Galatians 3:1-14

 Galatians 3:1-14

Paul begins this section by asking, “Who has bewitched you?” Paul was well aware of who the Judaizers were, but his use of the word bewitched is critical. This is the only place this word is used in the New Testament and was more common in secular Greek. It meant to exercise evil power over a person, to captivate them especially by appealing to someone's vanity or selfishness. The result is that they are no longer able to think straight. The word was strongly associated with envy.

The appeal of the Judaizers was having its effect on the Gentile Christians. The power, glamour, and prestige of the Judaizers and their influential connections with the Priestly family in Jerusalem may have overawed the young Gentile believers. The problem was that the power of the Gospel did not come through keeping the law that the Judaizers advocated. Rather, it came by means of faith. This is an ideal moment to say a word about faith. The word Paul uses here for faith is not a vague, generalized knowledge or our acceptance of a fact. It is not simply cognitive knowledge or even a confidence in the truth of something. Faith is the all-encompassing reality that governs our actions and minds; that is both knowing and feeling, it shapes our identity and personality. It includes the notification to take action and the action taken. You can know of a chair, but it is only faith when you sit in it.

Paul asked a series of questions that point out that it was by this all-encompassing reality of faith that they began their walk. It was in this faith they perceive the crucified and risen Christ, experience miracles, and endure hardship. The power of the Spirit came because of faith. None of these things came because they were keeping legal rituals. There are two points that Paul makes to support his argument. Abraham believed God, and as a result, God translated it into a spiritual covenant relationship with Abraham. That is what “credited” or “reckoned” to him as righteousness means. Abraham was right with God before all the rituals of the Mosaic Law were established. Second, Paul points out that if you want to keep the law, you must keep every law perfectly; any failure in even one part on one occasion means that you are under the curse of a lawbreaker. Only Jesus kept the law perfectly, and for that reason He was able to take our curse on Himself. Paul is not saying that we will never do “works” as a disciple. Only that our works are not the object of our hope for salvation. Jesus is our only hope.

“Lord, help me to grow in the true faith. AMEN”