FAITH, NOT WORKS
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Opening Prayer
Father, refresh my faith in Christ today and help me receive the Spirit’s wisdom as I live by faith today.
Read GALATIANS 3:1–14
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Faith or Works of the Law
3 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[c]
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”[d] 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[e] 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”[f] 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”[g] 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 hung on a pole.”[h] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Footnotes
- Galatians 3:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
- Galatians 3:4 Or suffered
- Galatians 3:6 Gen. 15:6
- Galatians 3:8 Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18
- Galatians 3:10 Deut. 27:26
- Galatians 3:11 Hab. 2:4
- Galatians 3:12 Lev. 18:5
- Galatians 3:13 Deut. 21:23
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you ever find yourself thinking and living as if being a good Christian depended on your efforts?When you first came to Christ, you knew that your salvation depended on him alone. Filled with his Spirit, you experienced and witnessed Christ at work in you and possibly in others around you (vv. 1–5). Now, as you move on, you are perhaps beginning to think again about the old ways—and that simple security of keeping the rules (v. 3). Here is the flaw in the Galatian church’s thinking.
Paul points to their lack of wisdom and failure to understand the Old Testament Scriptures more deeply. Keeping the Law was never the way to salvation (vv. 10, 11)! It was a guide that taught us about living God’s way—and about worship and the festivals that were important in maintaining relationship with God. But there’s a deeper truth running through God’s Word which Abraham, the Jews’ ancient ancestor, shows us (v. 6). Right relationship with God depends on faith in him and his mercy (it’s not our ‘doing’).
Throughout time God had a plan. The good news of the gospel for all people has always been foreseen by him (vv. 8, 9). The coming of Jesus and his death are the lynchpin. Now we know that Christ redeemed us through his death. Now, as Abraham’s life foreshadowed, by faith we, too, can come into relationship with God and receive the promised blessing of his Spirit.
Apply
Are there places in your walk with Jesus where you need to give up striving and rest more in what he has done and is yet able to do?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you that when you came into the world to save sinners, you came to save me. On the cross you paid all that was needed for my redemption—thank you for your indwelling Spirit who continues to build my faith in you.
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