As chapter 3 opens, we see Paul admonishing the Galatians. They had seen Jesus crucified and they confessed their belief in Jesus by what they’d heard. But, now they are questioning that…
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you”Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing — if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you believe what you heard?
Galatians 3:1-5
Paul was disappointed that they would be so wishy washy at believing they had to follow the law to receive the Spirit from God? Especially after they had already received it by expressing belief.
Paul goes on to talk about Abraham who was considered righteous for simply believing God, who told him what would happen in the future. Let’s look at the next passage.
6 Consider Abraham: ”He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham; ”All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Galatians 3:6-9
If belief was good enough for Abraham, why wouldn’t it be good enough for them? Sometimes it can feel like we aren’t doing enough to deserve the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. But the truth is that we don’t deserve it, no matter what we do. We can’t earn it based on anything we do!
10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ”Cursed is everyone ho does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ”The righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith: on the contrary, ”The man who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law be becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ”Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Galatians 3:10-14
The point in this passage is that no matter who we are, we’ve come to know God by faith. By hearing the Gospel we were convicted to our faith. We all may hear it at different times in our lives. Many grew up in the church and heard the Gospel as children. Others heard it as adults and suddenly realized it was true.
God has provided certain accounts in the Bible to help us understand this faith. We simply trust in the promises of God because he said they were so. Nothing there talks about any law we had to follow.
Those who believed in the law, but didn’t know God, crucified Jesus. The Pharisees thought that they knew what God wanted, but they didn’t know God on a personal level. That’s the reason it’s so important that we talk to God on a daily basis.
Thanks for joining me as we dig deeper into Galatians. Until next time…
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 