Galations 3:1-14

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(v3) Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by[a] the flesh?

  • We were saved by the Spirit and through Christ on the cross, but do I now try to do everything myself?
  • Is sanctification 100% me and 0% God
(v7-9) Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify[c] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
  • When we have faith in Christ – the grace gospel itself – we are blessed with the same blessings that Abraham was blessed with
(v10) For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
  • Those who rely on their works to be saved are inherently cursed
  • This is because if we do not perfectly obey God’s commands, then we are cursed
  • Since it is impossible to do this, we are therefore implicitly all cursed
(v11) Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
  • Instead we are justified by faith alone
  • There’s nothing that we can do to be justified – we can only work to be sanctified
(v12)  But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 
  • The way of faith is different to the law, because the law says that we shall live if we obey by the law
  • Faith says that it is actually through Christ and faith in the resurrection that we are saved
(v13) But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
  • Christ actually rescued us from the curse that we inherently have from not abiding by the law
  • When he died on the cross, he took upon that curse that we deserved
(v14) Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised[h] Holy Spirit through faith.
  • When we accept God, we accept the Holy Spirit through faith and not through works
  • It is promised to us, and God always keeps his promises
Prayer:
Dear heavenly father, thank you for this message of hope, and more importantly this message of grace. I find myself often working for your kingdom out of my own flesh and not out of love or faith. I find myself working out certain aspects of my life according to my flesh, thinking that I have it in control – instead of lifting it up to you. I pray that even the things that seem under control in my life, that I would lift those up to you, that I would be prepared to give up everything for your kingdom. I also pray this passage over Jess. Would you soften her heart and ignite her passion for you. Would she continue to serve you faithfully in ministry not out of duty, but out of love. Would she rely and depend on you instead of herself, especially in the seemingly stable parts of her life.
In your son’s name,
Amen

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