1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 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? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Reflection
- Continuing from the last part of Ch 2, Paul further developed the argument of Justification by faith alone. He pointed out the Galatians’ own experience (v1-5) and Abraham’s example; they all demonstrated that salvation is by faith and not law (v6-14). Law never abandoned promise as the key to God’s dealings with man (v15-25) and in Christ believers become sons of God (v26-29).
- The Galatians had been taught that they had received the Holy Spirit by faith and not by obeying the law. However, they still thought it was too simplistic to be saved by faith only. They wanted to have some rules and creeds to follow in order to feel closer to God. Spiritual exercises such as prayer and Bible reading as well as serving may help us grow spiritually but it can never replace the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul raised some pointed questions (vv1-4), and tried to help them to restore Christ as the center of their faith.
- Do you think it not realistic to depend on faith alone for salvation? Do you think your faith is too simplistic? Would you think that perhaps a bit more work on your part may bring more assurance? Stay at this point for a while.
- Pray that God would teach you to allow God to be in control of your salvation? And pray for a “simple” but not “simplistic” faith in Him.
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.
If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible. If your children are younger, you may read 7-9 only.)
Salvation for Children: A young child can understand being sorry for harming others (repentance); the need for forgiveness that cannot be earned by trying to be good (grace); trusting God to rescue them rather than relying on themselves (faith); and living life in that trust through actions that express love for God and for people (life being transformed).
Proverbs for Today 21:1-4
1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin.