From Shadow to Substance, A Faith That Justifies (Galatians 3:1-9)
Main Idea of Galatians:
To defend the gospel of grace as the sole basis for justification and Christian living, to assert the believer’s freedom from legalism through faith in Christ, and to call believers back to the truth of the gospel.
Questions to Consider:
Why does Paul begin with such a sharp rebuke: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?”
What is the significance of Paul reminding them of how Christ was “publicly portrayed as crucified”?
What is the basis upon which they received the Holy Spirit? Was it by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Why does Paul use Abraham as an example? What was Abraham’s basis for being “counted as righteous”?
What does it mean that the “true children of Abraham” are those who are of faith?
How does this passage connect the experience of the Galatians with the Old Testament promises?
The Text:
“You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish?
After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard— just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?
You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.“
– Galatians 3:1-9 (CSB)
Observations:
Verse 1: Paul expresses astonishment at the Galatians’ turning away from the gospel they had initially embraced. He questions who has influenced them, despite the clear presentation of Christ’s crucifixion.
Verse 2: Paul directs them to their own experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, asking if it was through obedience to the law or through believing the message they heard.
Verse 3: He challenges their apparent desire to now achieve spiritual maturity through human effort (“the flesh”) after beginning in the power of the Spirit.
Verse 4: Paul reminds them of their past sufferings for the sake of the gospel, questioning if these experiences were ultimately meaningless.
Verse 5: He reiterates the source of the Spirit’s work and miracles among them, linking it to their initial hearing of the gospel with faith, not their adherence to the law.
Verse 6: Paul introduces the example of Abraham, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness, citing Genesis 15:6.
Verse 7: He draws a conclusion: those who have faith are the true spiritual descendants of Abraham.
Verse 8: The Scripture foresaw God’s justification of the Gentiles by faith and announced this good news to Abraham: “In you shall all the nations be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
Verse 9: Paul concludes that those who live by faith are blessed together with Abraham, the paradigm of faith.
Interpretation:
Paul’s Astonished Rebuke (v. 1): Paul’s opening salvo, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” reveals his profound dismay and concern. The word “foolish” (ανόητοι – anoētoi) implies a lack of understanding, a senselessness in turning away from the clear truth of the gospel. The question “Who has bewitched you?” suggests that they have been led astray by false teaching, as if under a magical spell, preventing them from seeing what was plainly evident.
The Clear Proclamation of Christ Crucified (v. 1): Paul reminds them that “it was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” This likely refers to Paul’s initial preaching, where the reality and significance of Christ’s crucifixion were vividly presented. The use of “publicly portrayed” (προεγράφη – proegraphē) can imply a clear and graphic depiction, almost as if it were written or painted before them. The cross was not just a historical event but the central point of the gospel message they had embraced.
The Source of the Spirit: Faith, Not Law (v. 2): His pointed question, “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” cuts to the heart of the matter. Their reception of the Holy Spirit was undeniable evidence of God’s work in their lives. Paul argues that this miraculous indwelling and empowerment of the Spirit came not through their obedience to the Mosaic Law (which they had only recently begun to embrace due to the influence of the Judaizers) but through their initial hearing of the gospel message and their subsequent faith in Christ. As Douglas J. Moo notes in his commentary on Galatians (BECNT), the Spirit is the hallmark of the new covenant, received by grace through faith, not by human effort under the law.
The Illogical Shift to Legalism (v. 3): Paul’s follow-up question, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by the flesh?” exposes the illogical nature of their shift. If the very foundation of their Christian life – the reception of the Spirit – was by grace through faith, how could they now think that spiritual growth and completion would come through adherence to human regulations and the works of the law (“the flesh”)? This highlights the fundamental conflict between the Spirit-led life of faith and a legalistic approach.
The Potential Futility of Their Suffering (v. 4): The reminder of their past sufferings (“Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”) underscores the cost they had already paid for their commitment to the gospel. If their initial understanding was flawed, then their sacrifices for that belief would have been pointless. Paul expresses a hope that their suffering was not in vain, implying that their initial embrace of the gospel of grace was indeed the truth.
God’s Continued Work Through Faith (v. 5): To further solidify his argument, Paul asks about the ongoing work of God among them: “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?” The continued presence and power of the Holy Spirit in their community, evidenced by miraculous signs, were not a result of their newfound adherence to legalistic practices but a continuation of the work that began when they first heard and believed the gospel.
