Grace in Galatians (Part 127): Religion Robs You Of Joy
Today, we continue our series entitled “Living the Grace Life,” where we will learn to embrace and walk in God’s unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved favor throughout 2025.
As part of this series, I am teaching a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Galatians.
Key scriptures for this year:
(2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT)
"Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do."
(Galatians 5:4 TPT)
"If you want to be made right with God by fulfilling the obligations of the law, you have cut off more than your flesh—you have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from the revelation of grace!"
(Romans 6:14 ERV)
"Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God's grace."
(1 Corinthians 15:10 CEV)
"But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn't wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God's grace at work and not me."
Scripture we will study today:
(Galatians 4:12-16 TPT)
“Beloved ones, I plead with you, follow my example and become free from the Law like I am, for I became like you Gentiles, free from the Law. You haven’t mistreated me in the least. You know that I came to you the first time because of a physical ailment, and I preached the gospel to you. And even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you didn’t despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, or even as Jesus Christ himself! Where did your great joy and satisfaction go? For I can testify that if it were possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me! Am I now your enemy just because I have told you the truth?”
(Galatians 4:12-16 NLT)
“Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws. You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?”
Supporting scriptures:
(Psalm 51:12 NLT)
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”
(Romans 15:13 NIV)
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Setting the Stage:
In our last message, we dealt with the danger of returning to religious rituals (observing days, months, and years) as a means of earning righteousness. Paul was heartbroken that the Galatians were trading the substance of Christ for the shadows of the Law.
Today, Paul shifts from a theological argument to what seems like a deeply personal and emotional appeal. He reminds them of the history they share.
When Paul first came to Galatia, he was suffering from a physical ailment (some scholars believe it was an eye disease, given his reference to them plucking out their eyes for him). Despite his weakness, the Galatians received him with open arms. They didn’t look at his physical condition; they looked at the spiritual treasure he carried. They received him “as an angel of God,” or even as “Christ Jesus himself.” They were so full of joy, gratitude, and love that they would have done anything for him.
But now, something had changed. This leads Paul to ask, “Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then?” (NLT). Or as the Passion Translation puts it, “Where did your great joy and satisfaction go?”
The answer is simple and somewhat tragic: Religion and legalism killed their joy. When they were focused on the grace of God, they were ecstatic. They were free. They were happy. But as soon as they started trying to earn their standing with God through the Law, the pressure, the judgment, and the condemnation sucked the joy right out of their lives. And worse, they turned on the man who brought them freedom, viewing him now as an enemy because he dared to tell them the truth.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. “Become Like Me”: The Call to Live Free From the Law.
Paul pleads with them, “Become as I am, for I also became as you are.” This is a powerful statement. Paul was born a Jew, a Pharisee of Pharisees, zealous for the Law. But when he met Jesus, he became “like a Gentile” in the sense that he lived free from the Law’s requirements for righteousness. Now, he is begging these Gentiles (who were never under the Law to begin with), to stop trying to become Jews and instead become like him: FREE.
How this applies to you:
— Paul is essentially saying, “I left the bondage of the Law to walk in the freedom of grace. So, please don’t pick up the heavy yoke that I put down!“
— You cannot lead people into freedom if you are still bound yourself. Paul could call them to freedom because he was walking in it. Likewise, I can teach you about the grace life because I have been living this way for over a decade.
— God wants you to live so free from the performance trap that your life becomes an invitation to others. The freedom and grace you walk in should be contagious! I can testify that it is for me. People are drawn to the grace and joy they see in me.
— Becoming “like Paul” in this context doesn’t mean becoming an apostle; it means becoming a person who rests entirely on the finished work of Jesus.
— Many Christians are trying to put on a yoke that their fathers couldn’t even bear. The Apostle Luke, in Acts, wrote this: “So why on earth would you now limit God’s grace by placing a yoke of religious duties on the shoulders of the believers that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10 TPT). If religious people were honest with themselves, that is exactly what they are doing when they attempt to get others to live by a Law they cannot keep themselves.
— Paul is asking a question that truly baffles me today. He is asking people who were not born under the Law (Gentiles), why they would voluntarily submit to a system that was designed to expose sin, not remove it? That question made sense 2,000 years ago, because the gospel was new. But I was born in 1972. My family was new Jewish. I have no idea why my Mom raised me to obey a system that Paul spoke against 2,000 years ago. And when I share the gospel of grace, people (most of whom were never Jews) still fight it today.
— Make the decision today: “I will not go back. I will stand fast in the liberty of God’s grace. I will live free!“
2. Grace Values the Anointing Over the Appearance.
Paul reminds them that when he first preached to them, he was sick. His body was under attack in the natural, but in the spirit, he was still anointed. Thankfully, though he looked weak, they did not reject him because they discerned who he was in God’s Kingdom. They received him as a messenger of God. Grace gave them the ability to see past the flesh and connect with the Spirit.
