What does Galatians 4:12 mean?

Open line radio on Oct 1, 2022 hour 2.

Listener:

We are doing a study on Galatians and we are at Galatians 4:12. And it says "Brothers, I entreat you because as I am, for I also have become as you are" and I am a little confused about that statement.

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

I think a good background for this is 1 Corinthians 9 when Paul says: "To the Jews I became a Jew, though not under the law, though I am not under the law of Moses, he means, he's freed from the obligation of the law to keep the law of Moses, he says without the law I became as without law, though now without the law of God, this overarching law of God that he wants to obey but the expression of it under the law of Moses is though he may keep it as a cultural identification with his people, he is not bound by it. And so when we look at 1 Corinthians 9, I think it kind of helps you understand because these Galatians are saying Gentiles need to convert to Judaism, they need to be circumcised before they could believe in Jesus and when they convert to Judaism and were circumcised, they took on the entire yoke of the law. They believe that the works that required of them were the law of Moses. Not the ones that were repeated in the New Covenant but actually the laws of Kosher, the laws of circumcision, the laws of Shevat and all these details and he says I beg you brothers, become like me, meaning liberated from the law of Moses and under the law of the Messiah, for I also became like you, to those without law, I live as without law, when he was among Galatians, he wasn't trying to live an orthodox Jewish life, so he's just saying become like me, liberated from the law of Moses, just like I live among you, live in a way that make you think I have keep the law.

Gal 4

12 Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you ... -njkv

12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ... -kjv

12 I beg of you, brothers and sisters, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. ... -nasb

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. ... -niv

Why is rebellion described is as a sin of witchcraft?

Openline on moody radio on Nov 12, 2022 hour 1.

Listener:

Good morning Dr Rydelnik, concerning 1 Samuel 15:23, rebellion is as a sin of witchcraft, a preacher I watched says rebellion is witchcraft but another preacher specifically called it out and says rebellion is not witchcraft, it is just like witchcraft, which is correct and do we really care? Thank you.

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Well, it is not witchcraft because witchcraft is witchcraft and rebellion is rebellion. It's not in the text actually said. When you read verse 23, rebellion is as or is like the sin of witchcraft, in the context, it wasn't witchcraft that Saul carried out, it was his action to disobey God about the destruction of the Amakelites and king Agag ...

Listener:

Yes

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Now what was Saul most noted for as king when it came to cleaning out the land?

Listener:

I think one time he took some stuff that he's not supposed to take, maybe?

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

One of the good things that Saul did is as we find out in 1 Samuel 28, is that in chapter 28 verse 3, Saul had put the mediums and necromancers out of the land, one of the good things he dealt with witchcraft, he didn't want it in the land of Israel, which was good but then he rebels against the Lord,

Listener: I see where you are going ...

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

He says has the Lord delighted in offerings and sacrifices? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, to listen than the fat of lambs, for rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry, in other words, you're saying I am doing ok because I dealt with divination, I dealt with it, I'm good and did what God wanted about that and then he says rebellion against God, outright rebellious disobedience is as if you have said you did the same thing that you said you have already cleaned up. It's not the same thing, it's the same kind of heart attitude.

1 Samuel 15

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” -nkjv

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. -kjv

23 For rebellion is as reprehensible as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as reprehensible as false religion and idolatry. Since you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” -nasb

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” -niv

1 Samuel 28

3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land. -nkjv

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. -kjv

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land. -nasb

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land. -niv

Why is there a need for the believer to ask for the Holy Spirit?

Openline Radio on Nov 5, 2022, hour 1

Listener:

Looking at Luke 11:13, which says that God will give us the Holy Spirit if we ask Him, specifically it says if you then who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? When we are born again, God gives us His Holy Spirit at conversion, can you explain why we should ask for the His Spirit when the Holy Spirit is indwelling in us?

Dr Michael Rydelnik:

Just remember when the Lord Jesus said this, it was before Pentecost, the Lord Jesus in the upper room discourse taught that there is going to be something different with the birth of the Church. In the old testament and even in the days of earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit was not in all believers, only in some believers and that He was not permanently in believers, He could be taken away, which was why David prayed take not your Spirit from me when he repented. The Lord Jesus makes a big point in the upper room discourse that He will send the Helper, the Comforter, different translations for that, the Paraclete, and that that One will be in all of us and He will never leave us and when does that start? It starts with the birth of the Church, at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit falls in Acts 2. And so the Lord Jesus was speaking to a group of people who were not yet, at that time He was talking in His earthly ministry, when people could still pray for the Holy Spirit and He did not come to them automatically.

Luke 11

13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” -nkjv

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? -kjv

13 So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” -nasb

13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” -niv