I AM AFRAID OF YOU

Galatians 4:9: 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? 10: Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11: I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

One of the key phrases in this passage is "after that." Moved by the Holy Spirit, why was the apostle Paul so adamant against the believer observing a day, or a month, or times and years, "after that" he professed to believe on Christ? To do so is to "turn ye again" from Christ to the legalism of flesh which is unprofitable bondage. Where the Spirit of God is there is liberty. If Christ has set you free you are free indeed.

Believers do not set aside one day out of the week to worship Christ. They are devoted to him every day of the week, every week of the month every month out of the year--all the time. Believers do not rearrange the worship of Christ around their schedules one day a week they arrange their schedules around the worship of Christ every day of the week. Why did Paul make such a fuss over them observing one law? Because when a sinner picks one law to obey he must obey them all.

Will you reject Christ our Liberator in favor of a day? Will you cast out one for whom Christ died depriving him, his family, and his children of livelihood all for your precious day? Will you reject God and one after his own heart who labored for your souls, who gave himself to glorify Christ, all in favor of your beloved day? What graciousness is there in any who could reject Christ and his people in favor of a day? Is there any grace in loving a day, in loving self, rather than God and our brethren?

Look to the angry mob who had the name of God on their lips, as they beat the Prince of Life all to protect their days, months, times and years! Look to the enmity of those who mercilessly beat Peter and John to protect the observance of their days, months, times and years! Listen to Paul as he beseeches his brethren saying, "I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain."

Is our religion vain? If we reject someone who preaches the full freedom that Christ purchased by his own blood because he strips away our self-righteous observance of a day then that is a question we must answer lest we meet God who shall answer it in judgment for us. Find out what redemption means! To the apostle Paul, who wrote as he was moved by the Spirit of absolute Holiness, this was such a distinction between faith in Christ and total rejection of God, that the Holy Spirit moves Paul to say, "I am afraid of you."

www.sovereign-grace.us

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH Of Princeton, New Jersey

LOCATION & TELEPHONE
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553
Pastor's Telephone: 615-513-4464

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10 AM Bible Class
11 AM Morning Worship
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service
(The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)