THE JOY STEALERS
GALATIANS 3:1-3
INTRODUCTION: How many people have lost their joy? Go to the average Baptist church on any given Sunday and observe. One would think it was a morgue. Vance Havner once told a congregation, “I’ve seen happier faces on an iodine bottle.” To hear some, life is nothing more than a burden. The world is full of backstabbers. Everything is negative. Doom and gloom rule the day. We can’t enjoy a good meal because our digestive system is churning with chaos. We can’t enjoy a good conversation because our minds are mired in worry. Joy seems to be a missing ingredient in our lives. What has impaired our ability to enjoy life?
Look at the background of this text. Paul had brought the Gospel message (Good News) to the region of Galatia. Churches had been established. They had received the Gospel by grace through faith. Then! Then! Not long afterwards the “joy thieves”, the “joy stealers” (I heard one preacher refer to them as the “joy suckers”) showed up. They started a campaign. They sought to rob these believers of their freedom in Christ by demanding that they continue to follow and fulfill Jewish ceremonial law. It was nothing short of the perversion of the Gospel.
Note in v.1 the word “foolish”. It is not intellectual understanding but a lack of spiritual insight. It refers to one who does not perceive, observe or comprehend. “O, you non-comprehending Galatians.” The word “bewitched” means to mislead by deception, or to influence by charm. Their minds had been paralyzed. All of this had happened in spite of the fact that Christ was “clearly portrayed”. That means set forth as a picture or placard such as a billboard. It was something openly displayed. Paul had presented Him in a clear, vivid way. They had formed a mental picture of Him.
In v.2-3 Paul chides and speaks in a spirit of reproof. He had no doubt about the genuineness of their experience. What was it that had brought joy and peace? Submitting to the law or simple trust in the Lord? It was their faith not human effort. In v.3 note the words “attain your goal.” That means more perfect. Go back up to verse 1 and see the word “crucified”. Their problems started when they left the cross!
How had all this happened? Enter the “joy thieves.” Let me briefly introduce and describe for you three “joy stealers.” Meet:
I. PATTY PERFECTIONISM
What does Patty say? The cross is not enough! Faith is not enough! Grace is not
enough! Believing is not enough! Patty insists that one must continue to adhere perfectly to the law to receive God’s favor. She insists on perfectionism. God’s favor and her favor are contingent on our consistent, infallible behavior. There are two questions we need to ask of Patty.
A. How can a sinner be perfect? There has only been one perfect man – Jesus – and He died for my imperfections. That is enough!
B. If it were possible for me to live perfectly and receive God’s favor, then why the cross? Patty is tragically deceived.
II. LARRY LEGALISM
See Gal. 4:8-9. By a careful, reasoned argument Paul had established that faith in Christ
makes people part of the family of God. It is not by obedience to the law. Before conversion these people had lived like “pagans”. Now they have been converted and released from bondage and slavery, but they are being enticed to once again embrace the system that would bring them back into their old ways. Paul finds it incredible that anyone who has tasted the freedom of Christ would even think of going back into slavery.
Note in v.8 – “At that time” and in v.9 – “but now”. The word “turn” (v.9) is in the present tense. It indicates that they are already in the process of turning. The “weak and miserable principles” refer to the legalistic system. It is opposite of the richness and power of the Gospel.
Paul's thoughts were that the legalism of the Judaizers and the paganism of the Gentiles were in principle the same! Wow! Did you hear that? Do you grasp that?
Legalism is slavery. When we try to please God with a list of "do's" and "don'ts" or "musts" and "must-nots" we are playing Larry Legalist. There is only "one must" - you must be born again! What must I do? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ...
Larry Legalism is very fond of "do", "don't", "must", "must not". He has his own set of rules. Never mind they are woefully incomplete. He has elevated his interpretation (the tradition of the elders) to a status higher than scripture. Larry says to find favor with God you have to keep the law! He's nothing more than a joy thief!
III. CHARLIE CONFORMITY
See Gal. 5:7. Paul uses the imagery of a race. You had a good start. You got off to a good beginning. You were so noble. You were running so well. You were making such good progress. The idea here is that of eagerness and persistency.
But something happened. This is a rhetorical question. Paul doesn't ask this out of ignorance but out of amazement. See the word "hindered". It is a picture of someone cutting into a road or breaking it up so as to impede one's advance. Someone had thrown an obstacle in the course.
Who could that someone be? Meet Charlie Conformity. You must conform to my standard of righteousness to find favor with God. You must conform to my way of doing things. You must conform to my interpretation of scripture. Good time Charlie's got the blues.
Listen, Jesus came to set us free. How often do we exchange that freedom for perfectionism, legalism, and conformity?
How do you answer Patty, Larry and Charlie? Keep your eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. Stick to the cross because that's enough!
CONCLUSION: How many Patty's, Larry's and Charlie's sit in our pews, sing from our choir lofts or even preach from our pulpits? Beware of the joy stealers.
