Galatians 3 - Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible

Bible Comments
  • Galatians 3:1-26 open_in_new

    Paul, writing, to those changeable Galatians, who had so soon deserted the faith, says to them in this chapter

    Galatians 3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you.

    Paul does not compliment them on being a very «thoughtful,» «educated» «cultured» people; he does not care an atom about that matter, but because they had forsaken the simple truth of the gospel, he says, «O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you?» Those are hard words, Paul! Why did he not say, «Who has led you forward into more advanced views?» Not he; he calls it witchery, the work of the devil, and it is nothing better; and the wisdom of it is no better than the trickery of some old witch. If you take your eyes off Christ, it must be witchcraft that makes you do it. There is such glory, such beauty, such perfection, such wisdom, such divinity in Christ crucified that, if you turn from that sight to anything else, no matter how scientific and learned it may be, you are foolish, indeed, and somebody has «bewitched you.»

    Galatians 3:2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

    They had gone off into legality; they were trying to be saved by ceremonies, and by works of their own. «Well,» asks Paul, «how did you receive the Spirit,-the Spirit by which miracles were wrought among you, the Spirit by which you spoke with unknown tongues, the Spirit which changed and renewed your hearts? If you did indeed receive him, did you receive him by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?» There was only one reply to the question; the Spirit came to them as the result of faith.

    Galatians 3:3. Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

    If the very beginning of your religion was spiritual, a work of the Spirit received by faith, are you now going to be perfected by the flesh, by outward rites and ceremonies, or by efforts of your own?

    Galatians 3:4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

    You had to struggle and endure much contention within your own spirit to get upon the ground of faith at all; are you going to throw all that away? Is all the experience of your past life to go for nothing, and are you now going to begin on a lower and baser platform?

    Galatians 3:5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

    He knew that they must reply that it was faith, and not the works of the law, that gave those miraculous powers.

    Galatians 3:6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

    That is the old way, the way of faith. It is not here recorded that Abraham did anything, though he did much; but the one thing that was «accounted to him for righteousness» was this, that he «believed God.»

    Galatians 3:7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

    Not this nation or that, as Anglo-Israelites might say; but those that are of faith, these are the children of Abraham. Abraham is the father of the faithful, the believers, and believers are all the children of Abraham. Race has nothing to do with this matter; an end has been put to all that. God is not the God of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles; and here is a new race whose distinction is not that they were born of blood, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but by the will of God; and this is the token by which they are known, they believe God, and it is accounted to them for righteousness, even as it was accounted to Abraham.

    Galatians 3:8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee shall all nations be blessed.

    That is the gospel; and we are blessed by it, because we believe in Christ, and so become the children of believing Abraham.

    Galatians 3:9-10. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:

    All the people in the world who think themselves good, all the mere moralists, all those who, however amiable they may be, however excellent and religious they may be, are trusting to be saved by good works, are all under the curse, as surely as the drunkard, or the liar, or the swearer, is under the curse.

    Galatians 3:10. 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.

    That is all that Moses can say to you, and all that the Old Testament can reveal to you. Apart from faith in Christ, all its rites and ceremonies, all its laws and precepts, if you are resting in them, can only land you under the curse, because you cannot continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. You have not so continued thus far, you will not so continue, and nothing but an absolutely perfect obedience to the law could save a man by the way of works; and as that obedience is not possible, we come under the curse if we come under the law.

    Galatians 3:11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

    Here Paul quotes again from the Old Testament Scriptures: «The just shall live by faith.» Even the just man lives by faith; then, how can you who are not just expect to live in any other way?

    Galatians 3:12. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

    The very spirit of law is the spirit of works; and as life only comes by faith, it cannot come by the works of the law, for they are not of faith. Now comes the gospel, clear and bright, like the sun rising out of a thick fog.

    Galatians 3:13. 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:

    Here is substitution; what else can the words mean? Christ hung on a tree for us, bearing our curse, in our room, and place, and stead.

    Galatians 3:14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

    Christ was made a curse for us that the blessing might come upon us. He took our curse that we might take the blessing from his own dear hands, and might possess it evermore.

