Galatians 3

Grace and peace in the name of Christ,

One of the first commentaries I read on Galatians mentioned that it is considered to be the 'first draft' of Romans. After only half of the book, I can clearly see what would lead a person to that observation. I have found many themes and theological threads that are common between the two.

The memory passage for Galatians 3 is
Galatians 3:2,3,11,22 (ESV)
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?
¹¹ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."
²² But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

The Outline theme is "The Gospel of Faith, not Law"

Paul begins the section by directly confronting the foolishness of his readers. After his first statement, focusing the conversation always on the cross, Paul asks a series of four questions in the next four verses.
1) How did you receive the Spirit? 2) Who is sanctifying (perfecting) you? 3) Did you suffer in vain? 4) How does God perform miracles?
Through these rhetorical questions, Paul is making the point that they began by faith in Christ, Who promised them Holy Spirit to sanctify them through persecution and empower them through the work of the kingdom.

In vv 6-9 we find a theme from Romans 4 and 9. True righteousness is through faith (the faith of Abraham) and if we share in Abraham's faith we become children of God (by adoption).

The next section (vv 10-14) centers around a quote from Habakkuk 2:4. Other than in 3:11, this quote is also found in Romans 1:17 and Hebrews 10:38. "The righteous shall live by faith". Gaining the righteousness of God can not be by our own works but only through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul reminds them (knowing full-well from his previous service in Judaism) that if one holds to the law for righteousness he had better do it all and do it perfectly. Any disobedience brings about the curse of the law. The Law perfectly set the stage for grace. Our faith in Christ opens us to the blessing of Abraham (through faith) and the promised Holy Spirit.

Verses 15-18 can be summarized this way; "As man-made covenants are not changed mid-stream, so God's promise to Abraham was not changed or abolished with the coming of the law. The law served to train and discipline God's people until Christ came and fulfilled the promise for us.

What is the purpose of the law then? Because of sin (made clear by the law) the promise could only be fulfilled through the grace of Christ. The law was a parent to Israel, a prison guard, to train in righteousness, maintain order, and point to the Messiah. But for those who are 'baptized into Christ' (26) through faith , the promise is 'given to those who believe' (22).

In Christ, there is no priority or standing for anyone. While there may be distinctions in roles, there are no levels of superiority in the body of Christ.

And since we 'put on Christ' (27) and are 'one in Christ' (28), we are heirs to the promise as Abraham's offspring (29).


How does this affect my worship?
Romans 11:36 rings in my heart; "for from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things". My salvation, my sanctification, and my sacrifice of praise all start with Him. Any other approach would be as (or more) foolish than that of the Galatians. Having been called, trained, disciplined and matured in worship by the work of Holy Spirit, am I now supposed to take over?
"To Him (because it's from Him and through Him) be the glory forever".

How does this affect my discipleship?
In a way, He uses us as instruments to extend His promise to others. If someone, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, receives salvation and receives Holy Spirit, they are now recipients of the promise (through faith) made to Abraham. It's His promise, it's His calling and drawing of the sinner, and it's His glory; but He lets us be a part of it through evangelism and discipleship. What a tremendous privilege. What a mountainous responsibility. But...
"I am with you always, to the end of the age".

May you live by faith in Christ today,

Ethan