How this applies to you:
— Legalism makes you critical. It makes you judge people by their outward appearance, their performance, and their adherence to rules.
— Grace makes you compassionate and more open to spiritual discernment, becuase you are not judging by what you see with your natural eyes. The grace of God and the Holy Spirit enable you to see (in the spirit) the treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor 4:7).
— When the Galatians were walking in grace, they didn’t care about Paul’s eye problem; they cared about the Gospel he preached. They valued the anointing over the appearance.
— But when you get into religion and legalism, you start picking people apart. You start judging the preacher, the worship leader, and your neighbor based on your self-righteous standards.
— If you find yourself becoming critical, judgmental, and harsh toward others, it is a sign that you have drifted from grace.
— Grace recognizes that the power is of God, not of us. Even the great Apostle Paul had physical struggles, yet God used him mightily.
— Here’s something worth noting: Paul’s struggles went far beyond the physical. He was in and out of prison, yet God used him to heal the sick and set captives free. Religious people might criticize from the outside, asking, “How can someone preach freedom while locked up, or heal others while dealing with their own afflictions?” But here’s the mystery of the Kingdom: God’s ways are above our ways, and we won’t have all the answers while we’re down here. This is why we can’t judge by worldly standards; we have to discern things in the Spirit.
— Don’t let a critical spirit rob you of the blessing God wants to send you through imperfect people. There are no perfect people in God’s Kingdom.
3. Legalism Will Steal Your Joy.
This is the central question of the text: “Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then?” When they received the Gospel of Grace, they were overjoyed! They were so happy they would have plucked out their eyes for Paul. But once they started trying to keep the Law, the joy evaporated. Why? Because the Law produces anxiety, not joy.
How this applies to you:
— You cannot be happy and condemned at the same time. The Law brings the knowledge of sin, and with it, condemnation. Grace brings the knowledge of forgiveness, and with it, JOY!
— If you have lost the joy of your salvation, check your theology. Are you trying to earn what God has already given?
— Performance-based Christianity is exhausting. You are always wondering, “Did I do enough?” You can never rest, and therefore, you can never truly rejoice.
— The “blessedness” Paul speaks of (in the KJV) refers to a sense of deep satisfaction and spiritual well-being. That satisfaction comes from trusting, not working.
— Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). It flows naturally when you are abiding in the vine. But it dries up when you try to become the vine yourself.
— When you wake up knowing you are righteous because of Jesus, you have a song in your heart. When you wake up thinking you have to make yourself righteous, you have a weight on your chest.
— Don’t let the devil steal your joy by tricking you into religious legalism. The joy of the Lord is your strength, and that joy is found in His grace!
4. Don’t Treat the Truth-Teller as an Enemy.
Paul asks, “Am I now your enemy just because I have told you the truth?” This is the unfortunate truth behind deception. When people fall into legalism/religion, they often get angry at the very people who are trying to set them free. The grace message offends the pride of the legalist because it tells them their works are not enough.
How this applies to you:
— When someone loves you enough to correct you, don’t get upset! Paul risked their rejection because he loved them too much to let them stay in bondage.
— Religion defends itself with anger. If you get angry when someone preaches grace or questions your religious rituals, ask yourself why.
— The truth often hurts before it heals. Paul’s words were cutting, but they were necessary surgery to remove the cancer of legalism.
— Don’t surround yourself with people who only tell you what you want to hear. Value the mentors who tell you what you need to hear.
— If you have pulled away from your spiritual parents or mentors because they challenged your thinking, if they were trying to keep you connected to God’s grace, it’s time to repent. They are not your enemy; they are fighting for your freedom.
— Pride says, “I don’t need to hear this.” Humility says, “Lord, I may be wrong. If I am, please show me, and help me get back on track.”
— Embrace the truth of grace, even when it challenges your religious comfort zone. The truth of God’s grace will set you free!
That's enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for the joy of my salvation!
I declare that I am walking in the freedom of grace, and I refuse to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
I will not allow legalism to steal my joy, my peace, or my satisfaction in You.
I value the anointing over the appearance, and I refuse to maintain a critical or judgmental spirit.
My joy comes from trusting in the finished work of Jesus, not from my own performance.
I reject the pressure to be perfect and embrace the power to be Yours by grace.
I receive the truth with humility, even when it challenges my thinking.
I am not an enemy of the truth; I am a lover of the truth, and the truth has made me free!
I live with a grateful spirit, overflowing with the joy that comes from believing.
I am Living the Grace Life, and GREATER IS COMING FOR ME!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
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