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."[a] 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."[b] 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."[c] 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith."[d] 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."[e] 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."[f] 14He 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.
The Law and the Promise
15Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed,"[g] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ[h] that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Sons of God
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Footnotes:
[a] Galatians 3:6 Gen. 15:6
[b] Galatians 3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
[c] Galatians 3:10 Deut. 27:26
[d] Galatians 3:11 Hab. 2:4
[e] Galatians 3:12 Lev. 18:5
[f] Galatians 3:13 Deut. 21:23
[g] Galatians 3:16 Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 24:7
[h] Galatians 3:24 Or charge until Christ came
4 comments:
Gal 3
Ouch-This one hits home:
3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
I do this time and time and time again. I find myself bummed out, or back into a corner, or struggling to get something to work, and I turn full force into a prayer warrior. I pray all the time, and with the confidence that the Lord will provide if I truly have faith. And I do have faith, and I can honestly say that I simply ask for His will to be done.
BUT...when He inevitably comes through, I give Him the credit initially, but then go back to the "hard work is the key" and slowly move away from God, until I'm back at the beginning of this paragraph.
I've learned/done this exercise enough times to recognize it ahead of time, but I invariably do it anyway.
Lord, help me to lean on you both in the good and bad times, to trust in you fully in the big and the small, as You, Lord, are the only way to eternal happiness.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen
crb
Gal 3
This is fun!!! Couple of things here guys that struck me.
1) 13But 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.
You could not find better words to describe the burden we carry than "THE CURSE"
Thank you for your Son
2) What a reminder of how we should think of others
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
We are heirs’ fellas. Amazing!!!! It is like royalty with a twist. The twist is to be humble servants. Counter culture at its best
Father God, encourage these men today. Lift them up and bless them.
In Christ,
cas
It is ironic (no probably should say it is amazing how God works) the scripture that I decide to comment on is this one. I totally agree with CRB on how we sometimes are foolish and stop relying on God to only rely on ourselves. I am so guilty myself. Sometimes I feel as if as long as I am doing "right" then God will understand if I don't read his word and fellowship among my christian brothers. But this scripture clearly points out the wrong with that thought (a foolish thought).
3Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 4You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away?
Lord I come to you today and asked for the power to put aside my worldly duties and study your word on a daily basis.
Amen,
LT
Well I guess we all start sounding the same when God points out the same sin in all of our lives...It is amazing that we speak of God's grace so much and yet live as if it were are own doing. I know it is a balance of living in grace, but it seems we get more strokes by being more legalistic within certain religious circles.
I love vs. 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? and as cas pointed out vs. 10 10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
That I swap real Faith (faith that does get lived out) for my own efforts. Am I living out of gratitude and joy or debt and obligation?
Notice vs. 21-22: The law cannot impart LIFE! That is what DEAD people need. Before we are in Christ we are DEAD. And the the whole world is a prisoner of sin.
Leave the life of thte Law and live out the love of God in our lives. That is where real life will begin for us. Not in opposition to all the bad things around us, but in allying ourselves with God's work of redemption and reconciliation. One is centered in fear and darkness, the other in joy and light.
Lastly, how encouraging that it doesn't matter what our background, heritage, genetics are. In Christ we are so blessed and called "sons of God." vs.26-28
Praise you God for your grace that saves us, imparts life to us, and makes us your children. May we stop seeking to please the Law and begin to love you in all we do.
In Christ's Name,
ER
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