“In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.” (Galatians 4:1–3, ESV)
Throughout the world and throughout history, slavery has been practiced by different cultures. In some cases, there have been good masters who treated their slaves fairly. However there have been other cases where the slave owner did not truly care for the slave and abused them greatly. I do not know anyone who would want to be a slave to a master that would do them harm. A slave has no freedom, but it bound to obey the master.
However, multitudes are walking the earth today who are slaves and do not even know it. To whom or to what are they enslaved? This is the question that every person needs to ponder.
Paul is continuing his arguments regarding the law as a guardian until such time as people came to faith in Jesus Christ. Here he presented the fact that before coming to faith the believers were like children and no different than slaves. So, how were believers once slaves? He stated, “when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.”
Now in the context of Paul’s argument, he indicated that they “were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed” (Gal 3:23, ESV). Yet when faith came they were set free from the law and thus no longer slaves.
As I mentioned, today multitudes are held captive as slaves and they do not even know it. So, in what ways are they in bondage. Let us look at two aspects of this. When Paul wrote that they “were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world,” what did he mean.
We might be led to believe that he was speaking of the law under Judaism. However, when we consider the makeup of the Galatian churches, there were Gentiles who were never under the law. So, we must think in a broader sense. All people are born with a sin nature and thus, they all sin. They are bound by sin and enslaved to a system of principles that govern this world. John identified three basic areas covered by this system.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15–16, ESV)
Yet even here we need to look at this deeper. People around the world have devised various religious systems. They have concepts of how they will justify themselves before a holy God. These are elementary systems of the world held on to by prideful people who are being governed by their own fleshly desires. They falsely believe that they can save themselves through obeying a variety of rules of conduct, religious ritual, and good works.
Ask the average man on the street, “What does it take for a person to get to heaven?” The majority will give you a man-made philosophy ranging from, “God loves everyone so every one gets to heaven,” to a system of good works. These man-made philosophies are of the “elementary principles of the world.” They are not from the God. God tells us that it is His salvation and that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
So, here is the point. When we walk in this world, we run into the multitudes who are slaves to “elementary principles of the world.” Moreover, we who have believed have the only message of true hope. Let us share the only message of hope. They need to move from being like children governed and enslaved by sin and these “elementary principles.” The only way to do so is by trusting in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.
Renewing the Heart 