Thoughts on Galatians 4:16

The Gospel is a very offensive message. And people need to be offended. People need to be confronted with the truth that they are, when compared to God’s standard for us, basically scumbags. Scripture tells us that we are estranged from the womb and are born speaking lies (Ps. 58:3). We need to be confronted with that truth and accept the fact that we are not “good people.” It is only then that we will be open to what Jesus has to offer. I love the way John Stott puts it in his book Basic Christianity: “Only when we have had the malady accurately diagnosed, shall we be willing to take the medicine” (Stott). Only when we realize we have a sickness (sin) will we be willing to take the appropriate medicine (Jesus).

The truth of our condition must always be spoken with one goal in mind: repentance and salvation. We are to speak the truth in love because we truly care about those who are sick and lost and want to see them made well. Stott puts it much better than I ever could: “This exposure of sin has only one purpose. It is to convince us of our need for Jesus Christ, and to prepare us for an understanding and an acceptance of what he offers. Faith is born of need. We shall never accept Christ unless we feel our need of Him.” He goes on: “Only when we have realized and admitted our sickness and it’s gravity, shall we admit our desperate need of the soul’s Physician” (Stott)