Galatians 3:1-2 (WEL) O foolish Galatians, who has overawed you into not being convinced by the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ’s crucifixion was vividly described among you. 2 I only want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the message of faith?
Chapter summary:
Joseph Benson:
“Here the apostle:
- Sharply reproves the Galatians for their departure from the gospel doctrine of justification by faith in Christ, Gal 3:1-15.
- Proves that doctrine from the example of Abraham’s justification, Gal 3:6-9; from the tenor and severity of the law, and the redemption from it by Christ, Gal 3:10-14; from the stability of the covenant of promise made with Abraham, and the impossibility of being justified by both the promise and the law, Gal 3:15-18.
- Represents the law as very useful to convince men of sin, and to prepare them for, and drive them to Christ for righteousness, Gal 3:19-26.
- Shows that under the gospel all true believers, without regard to any external circumstances, are one in Christ, and heirs of Abraham’s blessings, Gal 3:26-29.
V1 O foolish Galatians, who has overawed you into not being convinced by the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ’s crucifixion was vividly described among you.
Foolish because they have distorted the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the Apostles of Jesus Christ. They were listening to Judaizers teaching that circumcision is necessary to be saved. Anything, yes, anything added to salvation by faith is damned by God, because even the good things we do are not good enough to meet God’s standards. See Isaiah 64:6.
Even though the Mosaic Law was given by God through Moses, obeying it cannot save, for no one is able to obey God’s laws in thoughts, desires, words, or deeds. Only Jesus Christ has the ability to do so.
The Galatians churches were convicted that the Gospel of Jesus Christ as preached by the Apostles of Jesus Christ was the true Gospel. It is the Gospel, they believed in and were saved. But masqueraders, pretending to be godly teachers, slid errors into the Gospel, which adulterated it, contaminating it.
Paul had explained the Gospel clearly, showing that Jesus is God’s Son, was sinless, was the Passover Lamb substitute for the penalty for our sins, was buried, resurrected, and ascended to heaven. It is by faith alone in Christ alone. Works do not save. Only faith saves; see Romans 4:1-5.
V2 I only want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the message of faith?
A believer receives the Holy Spirit upon faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:9 and Acts 10:44). These believers knew about God’s gifts to believers; they saw its presence and effects. The Spirit of God did not come from what they did but from their faith in God alone.
We learn:
- It is possible to be deceived and have the Gospel message distorted.
- They knew by God’s conviction upon them, their faith in Jesus Christ alone, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.
Questions:
- What is the Gospel you believed?
- What is the Gospel you preach, teach, and share with others?