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In this chapter we find the Spirit is imparted to the Christians at Galatia through the Gospel of Christ. It is also brought out that the Gospel was presented to them before they knew of the works of the law. Also in this chapter Paul speaks of the covenant of Abraham.

Paul begins this chapter with a question: He says, oh you thoughtless Galatians what have you done? Who have you fallen prey to? “Who hath bewitched you?” Paul wants to know what could cause them that had been instructed in the Gospel to deny Christ for the law? How can they seek after justification from something they know does not work? Paul thinks maybe they have been put under the influence of someone who teaches a doctrine different from that which Paul preached and taught while he was with them. Paul says, I faithfully preached "Christ crucified to you" in a way that was so very vivid leaving no room for doubt that if justification comes from works then Christ was crucified in vain! These first two verses are a plea for the people to come back to Christ and to remember that He was crucified for their justification and it was not because of some magic or mysterious spell that one receives salvation but only because of Christ! Paul says the answer to his question would convict them of their foolish ways through the Holy Spirit; not through the observance of the Jewish law. It's only the message of the Gospel offering to each one willing to accept it salvation through faith in Christ Jesus! Paul than says that he receives the Spirit of Christ by faith not by hearing the law or through the law but only through the hearing of the Gospel through faith.

We now see in verse three that the Galatians are trying to combine the Spirit with the flesh. Living by the Spirit is to live by faith in Christ; living by the flesh is living by works. Paul says how foolish anyone is to know the Spirit and still think works are greater. Living for Christ will not always be easy though as we read in verses four and five it will sometimes bring persecution and sufferings but the Spirit will help us during these times. Paul in verse 5 poses another question -- how does Christ work in you/me -- by the law or by faith? Christ operates in us by the Spirit not by the law. All He does for us He does in a bountiful manner (Philippians 4:19 and John 7:39). In verse six Paul says the Galatians would have to respond to the questions from chapter three verse five. He then quotes scripture (Genesis 15:6) saying that “Even as Abraham, who was accepted as righteous by faith without the law.” Which means that even Abraham relied on faith for that is the only way--works cannot do it for you. (Romans 4:3,9,21,22 and James 2:23) Verse seven says, “They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” this is the crux of Paul’s argument. It is the faith of Abraham that made him righteous. Abraham is the spiritual father those who believe upon Christ. Those Believers are the seed of Abraham promised by God heirs to the promise! Verses eight and nine tell us that God will justify us, sinners, by our faith in Jesus Christ. We are looking forward to salvation through Christ is the promise of the Messiah from Old Testament Scripture saying that all nations will be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Some things also to think on here is that this promise to Abraham happened long before circumcision. This promise is a promise to the Gentiles through Abraham! It is a promise from Christ--a promise coming way before the law was existent!

Now in verse 10 Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 27:26 continuing to say that being connected to any thing but God brings a curse. If you try to come to salvation by the law you must by the law follow every word of the law or you will receive the curse of the law. But now through Christ it is not necessary to go through the law for salvation--salvation comes from Christ and Christ alone! In verse 11 Paul is again quoting from the Old Testament this time from Habakkuk 2:4 saying that it takes more than just faith to be justified. Justification doesn't just happen by something we do on our own; we must allow Christ to come into us. Even though it is not works that save us works must be present in our life for Christ to truly be shown through us. Paul goes on in verse 12 to say that even if you practice law--in other words go by nothing but the law--than the law will become what you live by! We are creatures of behavior--we follow examples and learn from examples and from hearing and such and if it is the law we adhere to and believe in that is what we will live by. The law though, as Paul states in verse 13 brings with it a curse but through Christ Believers can be set free from that curse (Deuteronomy 21:23). Through Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham comes to us according to verse 14. That which God promised to Abraham comes to all nations that are justified by Christ through faith! Father, thank You for giving me the Spirit of Christ to overcome the curse of the law and to be set free from sin and death!

Verses 15 to 18 tell us to keep in mind that Paul was a Rabbi! Being a Rabbi he had all the Jewish arguments and ways in his heart and mind. And he used this knowledge to help show the superior ways of God’s grace over the Jewish laws. Paul says that grace is older than the law. God’s promise to Abraham was based on faith not law. The law was not present at this time it was 400 years later before the law came through God and Moses. Paul continues to say that once a pact or covenant has been made and passed you cannot add to it or alter it. And it is because of this that the law its self cannot make changes to the promises made earlier by God to Abraham by faith! You see it was faith that set Abraham free and put Him in right standing with God not the law. And faith is the only way for us to get right with God. Paul takes a single word and develops a very strong argument with that one word. Paul takes the word “seed” which is in the singular form and stressed this is to an individual and that individual is CHRIST! The law came in between the promise and the coming of the Seed, which is Christ, who became the fulfillment of the law and the promises made before the law. Peace with God comes only from faith in Christ. Gods covenant was made with Abraham before the law and cannot be broken by the law.

This next section, verses 19 to 22, is rather difficult as was the previous section, but this is a continuation of Paul’s argument that Grace is above the law. We find that Paul gives four arguments pertaining to his belief.

1.      Paul questions why the law came to be and answers his question by saying that it was given because of sin. If there is no law there will be constant sin but law helps to deter sin. It is also true that unless we know sin exists how can we be accused of it. Law helps to define sin, right and wrong, so the law comes to show us what is right and wrong but it cannot resolve the sin or remove the sin it just makes it known.
2.      Paul now says the Rabbi’s believed angels gave the law to Moses (Acts 7) not God directly giving it to him even though in Exodus 20 we don't read that it was angels. Paul is showing that we come to God through Christ only. Christ is first hand communication; the law is second hand communication. Angels don't go to Christ then to God, Christ comes directly to us and we go directly to Him.
3.      The need of a mediator shows the breakdown of the law. With God nothing breaks down but You! God gives grace and we accept it or deny it.
4.      Does the law have a purpose? There has never been anyone that has kept the law to perfection so what good is the law? Paul says the law is aimed towards pointing people towards God’s grace, Christ! The law shows us how helpless we are without Christ. For everyone that believes in Jesus Christ God gives grace!

Verse 23 is the revelation of verse 22 the revealing of faith, which is Christ Jesus. Now that Christ has come to the Believers they should no longer be under the law! The law should cause our faith to increase. The law as verse 24 tells us taught us how to live and what to do--right from wrong! Now we are not under the law but under grace, yet we must remember the law. Verse 25: Christ is the true teacher and it is Him that we should now example ourselves after because He is the perfection of the law! Paul says in verse 26 that we are all in Christ and once infants but now growing in Him and because of this we should begin walking in the fullness of Him because we have been baptized into Christ. Verse 27 tells us that we have been brought into union with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). All Believers are one in Christ and there is no difference between any of us that are in Christ (28). All that truly accept and believe in Him will have all the same rights and privileges. So as verse 29 says if we belong to Christ than we are the seed of Abraham and all the blessings of Abraham belong to us!

Thank You Father God for grace! I am thankful today that I know the law but have found grace through my faith in Christ!

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Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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