Galatians 3
Galatians 3
Faith or Observance of the Law
1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
6Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The 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." 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Observation:
Paul continues to spell out the difference between being “justified by faith”, as opposed to being justified by observing the Law (as summarized by the Ten Commandments). Paul outlines the Promise, which was first given to Abraham, and how since Abraham trusted in the Promise it was credited to Him as righteousness. Meaning, Abraham was made right or justified by faith in God’s promises.
Paul also clarifies that just because we are justified by faith in God’s promises which all come true in the person of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t nullify the binding nature of the Law. Meaning even though we can’t be made right through observance of the Law, this does not mean it loses its power. Its power is to lead people to Christ, or better yet drive people to Christ. And also the Law is a useful guide to holy living.
But all that being said, we cannot keep the Law apart from God’s Spirit working within us. We receive God’s Spirit, as we trust in God’s promises made complete in Christ. The power of God in us to enables us to live a life pleasing to God. As we trust in God’s promises, Paul concludes with a very important verse, where He says that in Christ there is neither male or female, slave or free, Jew or Greek; but all of us are on in Christ. (3:28) Whereas the Law set up a distinction between the Jews and their non-Jewish (Gentile) neighbors, the Promise brings us all together as one. Whereas the Law separates men and women and their roles, the Promise helps us to see whether we or male or female we are one in Christ.
Application:
When we think of all the things that tend to separate us, we see how race, gender and economic differences can great barriers. God’s plan was to unite us through the Promise of Jesus Christ, who broke down all the barriers between first of all God and us, and subsequently all other human distinctions.
And again it is only through the Spirit’s power that we can live and love like Jesus did. Jesus loved everybody the same. The woman caught in adultery, the leper, who was considered an outcast. The hated tax collector and the Samaritan woman at the well are all examples of Jesus’ unconditional love. Jesus, whose main goal was to bring in God’s kingdom, broke down all of the walls that separate us and cause so much pain and hardship.
In heaven we will see this unity God has purposed in His great plan for all of Creation. One of Jesus’ prayers at the end of his life was … “They may be one as we are one”.
Where is the Spirit calling you to love someone different than you?
Prayer: Dear God thank you for sharing Your precious promises with us and calling us to be Your children. As we realize Your love for all people, guide us by Your Spirit to unite those around us regardless of gender, culture or economics. In Jesus’ name and in the power of the Spirit! Amen.
Faith or Observance of the Law
1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
6Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The 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." 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Observation:
Paul continues to spell out the difference between being “justified by faith”, as opposed to being justified by observing the Law (as summarized by the Ten Commandments). Paul outlines the Promise, which was first given to Abraham, and how since Abraham trusted in the Promise it was credited to Him as righteousness. Meaning, Abraham was made right or justified by faith in God’s promises.
Paul also clarifies that just because we are justified by faith in God’s promises which all come true in the person of Jesus Christ, it doesn’t nullify the binding nature of the Law. Meaning even though we can’t be made right through observance of the Law, this does not mean it loses its power. Its power is to lead people to Christ, or better yet drive people to Christ. And also the Law is a useful guide to holy living.
But all that being said, we cannot keep the Law apart from God’s Spirit working within us. We receive God’s Spirit, as we trust in God’s promises made complete in Christ. The power of God in us to enables us to live a life pleasing to God. As we trust in God’s promises, Paul concludes with a very important verse, where He says that in Christ there is neither male or female, slave or free, Jew or Greek; but all of us are on in Christ. (3:28) Whereas the Law set up a distinction between the Jews and their non-Jewish (Gentile) neighbors, the Promise brings us all together as one. Whereas the Law separates men and women and their roles, the Promise helps us to see whether we or male or female we are one in Christ.
Application:
When we think of all the things that tend to separate us, we see how race, gender and economic differences can great barriers. God’s plan was to unite us through the Promise of Jesus Christ, who broke down all the barriers between first of all God and us, and subsequently all other human distinctions.
And again it is only through the Spirit’s power that we can live and love like Jesus did. Jesus loved everybody the same. The woman caught in adultery, the leper, who was considered an outcast. The hated tax collector and the Samaritan woman at the well are all examples of Jesus’ unconditional love. Jesus, whose main goal was to bring in God’s kingdom, broke down all of the walls that separate us and cause so much pain and hardship.
In heaven we will see this unity God has purposed in His great plan for all of Creation. One of Jesus’ prayers at the end of his life was … “They may be one as we are one”.
Where is the Spirit calling you to love someone different than you?
Prayer: Dear God thank you for sharing Your precious promises with us and calling us to be Your children. As we realize Your love for all people, guide us by Your Spirit to unite those around us regardless of gender, culture or economics. In Jesus’ name and in the power of the Spirit! Amen.
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