The Epistle to the Galatians Chapter 3:1-25

Justified by Faith 1 - 9 3.1. O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus

Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

Note that Paul does not call the Galatians fools, this would have been contrary to the teaching of Jesus (Math.

5: 22) where the word Raca means worthless. He says that they are foolish, being silly or senseless in not

obeying the truth of the Gospel that was given them when they first believed that Christ was Crucified in order

to reconcile them to God (Rom. 5: 10). He further asks them who have “bewitched them”, that is, who has cast

a spell over them that they should be so deceived.

3.2 - 5. the only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or

by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to

finish by human effort?

Have you suffered so many things for nothing? — if indeed it was for nothing. Does God then give you the Spirit

and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?

In these verses he asks them a series of questions in order to bring them back to their senses. Was it by

keeping the law that you received the Holy Spirit or did you receive Him by faith? Their response should have

been that they received the Holy Spirit by faith. Are you really so senseless and stupid to believe that you

received anything from God except by faith? You began your new life spiritually and were born again of the

Spirit are you now being made perfect by the works of the flesh? Their answer should be that it is by the work

of regeneration by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Have you suffered so much persecution and had such great

experiences for nothing, if in fact it was for no purpose? Does Jesus Christ who gave the Holy Spirit and who

works mighty miracles among you do so on the grounds that you are fulfilling the law or is it by faith? Again

their answer should have been by faith alone.

3.6. Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,

He uses the illustration of God's promise to Abraham to bring home the point that it is not by the works of the

law but by faith we are saved (Eph. 2:8). It was because Abraham believed the promise of God that his faith

was credited to him as righteousness and he was justified by faith (Genesis 15: 4 - 6).

3.7. so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.

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It is only those who live by faith can be called the true sons of Abraham (Rom. 4: 16).

3.8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to

Abraham ahead of time, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you."

In Genesis 12: 3 God foretold that His plan and purpose was to justify the Gentiles by faith in His Son. In giving

Abraham this promise God was making known to him the Gospel message in advance.

3.9. So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer.

What is the conclusion then of this heading? Those who are people of faith are made happy and favoured by

God along with the believing and trusting Abraham.

The Law brings a curse 10 - 14 3.10. For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, "Cursed is everyone

who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law."

The Law which God gave to Moses is righteous (Rom. 9: 31) how then can it bring a curse? (Deut. 27: 26).

Because the law has to be kept completely for if a man fulfils all the law but fails in one small point then he is

cursed (James 2: 10).

3.11. Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.

There is no man who has ever lived who has kept every point of the Law except the man Christ Jesus. God's

own word state that no one is justified by the law for it declares "the just shall live by faith" (Hab. 2: 4).

3.12. But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.

The Law has nothing to do with faith, for the law itself says that whoever does the things laid down by the law

shall live by them (Lev. 18: 5).

3.13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, "Cursed is

everyone who hangs on a tree")

This is not only the key verse for the chapter but also the whole point of Paul's letter to the Galatians. Since no

man has been able to keep the whole law then everyone is under the curse of the law. Jesus Christ came into

the world to fulfil the law and to become a curse for us (Deut. 21. 23) and to redeem us back to God (Titus 2:

14).

3.14. in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive

the promise of the Spirit by faith.

In receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour the promise of blessing given to Abraham comes upon the Gentiles. So that

by faith the Gentiles might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 33, Acts 10: 44 - 45).

The Unchangeable Promise 15 - 18 3.15. Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even

though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

Paul uses here an illustration from life. If a person makes an agreement or a will and it is confirmed by

witnesses then according to manmade law nothing can be done to alter it neither can anything be added or

taken away from it except by the person who makes it.

3.16. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, "and to the

descendants," referring to many, but "and to your descendant," referring to one, who is Christ.

The promise that God gave was to Abraham and his "Seed", not "seeds" that is, it was not given to all his

offspring but to one in particular and that Seed is Jesus Christ.

3.17. What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant

previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.

The Law was given to Moses 430 years after God had given His promises to Abraham therefore he did not

receive them by keeping the law. When the law was given it did not alter or cancel the promises given to

Abraham concerning the coming of Christ it did not abolish or overrule the promise.

3.18. For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it

to Abraham through the promise.

If the promise of justification by faith through Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit depends on keeping the law

it can no longer be a promise. How then are we justified - by the law or by faith? Answer is in Romans 3: 28.

The Purpose of the Law 19 - 25 3.19. Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant

to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.

The Law was given because of sin and was to remain in force until the Lord Jesus Christ would come according

to the promise that was given by God. The Law came through the angels and Moses as the mediator between

God and the Israelites (Deut. 33:2). The purpose of it was to reveal sin and that all are sinners (Romans 3:23).

3.20. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

A mediator is a go-between a person who reconciles and intercedes between two persons. There can be no

mediator with just one party there has to be at least two. There is however only One God and One mediator

between God and man that is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5).

3.21. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could

have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

Is the Law opposed to the promise of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a Law that could impart

spiritual life then righteousness would have certainly come by the Law.

3.22. But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given —

because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ — to those who believe.

The Word of God has declared that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” in Romans 3:23.

However, for those who believe and receive the promise through faith in Jesus Christ there is deliverance and

salvation.

3.23. Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the

coming faith would be revealed.

Before Christ came the Law guarded us, kept us in protective custody, until the Saviour should come.

3.24. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The Law acted as a schoolteacher, as a guardian and a guide to Christ until He should come and that through

His atoning death upon the cross we might be justified by faith and be set free from the law of sin and death

(Romans 8:2).

3.25. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Now that Christ has come faith in Him has brought us into the freedom of sons of God and we no longer need

the law as our schoolteacher.

© Derek Williams 2014 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or

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monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org