YOU FOOLISH CHRISTIANS!

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify 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. 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.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Who has bewitched you? (vv. 1-6)

You foolish Galatians!: blunt and unflattering language in order to restore them. Its a rebuke.

Series of 6 questions

Who has bewitched you?: liken to being hypnotized or charmed. Paul then made the statement about Jesus Christ being clearly portrayed as crucified right before their eyes. Meaning he gave a clear explanation of the gospel.

Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by believing what you heard?: “To receive” in these texts does not refer to a self-prompted taking but rather to a grateful reception of that which is offered.

George, T. (1994). Galatians (Vol. 30, p. 211). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

3. Are you so foolish?: Again blunt language used to restore them.

4. After beginning by means of the Spirit you are now trying to finish by means of the flesh?: No evidence that Judaizers denied Christ crucified or receiving of the Spirit. However, we do know they taught Paul’s teaching was insufficient in the area of justification or righteousness. Hence, why they taught one is justified through circumcision and works of the law.

5. Have you experienced so much in vain—if it was really in vain?: more likely “experience” means suffering. It is likely the Galatian Christians followed the teachings of Judaizers to avoid being persecuted (Galatians 6:12)

6. Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by works of the law, or by you believing what you heard?: The Galatian Christians have experiential evidence of receiving the Spirit and works of miracles through hearing the word taught by Paul and Barnabas, not through works.

Transition statement: So also, Abraham “believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

The righteous will live by faith (vv. 7-14)

Postexilic era, Abraham was viewed as “hero of faith” that merited the favor of God through his obedience. They highlighted the obedience of Abraham through 10 trial, the last being Isaac. Mattathias, father of Judas Maccabeus, on his death bed exhorted his sons to be zealous for the law and sacrifice their lives for the covenant of their forefathers. “Did not Abraham prove steadfast under trial and so gain credit as a righteous man?” (1 Macc 2:45-64). Therefore, the Jews held a view that both circumcision and obedience to the law were the means by which one remained in covenant with God and gained righteousness.

Paul, being a Jew, was aware of this but points to Genesis 15:6 and concluded “Those who have faith are the children of Abraham.”

Scripture foresaw (prophecied) that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, announcing in advance to Abraham that “All nations will be blessed through you.” (Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18).

Those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith: contextually, the blessing Paul is referencing is justification or righteousness.

Those who depend on the law are cursed (Deut 27:26). Therefore no one who relies on the law can be justified before God (in right standing)

“The righteous will live by faith” (Hab 2:4)—parallels to the gospel preached in advance to Abraham that all nations will come to be blessed by. The law is not based on faith. The contradiction lies in the fact, the one who relies on the law will live by them (Lev 18:5). If gaining ones righteousness through works of the law was true that would mean Christ died for nothing. Paul already quoted Scripture stated, breaking one law, you break all, resulting in being cursed. So to remain right with God, the one who relies on the law must continue to make the necessary sacrifices because Christ’s sacrifice was not enough to pay for the penalty of sin. Concluding this: You rely on the law you live by them. In addition, he already pointed out the children of Abraham are those who have faith because Abraham was imputed righteousness for his faith.

Therefore, Christ redeemed them from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for them through His crucifixion (Deut 21:22-23). One who took on the offense of humanity. It was done in order that the blessing (righteousness) given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Him, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.

What can we learn from this?

Jesus Christ crucified must be clearly portrayed and the first priority in our teachings (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Rom 1:16-17; 1 Co 1:18-24; 1 Co 4:4-6)

We receive the Spirit through believing by the hearing of the word. Our new life starts by the Spirit and ends by the Spirit. (John 15:27; 16:13; Rom 10:17; 1 Co 2:9-16; Eph 1:13; Phil 1:6; 2:12-13).

We are children of Abraham through faith. Therefore, the righteous lives by faith, not works.

Talk about two schools of thoughts on works. . . faith based works and works of the law.

4. The blessing is justification or righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ, alone, who redeemed us, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (John 3:16; Mk 11:22).

Contextually, this passage does not teach we receive all the blessings of Abraham as some word of faith/prosperity teachers preach. The children of Abraham are blessed through Abraham, which is God’s promise, and receives the promise of the Spirit and the inheritance of eternal life.

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