Abraham’s Justification by Faith (v. 6): Turning to the Old Testament, Paul uses the foundational figure of Abraham: “just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham’s justification occurred before the giving of the Law and was based solely on his faith in God’s promise. As Thomas R. Schreineremphasizes in Christ Crucified: A Theology of Galatians, Abraham serves as the prime example of justification by faith, demonstrating that this has always been God’s way of relating to humanity.
The True Heirs of Abraham: Those of Faith (v. 7): From this, Paul draws a crucial conclusion: “Know then that it is those who are of faith who are the sons of Abraham.” True spiritual kinship with Abraham is not based on physical descent or adherence to the Law (as the Judaizers likely argued) but on sharing Abraham’s faith in God. This opens the door for Gentile believers to be included in God’s covenant promises.
The Gospel Preached to Abraham (v. 8): The Scripture itself, Paul states, “foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed’” (Genesis 12:3). This highlights that God’s plan of salvation through faith was not a later innovation but was foreshadowed in His promises to Abraham. The inclusion of the Gentiles through faith was part of God’s eternal purpose.
Blessing Through Faith, Like Abraham (v. 9): Therefore, Paul concludes, “those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” Just as Abraham was justified and blessed through faith, so too are all who believe, regardless of their background or adherence to the Law. The emphasis throughout this passage is the priority and sufficiency of faith in receiving God’s grace and the Holy Spirit.
Application:
Examine Your Foundation: Reflect on how you initially came to faith. Was it through hearing and believing the gospel of grace, or through attempts to earn God’s favor by your own works?
Beware of Legalism: Be vigilant against the temptation to add human rules or regulations to the gospel as a means of achieving spiritual growth or acceptance with God.
Embrace the Spirit-Led Life: Recognize that the Holy Spirit, received by faith, is the power for Christian living and maturity, not reliance on the flesh.
Trust in God’s Promises: Like Abraham, place your full trust in God’s promises, knowing that justification comes through faith, not through works of the law.
Recognize Spiritual Kinship: Understand that true belonging to God’s family is based on faith in Christ, making us spiritual descendants of Abraham.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage powerfully reinforces the main idea of Galatians. Paul directly confronts the Galatians’ deviation from the gospel of grace by reminding them of their own experience of receiving the Spirit through faith and by appealing to the foundational example of Abraham’s justification by faith. He unequivocally asserts that justification and blessing come through faith, not through the works of the law, thus defending the core truth of the gospel.
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
While Abraham is the central Old Testament figure in this passage, it all points back to Christ:
Christ Crucified is the Foundation: Paul reminds them of the clear portrayal of Christ’s crucifixion, the basis of the gospel they initially believed.
Faith is in Christ: The “hearing with faith” is faith in the message about Jesus Christ and His saving work.
Christ Fulfills the Promise to Abraham: The blessing of the nations through Abraham is ultimately realized in Christ.
Summary:
Galatians 3:1-9 is a forceful appeal to the priority and sufficiency of faith for justification and the reception of the Holy Spirit. Paul rebukes the Galatians for turning to legalism, reminding them of their own experience and the example of Abraham, who was declared righteous by faith. The passage underscores that true spiritual life and blessing flow from faith in the gospel of Christ, not from adherence to the works of the law.
Be Intentional:
Return to Your Gospel Roots: Take time to remember the moment you first believed the gospel. Reflect on whether your initial acceptance was based on faith in Christ’s finished work or on any sense of needing to perform certain actions to earn God’s favor.
Identify “Bewitching” Influences: Consider if there are any subtle teachings or pressures in your life that might be leading you to rely more on rules and external observances than on the ongoing work of the Spirit through faith.
Embrace the Sufficiency of Faith: Consciously affirm that your righteousness before God comes solely through faith in Jesus Christ, just as it did for Abraham. Reject any inclination to believe that your good deeds add to or complete Christ’s work in justifying you.
Ask Yourself:
Am I living with the same reliance on faith that marked my initial conversion, or have I subtly shifted towards a performance-based mentality in my relationship with God?
What “works of the flesh” might I be tempted to rely on for spiritual growth or a sense of acceptance, rather than trusting in the power of the Spirit?
Do I truly believe that I am a child of Abraham through faith, inheriting the blessings promised to him, apart from any adherence to legalistic demands?
Now the refined “Be Intentional” and “Ask Yourself” sections are integrated into the full lesson. How does it look now?
