reform his life.
Jewish observance of the Mosaic ritual is much the same. It is a belief that certain outward actions are adequate worship of Yahweh. The Judaizers believed the advent of the Christ had not changed the status quo. They wanted to have their cake and eat it too. They wanted to satisfy the innate desire for religious activity on their terms – and Jesus the Christ was welcome to join them!
Thus, we can see how the former pagans of the church in Galatia would have been attracted to the Judaizers. They thought being the people of Yahweh was very similar to being the people of any god; follow the mandated ritual. Oh, and in addition, acknowledge Jesus as Christ, a limited Savior whose salvific power is supplemented by law. After all, how could anyone expect to recognize a former pagan as a follower of Yahweh unless he shouldered the burden of the Mosaic dispensation?
Paul is unequivocal. Observing certain months, days, seasons and years, the requirement of circumcision, washing of hands and utensils and the eating of “clean” food – none of that saves. When presented as part of the “salvation package”, it is slavery.
What are the ways Christians encourage slavery today?
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