Galatians – Part 3

Series – May 2022 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Galatians – Part 3

Having considered Galatians 1–2 in the previous two issues of this magazine, we will now move on to chapter 3. The first three verses say ( KJV ), “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

These Christians had received the truth of the gospel when Paul preached to them and openly declared the crucifixion of Christ. However, preachers of the law followed not long after asking questions of the Christians there.

A question these other preachers may have asked is: “Was Paul here?” The Galatians would perhaps have responded by saying, “Yes, and he preached to us Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection from the dead. Additionally, if we believed in Him we would be saved.” One could further perceive from Scripture that the preachers of the law would have emphasized that they were with other apostles in Jerusalem. Therefore they could claim to have full details concerning how Gentile believers could be fully saved – according to their own ideas. They might have gone on to highlight circumcision and the keeping of the law of Moses.

This teaching threw the Galatians into confusion. Instead of making progress through the grace of God in their Christian lives, they were just going around in circles and behaving foolishly as though someone had bewitched, or cast an evil spell, on them.

The apostle desired to know one thing of them: how did they receive the Spirit? Was it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? The answer is obvious. It is not of works but by the hearing of faith. This is seen in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and in the house of Cornelius later (10:44). While Peter presented the gospel in that house, the Holy Spirit fell on all them who heard the Word. Peter spoke; the people listened; they believed the words spoken, and the Holy Spirit came upon them. It was so then, and it is so now. We hear the gospel and believe. Upon believing, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the believer.

It was a very foolish thing to think that having begun in the Spirit, they could now be made perfect by the works of the flesh. The flesh may be powerful to do evil, but it is completely powerless in doing good. Dear reader, it is not the Spirit with the addition of the flesh; it is the Spirit that gives life. It is not grace plus the law; we are saved by grace alone. And it is not faith supplemented by works; but it is faith all the way. Anything other than this will not bring about salvation.

In Galatians 3:4-5 the apostle asked a couple of questions: “Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Their association with Christ and the preaching of the cross meant much suffering, reproach and deprivation, or hardship, as they shared in the rejection of Christ. Some may have even suffered unto death. However, now they were being brought under the power of evil, and if they would not repent, they would lose their reward but not their salvation.

We must always take note of the difference between reward and salvation. Salvation is the absolutely free gift of God, while rewards will be given based on our faithfulness to Christ after we have been saved. If the Galatians turned from following the truth, their sufferings and their works would be in vain, or would go unrewarded. But those who were truly saved would still be saved. So it is today, too.

The apostle questioned how it was that the working of the Spirit was done among them. Was it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Apart from the many miraculous works of the Spirit in those days – such as raising the dead, restoring sight to the blind, opening the ears of the deaf and the mouth of the dumb – there are other miraculous workings of the Spirit to this day. This is especially seen when the gospel is preached. Men turn to the Lord from their many sinful practices. The thief who would normally have spent his days coveting and robbing others now works with his own hands, even giving to others that are in need. The drunkard disregards his bottle of alcohol and finds his joy and song in the Lord. The immoral person becomes a decent, upright and faithful spouse and parent. The liar who had not been able to speak truth for years, now finds that he/she cannot comfortably lie anymore. The ill-tempered man whose wife and children dreaded the very sound of his voice, now displays the spirit of meekness and patience. These are the kind of changes the Lord makes in a life.

He who once reveled in various kinds of uncleanness, even as a pig delights in mud, the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shines forth into his heart; his conscience is stirred and he sees the holiness and purity of Christ. The Spirit affects his heart, resulting in his bowing in repentance before God in abhorrence of his sinful being. He is washed and made pure and clean by Christ, in the eyes of God.

The law, the flesh or works cannot accomplish this. Such is the work of the gospel of the grace of God. “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [the Lord]” (Acts 26:18).

“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Gal. 3:6). In the eyes of God, Abraham was not made righteous because his works were perfect. Instead, Abraham was declared righteous because of his faith which produced good works. God was looking at his faith, and we now see his faith by his works. God could say to Abraham, “You are righteous,” because this man of faith believed Him.

God did not give to Abraham the law. Abraham was a Gentile just as these Galatians were, until God called him out and separated him unto Himself from all the other people on the earth. He saved him by grace through faith in the same way that we are saved today. Dear reader, if you are not already saved, call upon the Lord now and He will save you. His Word is ever true: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).

By Milton Jamieson

Look for Part 4 of this Series next month.