    Galatians 3:15. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

    A covenant is a covenant; whatever happens, it cannot be altered, it stands, though it was only made by men.

    Galatians 3:16. 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.

    Quoting from the Old Testament, we may believe in the absolute plenary inspiration of that Sacred Book, because the apostle founds an argument upon the singular of a noun having been used rather than the plural.

    Galatians 3:17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

    Is not that splendid argument? The covenant was made with Abraham that God would bless him and his seed. Well now, four hundred and thirty years after, the law was given on Sinai; but that could not affect a covenant made four hundred and thirty years before. The argument goes to prove that the covenant of grace is not affected by any law of rites and ceremonies; nay, not even by the moral law itself. The covenant made with Abraham and his seed must stand; the seed signifies those who believe, therefore, the covenant stands fast with Abraham and all other believers.

    Galatians 3:18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

    All through the Book of Genesis, it is promise, promise, and promise. Isaac was an heir of the promise, and Jacob was an heir of the promise. In fact, Isaac was born by promise, and Ishmael the elder brother did not inherit the blessing because he was born after the flesh. They who believe in Christ are heirs according to the promise. Now, a promise takes us out of the region of law.

    Galatians 3:19. Wherefore then serveth the law?

    What is the use of it?

    Galatians 3:19-20. It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

    The law had its uses, blessed uses. The law should be used for its own purposes, and then it is admirable, it is divine. Take it out of its own proper use, make it a master instead of being a servant, and it is something like fire, which, in your grate, will comfort you, but if it masters you, it burns your house, and destroys you.

    Galatians 3:21-22. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

    It shuts you all up as in a dungeon, that by the one and only door of faith in Christ you might come out into a glorious liberty.

    Galatians 3:23-24. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster-

    This is an unfortunate translation; it should be, «The law was our pedagogue.» That was a slave, who was employed by the father of a family, to take his boy to school, and bring him home again. He often also was permitted to whip the boy if he did not learn his lessons well. «The law was our pedagogue»

    Galatians 3:24-25. To bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

    We have outgrown him. God has given us power now to go to Christ's school ourselves, joyfully and cheerfully. I remember, and I daresay you also do, when that pedagogue whipped us very sorely; I am glad that I am no longer under his power.

    Galatians 3:26-27. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    You set forth that truth in your baptism; you then confessed that you were dead to sin, and declared that you were risen again in Christ to newness of life. Whatever you had to do with the law before, you were dead and buried to it, and to everything but Christ,

    Galatians 3:28-29. 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. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

    That settles the question; if you belong to Christ, you are the children of Abraham. Come then, and, without the least hesitation, claim all the privileges that belong to Abraham's seed. If you have come under the promise, enjoy its blessings, and do not go back to trusting in rites and ceremonies, or in works of your own performing, but live a life of joyous faith in Jesus Christ your Lord.

  • Galatians 3:1-27 open_in_new

    Galatians 3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,

    Paul writes as if they had come under some kind of witchcraft, and been deluded by it. This seemed to astonish the apostle, so he cries out to them «Who hath bewitched you,»

    Galatians 3:1. That ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

    They had heard the plainest possible preaching from Paul and his companions. Jesus Christ had been so clearly set forth before them that they might as it were, see him as he hung upon the cross of Calvary. Yet, under some unhallowed spell, they turned aside from the faith of Christ.

    Galatians 3:2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

    «You profess to have received the Spirit; did the Spirit come to you by the works of the law, or through hearing and believing the gospel?»

    Galatians 3:3. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

    «Did you begin right, and are you going to finish in some other way? Is the foundation laid in truth, and will you build falsehood upon it? Is the foundation Jesus Christ, the chief corner store, and is the superstructure to be wood, hay, and stubble?»

    Galatians 3:4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

    «Have you been made to suffer through conviction of sin? Have you even been persecuted for the truth's sake? And are you going to give it up after all that?

    Galatians 3:5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

    «Have those miracles been wrought in your midst by the power of faith or by the works of the law?»

    Galatians 3:6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

    That is the Scriptural doctrine, faith is counted or imputed for righteousness.

