The sixty verses that make up Galatians 3 and 4 are some of the strongest writing that Paul ever penned. But, after all, he was in a battle! He was out to prove that salvation is by grace alone, and not by the works of the Law. His opponents had used every possible means to try to capture the churches of Galatia, and Paul was not going to fight them halfheartedly. The apostle was no amateur when it came to debate, and in these two chapters he certainly proves his abilities. His logic is unable to be attacked, questioned or defeated.
Paul begins chapter 6 with six different arguments to prove that God saves sinners through faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law. He begins with the personal argument (Gal. 3:1–5) in which he asks the Galatians to recall their personal experience with Christ when they were saved.
Faith or Works of the Law
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 the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? – Galatians 3:1-5 NIV
Paul’s intention with these questions were to get the Galatians to focus again on Christ as the foundation of their faith. But if Paul was our Pastor, and maybe you have a Pastor like Paul, that doused you with the words, who has bewitched you? Who has cast a spell on you? In most cases this puts the listener on their heels and they begin to defend their stance. No one typically likes to hear that they have been tricked. Our mind typically shifts to defending and justifying and even to a point of shutting down and not listening.
In verse one, Paul’s use of the word foolish, is used multiple times by Paul to not be translated as ignorant, or belittled for something they did not know or lack of knowledge or lacking intelligence, but for lack of moral or spiritual judgment (wisdom). They knew the truth, they knew what to do and did not follow their own wisdom.
Christians must realize that they grow spiritually because of God’s work in us by his Spirit, not by focusing on special rules. The fact is, today many people still feel insecure about their faith, because faith alone seems too easy. People still try to get closer to God by following rules. We must not confuse rules with disciplines and practices. Disciplines such as devotions, prayer, bible studies and service may help us grow, they must not take the place of the Holy Spirit in us or become the primary focus of our life.
Can you describe a time when you caught yourself focused on the busy parts of Christianity? Have you had times when you lost focus on Jesus because of activities, commitments and obligations? How did you become aware, what was your response?
Has it happened more than once? What is your reasoning for the reoccurrence?
The Holy Spirit gives Christians great power to live for God. This is not a common concept and many Christians think they want more than living for God. They want to live in a state of perpetual excitement. The tedium of everyday living leads them to conclude that something is wrong spiritually. Often the Holy Spirit’s greatest work is teaching us to persist, keep on doing what is right, even when it no longer seems interesting or exciting.
If the Christian life seems ordinary, we may need the Spirit to stir us up. Every day offers a challenge to live for Christ.
Then he moves into the scriptural argument (Gal. 3:6–14), in which he quotes six Old Testament passages to prove his point.
6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.”
13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. – Galatians 3:6-14 NLT
Does it seem strange to you that Paul says that we are saved by faith and not the law, but Paul quotes from the Law? What is your thoughts on this?
Each example, Paul uses the Law to prove the insignificance of the Law. Our faith is a logical faith and can be defended on rational grounds. While there are divine mysteries in the faith that no man can fully explain, there are also divine reasons that any sincere person can understand. Paul was trained as a Jewish rabbi and was fully equipped to argue his case. In this section, he makes four statements that help us understand the relationship between promise and Law.
The Law Cannot Change the Promise
15 Dear brothers and sisters, here’s an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children,” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise. – Galatians 3:15-18 NLT
The Law is Not Greater than the Promise
19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham. – Galatians 3:19-20 NLT
The Law is Not Contrary to the Promise
The Law was not given to provide life, the Law was given to reveal sin and protect life. The Law was given to prepare the way for Christ. The Law cannot do what the Promise can do.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. – Galatians 3:21-29 ESV
This week look for ways to see and experience the Holy Spirit in your life, each day is an adventure and let us not get caught up in the thorn bushes without the will of God. (sometimes there work to be done for God in the thorn bushes, but let us not mistake that for our own will in the stickers)
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ga 3:19–20). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
The New International Version. (2011). (Ga 3:1–4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Witherington, B., III. (1998). Grace in Galatia: A Commentary on St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (p. 201). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 697). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ga 3:1–14). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.