The Book of Galatians – Part 2
Chapters 3-4
(Scripture version - New Living translation)
This is Paul's letter to the churches in the province of Galatia where he had been during his first missionary journey. It's a passionate letter from Paul as he desires to show the seriousness of his purpose in writing due to reports that the church had fallen into hard times and fallen into error caused by a group of Judaizers (legalistic Jews) and their misteaching's insisting Christians keep Mosaic law. Now with chapters 3 & 4, Paul gives a firm attack of law-following legalism stating that faith in Christ is all that matters. "Oh, foolish Galatians…", is how Paul begins this section, and goes on to distinguish faith from the law. We are children of Christ by what we believe (faith) and not by what we do (works). False teachers must be ignored and rooted out. Christ is all that matters and then, a life lived in His Spirit learning to follow Him.
“Faith! Not works…”
Galatians 3:1-15
Key verses – “'Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”
Meditation – Paul is giving a clear teaching here in this section of chapter 3: Never Forget! You did not receive the gift of Grace by performing good works and adhering to the law. You received the gift of Grace by believing in what you have heard preached: That Jesus Christ was and is the Messiah and that by faith in him alone you are saved.
“An Explanation of Faith vs. Law.”
Galatians 3:15-29
Key verses – 19 - “'Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator.”
26 – “'So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith…”
Meditation – Paul goes on here to explain the law and what it meant when it was given. That the law was established for people to follow until such a time as when the “Seed” comes. (The seed is a reference to Genesis 3:15. In that verse, “her” is Mother Mary and the “seed” is Jesus. Some translations use the word seed and others use “her offspring”.) The law was given so people would know how to live according to God. Now that Christ has come (and yes the law is still good) following him, his teachings, and having faith in him is the most important thing.
“I (Paul) can’t stress this enough!”
Galatians 4:1-20
Key verses – 17 – “Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.”
19-20 – “I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you. Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.”
Meditation – To drive his point further, Paul continues to make his case and uses other metaphors like a father’s inheritance and the illustration of Abraham’s two sons, one from Hagar and the other from Sarah. He is working here to be so very clear that those false teachers teaching that the law is all that matters are so very wrong. In the end, Paul pleads with his reader of how important this is to him. He wishes to be with them in person, but he knows the letter is the best he can do at that point. It sort of feels like Paul keeps repeating himself, and he does, really, but he does so to passionately get hi point across: The only thing that will get you the gift of salvation is faith in Christ. There is nothing else. After faith, letting the law and Jesus’ teachings together guide you into righteous living is good and should be lived out.
PRAYER – Take time to thank God for Paul’s passionate explanation of THEE TRUTH. We have these words in the bible so that we may know and believe and understand, for even still today some Christians make the mistake of thinking their “acts and works” are somehow equal to or more important than their believing. Give thanks to God for His love-gift of Grace in Jesus Christ.
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