    Galatians 3:7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

    Those who are justified by faith in Jesus; those whose faith is counted for righteousness, they are the children of believing Abraham, not those who are under the law of Moses.

    Galatians 3:8. And the scripture, foreseeing that and would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

    Just as Abraham was blessed, so are the nations to be blessed, that is, by faith. By faith, they become his spiritual seed; by faith, they enter into his covenant; by faith, they receive the blessings of grace.

    Galatians 3:9. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

    Just as the believing Abraham was accounted righteous, so believing men who are the spiritual seed of Abraham, are also accounted righteous.

    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.

    Can any man perfectly keep the whole law of God? Has any man ever continued in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them? No; and, therefore, all that the law does is to bring the curse upon those who are under its dominion, and none of them can obtain salvation by the works of the law.

    Galatians 3:11. But that no man is justified by the law, in the sight of God is evident: for the just shall live by faith.

    This passage is again and again repeated in the Scriptures: «The just shall live by faith.» There are no other just men living, there cannot be any other just men living, but those that live by faith.

    Galatians 3:12. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

    The law demands doing, the gospel enjoins believing. The believing man comes in as an heir of the blessing, but, the man who trusts to his own doing is an heir of the curse.

    Galatians 3:13. 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:

    What a wonderful doctrine this is! We should have hesitated to use such language as this had not the Holy Spirit himself moved Paul to write that Christ was «made a curse for us.» He who is most blessed for ever, he who is the fountain of blessing and the channel of blessing to all who ever are blessed, was «made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:»

    Galatians 3:14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

    Dear friends, are you living by faith upon the Son of God? Are you trusting in God? Are you believing his promises? Some think that this is a very little thing, but God does not think so. Faith is a better index of character than anything else. The man who trusts his God, and believes his promises, is honouring God far more than is the man who supposes that by any of his own doings he can merit divine approval and favor.

    Galatians 3:15. Brethren, I speak after the matter of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

    If a covenant is once made, signed, sealed, and ratified, no honourable man would think of drawing back from it. Whatever happens afterwards, the covenant having been once made is regarded as an established fact, and it must remain.

    Galatians 3:16-17. 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. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

    This is sound reasoning. God made a covenant with Abraham, and said that in him and in his seed all nations should be blessed. All believers are in Christ, who is here called Abraham's seed, and therefore they must be blessed. Whatever the law may say or may not say, it was not given until years after the covenant was made with Abraham, and therefore cannot affect it in any way.

    Galatians 3:18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise:

    God gave it to Abraham by promise. It was a free gift; he did not bestow it upon the condition of merit on Abraham's part. Isaac was born, not according to the power of the flesh, but according to promise, and the whole covenant is according to free grace and divine promise.

    Galatians 3:18-19. But God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law?

    What was the use of that?

    Galatians 3:19. It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;

    The law makes us know what transgression is; it reveals its true nature. Under the hand of the Holy Spirit, it makes us see the evil of sin. We might not have perceived sin to be sin if it had not been for the command of God not to commit it; but when the commandment comes, then we recognize sin and the evil of it.

    Galatians 3:19-21. And it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

    There could not have been a better law. Some talk about the law of God being too severe, too strict, too stringent, but it is not. If the design had been that men should live by the law, there could not have been a better law for that purpose; and hence it is proved that, by the principle of law nobody ever can be justified because, even with the best of laws, all men are sinful, and so need that justification which comes only by grace through faith.

    Galatians 3:22. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

    All of us, by nature are shut up like criminals in a prison that is so securely bolted and barred that there is no hope of escape for any who are immured within it. But why are all the doors shut and fastened? Why in order that Christ may come and open the one only eternal door of salvation: «that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believes.»

    Galatians 3:23. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

    Well do I remember when I was «shut up» in this fashion. I struggled and strove with might and main to get out, but I found no way of escape. I was «shut up» until faith came, and opened the door and brought me out into «the glorious liberty of the children of God.»

    Galatians 3:24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

    The pedagogue was a slave who led the children to school, and sometimes whipped them to school. That is what the law did with us; it took us under its management, and whipped us, and drove us to Christ.

