Loving Reproof

Paul's tone of voice in the letter to the Galatians is very harsh, yet, it is not unloving, nor is it berating. He is reproving their lack of faith but always speaking the truth in love (cf. Ephesians 4:15). This epistle demonstrates our need for loving reproof. By it we see the folly of our own way, but more importantly, we see the folly of those who try to steal us away and make us captive to something that is not truth.

Remember, Paul spent a great deal of time laboring in the gospel so that Christ would be formed completely in them. Yet, when he was away from them, certain false teachers came to attack their simple faith in Jesus Christ. These false teachers didn't like the gospel teaching that we can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. They wanted to steal away their faith and replace it with a system of works and ceremonies. Specifically, they demanded that every male believer among them be circumcised (cf. Genesis 17:9-14) and keep the law of God (cf. Exodus 20), which was delivered to them on mount Sinai.

But this is what Paul had to say about these false teachers:

"They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them." (Galatians 4:17)

He is teaching us that there are many false teachers who come to us with fake love and affection. They demonstrate great zeal toward us; they are kind to us; they treat us well; they tell us they only want what is best for us; yet their mouths are full of lies.

They do not speak these things for our benefit; they tell us these things so that they may win us over to them. They want us to in turn reject those who have taught us the gospel of faith in Jesus Christ and love them who teach us to live in fear and bondage of God and the law.

And this is exactly what they accomplished. They came to those believers in Galatia, turned them away from loving Paul, and toward themselves so they could them be lord's and masters over them. They deceitfully used them in Galatia for their own profit and gain.

Paul then contrasts this deceptive use of zealous affection with a kind that is pure and worth setting our hearts too. He tells us that it is only good for us to set our hearts affections on those things which are good (cf. Philippians 4:8). And not only for a moment, but our affection of holy, pure, and worthy things should be enduring.

"But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you." (Galatians 4:18)

Oh how I hope that you will never be deceived by those who call themselves your brothers, yet are no brother to you at all. I sincerely pray that you will be zealously affected in the Scriptures, which teach you the truth and reveal salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Christ is your one and only hope.

My desire for you is the same as Paul's: To be completely, perfectly formed in Christ Jesus. For if you claim life, liberty, and light in the Son of God, yet you do not live in faith, it is doubtful that you truly know him.

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you." (Galatians 4:19-20)

These are harsh words and hard to hear, yet they are loving words to reprove us. Paul did not desire to speak to them harshly. He wanted to be with them, love them, see Christ formed in them perfectly, and speak well of them as he spoke well of other believers (cf. I Thessalonians 1:1-4).

How will you recognize those false teachers who claim to be your brother? The answers lie within the pages of the Scriptures. Is your heart zealously affected in them?

With sincere love in Jesus Christ,

Jay Silvas