Bible Passage: Galatians 3

Big Idea: Justification comes through faith in Christ alone, assuring believers of their status as God’s children and freeing them from the bondage of the law and the pressure of self-righteousness.

Opening Thoughts

Many of us have been a part of churches or traditions that said, “The way to receive the power of the Spirit is to get rid of all of the sin in your life.” Give up your drinking, stop smoking, just clean up your life then the Holy Spirit will come upon you to empower and use you. Consequently, many people have spent months, years, even decades trying to clean up their lives in order to earn the empowerment of the Holy Spirit .Others waited day after day in what used to be called “tarrying meetings.” “We’re going to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon us.” If we praise loud enough, pray hard enough, and wait long enough, the Holy Spirit will come upon us. We’ll be changed and empowered. Then we will be able to have a radical impact on our culture and community.
Galatians 3 presents Paul’s passionate defense of the doctrine of justification by faith.  In this chapter, Paul addresses the Galatian believers who are tempted to supplement their faith with works. He clarifies their misunderstanding regarding the function of the law, affirming that justification and righteousness are attained through faith in Christ rather than adherence to legalistic practices. Additionally, Paul underscores that receiving the Holy Spirit and witnessing God’s miracles results from faith in Jesus Christ, not observance of the law. The chapter concludes by highlighting how faith in Christ transforms one’s understanding of the law and affirms the believer’s identity as a child of God through faith.

Faith: Not Foolish Rituals

Galatians 3:1–5

¹ O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. ² Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—

Paul begins by asking the Galatians “Why do you no longer embrace and enjoy the simplicity of Jesus Christ?” Paul wanted to know who was placing a spell on them by saying they had to follow a long list of rules to receive the Holy Spirit. He is basically asking the Galatians “Did you receive the Holy Spirit by faith or by works?”

The word foolish (anoetoi) does not connote mental deficiency but means mental laziness and carelessness. The Galatians were not stupid; they were just listening to the false teachings of the Judaizers and passively accepting it. They were not taking the time to go back to what they had been taught by Paul and discern the truth. They were blindly accepting what was being taught without studying for themselves.

While in college I came in contact students that came from churches like those that Paul is writing to. They had been taught to believe that in order to be a true Christian you had to follow a certain set of rules. Many a preacher has led people a stray by teaching that in order for a person to be a good Christian they had to live a legalistic based live. This is no different than what the Judaizers were teaching the Galatian believers.

An illustrative example of legalistic reasoning comes to mind, as recounted by my father during his service with the local Baptist Association. The organization received a donation of Portuguese-language Bibles intended for missionaries working with Portuguese-speaking communities. However, several pastors present at the discussion, who adhered strictly to the King James Version, objected to distributing these Bibles as they were not in the King James translation. This inflexible approach risked limiting missionaries’ ability to provide accessible scripture to those they sought to serve, solely due to the conviction that only the King James Version was valid.

Paul is telling the Galatians and us; you have been set free from the bondage of sin. Why then would you want to place yourself under the bondage of the Law or some other legalistic system? To do so is say that grace is not enough and you hamper the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and the ministry of the church.

Faith: Like Abraham

Galatians 3:6–14

⁶ just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? ⁷ Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. ⁸ And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” ⁹ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. ¹⁰ For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” ¹¹ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” ¹² But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Paul cites Abraham as an example of someone justified by faith rather than works. According to the biblical account (Gen 12:1-4), the Mosaic Law had not yet been established when Abraham responded to God’s call, and would not be given for another 400 years. Abraham is described as being justified before the command of circumcision was given. Circumcision, like baptism, is presented as an external sign reflecting one’s faith in God. Neither act is considered to confer salvation or contribute directly to it; instead, they are viewed as outward indications of an internal process involving the Holy Spirit.

The problem with the Law or any legalistic system for trying to work your way to heaven fails. We are sinners by nature. There is no amount of good works that will make us justified before a Holy God. Paul is telling the Galatians; these false teachers are giving you false hope that will leave you cursed before God. The only way a person can be justified before God is to place their faith in Jesus Christ. “The righteous shall live by faith” Gal 3:11. No matter how good or disciplined a person becomes, without faith they still fall short of God’s glory.