    Galatians 3:25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

    Now we go to Christ willingly, cheerfully, joyfully, trusting in him with all our hearts. The pedagogue's work is done so far as we are concerned.

    Galatians 3:26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

    We hear a great deal about the universal fatherhood of God, but it is all nonsense. There is no Scripture for it whatsoever. Those only are the children of God who are «the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.»

    Galatians 3:27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    «He is everything to you. He covers you, he surrounds you. You do not stand before God in your own filthy rags, but you have put on Christ.»

    Galatians 3:28. 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.

    What a mercy it is to be in Christ, so that you yourself are not seen any more, but only Christ, and you accepted in him!

    Galatians 3:29. And if ye be Christ's, then ye are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

    «According to the promise,» not according to your works, or your deserts, but «heirs according to the promise.»

  • Galatians 3:1-28 open_in_new

    Galatians 3:1-2. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ?

    «When the Spirit of God came upon you, and renewed you, when he endued some of you with miraculous gifts, did this power come by the works of the law, or through your believing the gospel? ‘Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?'»

    Galatians 3:3. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

    «Is this work to be partly God's and partly your own? And if he has begun it with a basis of gold, are you to perfect it with your poor dust and clay? Are you so foolish as to attempt to do this?»

    Galatians 3:4-5. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ?

    They knew very well that the miracles came as the result of faith, and were an attestation and seal of the gospel of faith, and not of the works of the law.

    Galatians 3:6-7. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

    He was the father of the faithful that is of the believing; not of those who trust in their own works. These are only like Ishmael, who must be cast out of the chosen family; but the true children, the real Isaacs, are those who are born according to the promise of grace.

    Galatians 3:8. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

    That is, «in thee, because thou art the father of believers. Thou art a sort of head and prototype of men who believe in me, and so, ‘ in thee shall all nations be blessed;' and in thy seed, too, as thou shalt be the father of the Christ, shall all nations be blessed.»

    Galatians 3:9-11. So then they which be faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 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. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

    If then, even those who are just live by faith, how can any expect that they shall live by their works?

    Galatians 3:12. And the law is not of faith : but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

    The law says nothing about faith; it speaks only about doing: «Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.»

    Galatians 3:13. 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:

    There is the key of the mystery. Christ is our Substitute. He fulfilled the law's demands by his perfect obedience, and he suffered the law's utmost penalty by his death upon the cross; and, now, all those who believe in him are forever justified because of what he did for them.

    Galatians 3:14-15. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed,

    If it be legally drawn up, signed, and sealed, and witnessed,

    Galatians 3:15. No man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

    There it stands, and an appeal can be made to it in any court of law where it may be produced.

    Galatians 3:16-17. 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. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

    That is clear enough. The covenant made with Abraham and his seed cannot be affected by anything that was said or done on Sinai. Whatever the covenant of works may be, or say, or do, it comes in more than four centuries after this glorious covenant of grace had been signed, and sealed, and ratified; and therefore it cannot be affected, it must stand fast for ever.

    Galatians 3:18. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

    So, then, we know it is by promise, and God must keep his promise, and we must believe it. It must be true; and if we do believe it, we shall prove it to be true, and it will be fulfilled in every jot and tittle to every believing soul.

    Galatians 3:19-22. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the band of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,

    Or, «shut us all up under sin.» The law has come, and proved us all guilty, and shut us all up as in a great prison from which we cannot escape by any power of our own.

    Galatians 3:22-24. That the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,

    It whipped us to Christ, and taught us that we could not be saved except by Christ.

    Galatians 3:24-28. That we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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.

    Yet some foolish people still talk about our Israelitish origin. What would that matter even if it were true? «There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free.» All these distinctions are done away with, and Christ is all, and believers, whether Jews or Gentiles, «are all one in Christ Jesus.»

    Galatians 3:29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

    So that all the blessings which God promised to Abraham belong to you who are believers in Christ, and you may take them, and rejoice in them; but if ye are without faith in Christ, then are ye without the one essential thing which gives you an interest in the covenant of grace.

    This exposition consisted of readings from Galatians 2:15-21; and Galatians 3:1.

