Lesson 4863

 (Lesson 4863) (05-24-25) Galatians 3:1-14 

   “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? 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? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” 

 

   In today’s lesson, Paul rebuked the Galatians for turning from faith to the works of the law. He reminded them that they received the Holy Spirit not by obeying the law, but by believing what they heard—the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul pointed to Abraham, who was counted righteous because of his faith, NOT his works. He explained that those who rely on the law are under a curse, because the law demands perfect obedience, which no one can fulfill. Scripture made clear that no one is justified before God by the law. Instead, "The just shall live by faith." Paul declared that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, shedding His blood on the cross, so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles through faith. Paul stressed that salvation does not come through obedience to the old Hebrew laws or human rituals, but through faith in the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ alone. If someone believes they must mix faith in Christ with old covenant practices, they deny the sufficiency of Christ's blood to save. According to Paul, if the blood of Christ is not enough to remit sins and grant eternal life, then there is no salvation at all. Justification before God can ONLY come by trusting completely in what Jesus did—not in what man does. ~