Galatians 3 — Faith Came Before the Law
Introduction: Paul now begins to detail the proof in scripture that faith was declared for righteousness before the law was given by God through Moses. Paul draws attention to Abraham as the father of all who come to Christ by faith, and uses some aspects of covenants between men to clarify his point. Though he is writing primarily to Gentile believers, he has no hesitation to direct them to the scriptures to verify the grace provided through Christ.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the Revised Webster Bible.
A — Did You Receive the Holy Spirit by Law or by Faith?
Galatians 3 “1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been clearly set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?… 5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he this by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
Comments: Paul closed the previous chapter with the statement that if righteousness is gained by the law, then Christ has died in vain, and he expands on that truth in this chapter. When he refers to the Galatians as being foolish, it need not be considered an insult — Jesus used a similar approach when he spoke to two on the road to Emmaus: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). Paul also wrote to Titus that “we ourselves also were once foolish” before the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, saving us not by works of righteousness but by his mercy (Titus 3:3–7). Paul wanted the Galatians to realize that the ministry of the Spirit and the working of miracles had been done because they heard by faith, not because they performed works of the law.
B — Faith Came Even Before the Law
Galatians 3 “6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they who are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles through faith, preached before the gospel to Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
Comments: Paul drew from Old Testament scriptures to show that Abraham believed in the LORD, and the LORD counted that faith to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:3–6) — this was before Abraham had any children and before the LORD established the covenant of circumcision (Genesis 17:10–13). Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah even though Sarah was considered to be past the age of childbirth; and in Genesis 22:15–18 the LORD confirmed the promise that “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” This promise was made over four hundred years before the law was given through Moses.
C — Those Who Remain under the Law Are under a Curse
Galatians 3 “10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live by them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Comments: Those who seek to be made righteous before God by keeping the law will need to keep every point perfectly or they will be under a curse for their failure (Deuteronomy 27:26). Paul said it is evident that no person is justified by the law in the sight of God, for “the just shall live by faith” (Psalm 143:2; Habakkuk 2:4). The LORD had laid down a requirement that would bring life if any could fulfill it, but the only one able to do that completely is Christ Jesus (Leviticus 18:4–5). Those who cannot fulfill the whole law are under a curse, and the only one who can fulfill the whole law is Christ Jesus. But he took the curse for us so his righteousness could be applied to any who will believe in him (Deuteronomy 21:22–23). Thus the LORD God has provided a way that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that the promise of the Spirit may be received through faith.
D — Paul Uses a Covenant among Men as an Example
Galatians 3 “15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it is but a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no man setteth it aside, or addeth to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before by God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot set it aside, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no more by promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”
Comments: Paul begins by stating that once a covenant is confirmed as a binding agreement between two people, the agreed conditions cannot be set aside or modified. The promise of God was made to Abraham and to his seed, in the singular sense as it applied to Christ. That covenant confirmed by God in Christ could in no way be nullified or modified by the law that was given four hundred and thirty years later through Moses. For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no more by promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
E — The Law Served a Preparatory Purpose
Galatians 3 “19 What purpose then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made… 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye are Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Comments: Paul now explains the purpose of the law — it was added because of disobedience until the seed who is Christ would come. If righteousness could have been achieved through keeping the law, then scripture would not have concluded all to be under sin. That very conclusion in scripture takes us back to the promise: righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ given to those who believe. Paul explained Christ as our mediator in 1 Timothy 2:5–6: “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all.” Therefore the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Once faith has come, the schoolmaster is no longer needed. All who have come to God by faith in Christ Jesus are children of God, with no longer any distinctions of Jew nor Greek, neither bond nor free, neither male nor female — for believers are all one in Christ Jesus, and heirs according to the promise.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, this chapter of Paul’s letter has been a reminder to me that your Holy Spirit came to me by faith and not by personal righteousness through my own efforts. Help me now to continue to be led by your Spirit to bear the fruit of your righteousness, and not to have any pride about keeping your holy and just law. Thank you for the record of Abraham who believed your promise of providing for him an offspring long before you brought it to pass in his life. What a marvelous reality to know that the law which came after the promise to bless all people in the seed of Abraham, did not in any way nullify that promise. Trying to keep the law without a heart of faith will leave a person under the curse of death since the law can never be completely kept by mere man. You have provided a mediator between God and man, and this is a marvelous distinction that you are that mediator in Christ, who can justly mediate between both parties even though God is one. My Lord and Savior, I offer you all praise because since I belong to Christ I am Abraham’s seed, and an heir according to the promise. Hallelujah, Amen!
Published 16 November 2012