  • Galatians 3:1-29 open_in_new

    3:1. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

    These Galatians thought that they were very philosophical, and very intellectual; but the apostle says, «O foolish Galatians!» They thought that they had been led by reason, and guided by the learning of their teachers; but Paul calls it witchery: «Who hath bewitched you?» he asks, as if anything which led a man to trust in his own works should be as much abhorred as the incantations of a witch, «Who hath bewitched you?» It is a dangerous state, it is a devilish snare to be brought into; to be led to trust to frames, and feelings, and experiences, and doings, and prayings, or to anything else but Christ. It is a strange thing that those who have seen Christ should ever go back to these things. Lord, keep us every day, amongst our other sins, from our own self-righteous nature!

    Now the apostle is going to reason with the Galatians against their self-righteousness.

    Galatians 3:2. This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

    «You know that the Spirit of God is necessary to salvation. You have received that; did you get the Spirit through the works of the law, or by simply hearing the gospel, and believing it?» The answer comes at once if we have received the Spirit, it was by the hearing of faith, and not by the works of the law.

    Galatians 3:3. Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

    Surely, the way in which the Christian life begins is the method in which it is to be sustained. «As ye have received Christ Jesus, the Lord,» the apostle says in another place, «so walk ye in him.» If you have begun in the flesh, go on in the flesh, but if you really know that your beginning was in the Spirit, then go not back to the flesh.

    Galatians 3:4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

    This is another pertinent question.

    Galatians 3:5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

    They had miraculous gifts among them as a church, and the apostle asks them whether these were works of the law, or whether they were not exercised as the result of faith. The answer is clear. It was the believing man who wrought the miracle, not the self-righteous man. Paul is now going to take the Galatians far back in Jewish history.

    Galatians 3:6. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

    He was not saved by his works, but by his faith. His faith was the means of the imputation to him of the righteousness of the Saviour who was yet to come.

    Galatians 3:7. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

    He was called the father of the faithful, therefore the faithful, those who believe as he did, and are full of his faith, are his children.

    Galatians 3:8-10. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 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.

    Now, if every one who has once violated God's law is cursed for ever, how mad are those who hope to enter heaven by that very law which is the gate to shut them out! How dare they confide in that which is their worst enemy, which is sworn to curse them, in time and in eternity?

    Galatians 3:11. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

    Scripture lays it down as a rule, that justified men live by faith; if this be the rule, then certainly they do not live by works.

    Galatians 3:12. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

    So that the justified man is not justified by the law, but by faith. He standeth before God, not in what he does, not even in what the Spirit enables him to do; his own prayers, and tears, and communings with Christ, his own labours, his earnest and indefatigable attempts to extend the kingdom of Christ, all tell for nothing in the matter of his justification. He hangeth them all upon the cross of Christ, and relieth only upon the cross, looking in no manner whatever to anything which cometh of himself.

    Galatians 3:13-14. 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: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

    We were all under the curse of the law, but Christ voluntarily took our place, and was made a curse for us, so that the blessing might be ours.

    Galatians 3:15-16. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 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.

    Notice how important a single letter of the Scriptures may be. If vital doctrine may depend upon the use of a singular or plural noun, therefore let us jealously guard the smallest jot or tittle of the inspired Word of God.

    Galatians 3:17-19. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law?

    Some might argue that, as the law cannot justify, it is useless, but, on the contrary, it serves a very definite purpose, as Paul goes on to show.

    Galatians 3:19-22. It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

    Paul constantly comes back to this point, that salvation is all of grace, through faith in Jesus Christ.

    Galatians 3:23-25. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterward be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

    The apostle is not speaking of a schoolmaster, as we understand that word; but of the slave or servant who took the boys to school, watched over them in school and out, and even used the rod if occasion demanded.

    Galatians 3:26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

    The fatherhood of God is common to all believers; but there is no universal fatherhood, as many teach it in these days.

    Galatians 3:27-29. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

    May this be true of all of us, for Christ's sake! Amen.

    This exposition consisted of readings from Galatians 2:16-21; Galatians 2:3.