Galatians 3: Redeemed and Freed by the Seed, not by a deed

Galatians 3

"O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth,fn before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among youfn as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—" Galatians 3:1-5

In the first five verses, Paul gives a pretty harsh rebuke to the Galatians. Harsh, but spot on. Paul continues his teaching from chapter 2 here as he enters into some strong fellowship with the Galatians. They've shrunk back. They've begun sliding downward. They have taken their eyes off of Christ, stopped believing in Him, and instead began trusting in their works. Whatever situation they have gotten themselves into,  Paul finds it so disturbing that he calls them 'fools' twice in these five verses alone. 

We can learn so much from these verses alone about guarding our hearts against the temptation to trust in ourselves or in our works. These verses teach us where our sanctification comes from- the Holy Spirit that lives inside us. We are also reminded to be on guard against the temptation to walk in the flesh, and not in the Spirit, which yields nothing but death and bondage. 

"just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God isevident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it." verses 6-15

When we read verses 6-15 we are reminded of exactly how we receive salvation and what salvation beings us. Paul reminds us of Abraham's belief in God and that for his faith he was credited with righteousness. Abraham was not found righteous by God by his works, but by his faith. We too receive the same blessing as Abraham when we believe in God. God himself preached the gospel to Abraham through his promise of blessing the nations through the seed of Abraham. We too then who have put our faith in Christ receive God's same blessing. 

However those who put their faith in the law to save them only bring upon themselves a curse, and therefore deny themselves the very blessing God wants so desperately to give them. 

Vs 11: 'the just shall live by faith.' 

When we live by faith, and in the Spirit, we realize that we begin to automatically walk in obedience to the law simply because we are abiding in Him. When we believe in Christ, we believe in the work of the cross and we believe that the curse that we deserve, Christ took upon himself. In doing so, he redeemed us and we receive the same blessing and righteousness and promise of the Spirit that Abraham received. 

I must remember where my identity is. I am nothing. I have nothing to offer. Anything I can offer is of myself and therefore has not eternal value. It is in Christ where I find redemption from this and freedom from the curse of the law. 

In vs 15 Paul reminds them that he speaks to them in common language- so what he is saying is not confusing to them and so they might be able to understand. 

God promised Abraham that Christ would come through him and would be the Savior to all mankind. Christ demolished the law 430 years after it had been instituted. 

So what are we to do with the law? Do we ignore it? Is it against what Jesus says? Neither.

Before Christ, we were imprisoned under the law by our sin, since the law was impossible to uphold. After Christ, we receive the promise by faith that the law was meant to bring us to the point of recognition of our hopelessness to ever achieve the law...and in that, to the realization that only through Christ can we truly be free. 

We are all sons and daughters who believe in Jesus and have put our faith in Him. There are none excluded from the freedom Christ offers. 

I spent way too long living under the imprisonment of the law, even after coming to Christ. Paul gives us a picture of the depths of God's love for us here in this chapter. We have all found ourselves in the same spot as these Galatians, having backslider into an area we had once found freedom from. We have all found ourselves fools  like these Galatians. Praise God that he has chosen to use the weak and foolish things of this world, like me, to be part of his great plan. 

Today, I will meditate on the work the Lord has done in my life. I will write down a list of things that I am thankful for and the ways the Lord has freed me from and specifically the things I am now free from because of his grace. I will also ask The Lord to continue to open my eyes to the ways I am living by the law and counting to shrink back.