Abraham demonstrated this kind of faith by obediently leaving his homeland for an unfamiliar country at God’s direction. His faith, rather than his actions, was regarded as righteousness. The grace Abraham received was not the result of his works; instead, it was attributed to his faith. Abraham did not earn his justification through works but by obediently trusting in God. As a consequence of Abraham’s faith, all nations of the world are being blessed.

We can do all the right things. Go to church every time the doors are open. Study our Bibles regularly. Feed the poor. Preach the gospel. All of which we are called to do. But these activities alone will not get us to heaven. All the work we do will not bring us justification. Like Abraham we must place our faith in Jesus. Only our believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross will make us justified. Our works are a result of our faith (James 2).

Faith: Fulfills the Promise

Galatians 3:15–22

¹⁵ To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. ¹⁶ Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. ¹⁷ This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. ¹⁹ Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. ²⁰ Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 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.

Paul presents a comparison between God’s covenants and human contracts, suggesting that, similar to signed agreements, covenants are binding. He raises the question of why God’s covenant would be considered revocable if human contracts are not. The Judaizers argued that the law, given after the Abrahamic Covenant, should take precedence. Paul addresses the Galatians, emphasizing that God’s covenant with Moses does not contradict the earlier covenant with Abraham but is instead complementary. According to Paul, while the Mosaic covenant is significant, it neither changes nor cancels the Abrahamic covenant. The promise made to Abraham was that his descendants would benefit all nations, a promise that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who offers salvation. Paul further teaches that, like Abraham, people must approach God through faith and that salvation is by grace through faith rather than adherence to the law.

It was never the purpose of the law to save a person. The law was to be like a mirror it showed man that his sins are a transgression against God (Gal 3:19). The law laid down the perfect standard and made a person aware of when they had deviated from that perfect standard. It was there to show us the magnitude of our sin and our need for a savior.

Faith’s Freedom and Family

Galatians 3:23–29

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.

Paul uses another image to describe our position under the law before the coming of Christ. He says the law was like a guardian. A better translation is “custodian” or “strict nanny” During the time of Paul a slave was assigned to each child to escort them to school and help in their supervision. This person was not a sweet babysitter but was more like an army drill sergeant. They were responsible to keep the child in line. They would teach the child what was and was not acceptable. This person would punish the child when they failed to obey.

In the same way the law was given to point out our sin and to threaten a great punishment if we didn’t obey completely. But, when it comes the law no one can perfectly obey it and earn God’s approval. This realization causes us to long for a better way to salvation and relationship with God. God provided a way when He fulfilled His promise by sending His son, Jesus, who provides us a restored relationship with God the Father. The law showed us our need for Christ and the forgiveness and righteousness that He provides by faith. No longer do we need the law to be our guardian.

When we accept the grace of God and place our faith in Jesus we are no longer children bound by the law. We become mature members within God’s family. The Apostle Paul refers to believers as “sons of God,” using the metaphor of Roman society where reaching adulthood involved replacing children’s garments with the toga of an adult—a symbol of new rights and responsibilities. Similarly, Paul teaches the Galatians that through embracing Christ, they have set aside the “old clothes” of the law and adopted Christ’s “robes of righteousness.”

This transformation results in unity among all believers in Christ. Paul asserts that while the Law introduced divisions across individuals, nations, foods, and animals, the purpose of Christ was to foster unity rather than division, emphasizing equality for all in Him. The Christian life, therefore, gains depth and significance in light of these truths, as the believer recognizes the benefits found in Christ. This relationship is based on grace, not adherence to the Law, positioning each individual as an adult member and heir within God’s family.

Application

Many of you may face the challenge of feeling unworthy or struggling with guilt from past mistakes. Galatians 3 reminds us that through faith in Christ, we are all children of God and are not defined by our past. To embrace this truth, take time this week to write a letter to God, confessing your weaknesses and thanking Him for His grace and forgiveness. Then, share this testimony with a friend or in a small group setting to reinforce your status as a beloved child of God. This act can lead to healing and remind you of your identity in Him.

Discussion Questions

• Why did Paul say that the Galatians were “foolish” and “bewitched”?

• Read Galatians 3:10–22. How does Paul contrast the Law of Moses and faith?

• Through whom were the promises of Abraham fulfilled? (3:16)

• Where and how do you need to stand up and live like a child of God?

• What commonly accepted rules have many Christians tried to make part of the gospel? How is this similar to what the Judaizers were doing among the Galatian believers?

{Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture verses are taken from the English Standard Version}

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