or: Faith Brings Righteousness
Galatians 3:1-9
there are two broader topics will be touching on today. One of them is on the matter of Faith or works (verse 1-5). The other is being children of Abraham through faith (versus 6-9).
The word foolish refers not to lack of intelligence but to lack of obedience. The Galatians were irrational in their foolishness. The word implies not a moron, but someone who is capable of thought, but chooses not to.
The Galatians were bewitched. That is to imply that they were charmed or misled by flattery and false promises. Again, they were intelligent and knew better, but they chose to willingly be misled.
The phrase “clearly portrayed”, in verse one, indicates they receive the gospel from Paul in a public way. It wasn’t in a private back room. It wasn’t under a veil of secrecy. The term relates to being posted or announced in a public place for all to see and hear.
The crucifixion of Christ was a one-time historical fact with continuing results into eternity. It is only through the crucifixion of Christ that we can receive the good news that we are saved from our sin. The situation was inexplicable to Paul, because he knew they had received the true gospel.
Paul boiled it down to one simple question. Did you receive the Spirit? The answer to Paul’s rhetorical question in verse two is obvious; the Galatians had received the Spirit when they were saved. He points out the total contrast to how they began. Did they think their salvation was from works? Or did they think it was from grace from the spirit? Paul reminds them that they started in faith, and must continue in faith.
He sets up a few contrasts:
- Works versus hearing.
- Log versus faith.
- Spirit versus flash.
a few more keywords to point out include:
suffered, that begins verse four, is a Greek word that has the basic meaning of “experienced” and does not necessarily imply pain or hardship. He knows that the Galatians have shared experiences, and wonders if they have been in vain. That is to say or they without purpose, or not?
The question in verse two looks back to their beginnings. The question in verse five is an ongoing question that points at the present and on into the future. From here, Paul begins to shift into some doctrinal arguments that will continue into the next chapter.
Doctrinal argument: sons of Abraham versus 6-9.
Abraham was blessed through faith, not circumcision. It was his faith that God recognized, not his deeds.
Righteousness might come through two ways. Being righteous might come through being obedient to the works of the law. We might also be rights is based on our relationship. In other words, our identity, in whom we identify with. Justification brings us into right relationship.
In verse eight, Paul remarks that the Scriptures preached the gospel to Abraham. The “good news” to Abraham was the news of salvation for all the nations this is a reference to Genesis 12:3, in Genesis 18:18. Abraham’s righteousness, or salvation, was through his faith. His true children are also children of faith.
Paul uses Scripture in verse eight to support his faith statements. God’s intention was to include Gentiles when he told Abraham the whole world would be blessed through him.
Paul doesn’t interest thing here when he personifies Scripture. As though Scripture is the one speaking to Abraham. Clearly Scripture was not written down yet, but written Scripture is just as certainly gods words as his spoken ones.
A few more words and concepts to be aware of, as described by John MacArthur:
Justification: This legal term comes from the Greek word for “righteous” and means “to declare righteous.” This verdict includes: pardon from the guilt and penalty of sin, as well as the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to the believers account, which provides for the positive righteousness man needs to be accepted by God. God declares a sinner righteous solely on the basis of the merits of Christ s righteousness. God imputes a believer’s sin to Christ’s account in His sacrificial death. The sinner receives this gift of God’s grace by faith alone. Justification is a gracious gift God extends to the repentant, believing sinner—wholly apart from human merit or work.
Abraham: Paul uses the model of Abraham to prove justification by faith alone because the Jews held him up as the supreme example of a righteous man (John 8:39), and because it clearly showed that Judaism with its works-based righteousness had deviated from the faith of the Jews’ patriarchal ancestors. In a spiritual sense, Abraham was the forerunner of the primarily Gentile church in Rome as well.
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