The late Martin Niemöller was one of Hitler's prized prisoners. The famous German minister vigorously resisted tyranny. He was imprisoned for seven-and-a-half years at a camp where 238,756 persons were put to death. Yet he carried on a daring ministry at Dachau. He was best known for his quotation:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
Pastor Niemöller was more than a former prisoner of war. He was a living testimony to truth. To talk with Niemöller was to visit a man who looked death in the face day after day and knew the power of the resurrected Christ. His remarkable life reassures us of the triumph of truth.[1]
Does our life reflect the triumph of truth? Do others find that our life offers reassurance of the triumph of truth? Paul assured the Galatians that righteousness doesn't come through the law, it came by grace, through faith. Many Jews might have believed this on some level; yet, they were trusting in their heritage, a descendant of father Abraham. They thought that physical descent alone set them apart, as if they we elevated or given some favor others did not receive. Paul is going to make the case that the true descendant of Abraham is the one who makes the same venture of faith that Abraham made.
Being a descendant of Abraham did nothing by way of salvation; if anything, it increased the responsibility to clearly see the hand of God and to undestand the promises of God.
Galatians 3:1-4
Paul called the Galatians foolish. He's not saying they were stupid; yet their actions could only be accounted to mindlessness. Their folly is the result of moral failing; a failing in obedience. Instead of obeying the truth, these people who clearly heard that Christ was crucified for them, were drawn back to the false teachers. They were captivated with flattery and false promises from the false teacher's arguments. It was like a spell was cast on them; nothing else made any sense. Paul saw them as bewitched; being drawn away, not by a conscious decision made as the result of a thoughtful process. It was mindless deception with no thought put into it. They were drawn away from truth; as if they were bewitched.
This is the only use of this word in the bible. It literally means 'to give the evil eye'. The Greeks had a great fear of spells cast by the evil eye. It was a common fear. People closing a letter to a friend would offer their prayer for health and protection from the evil eye. So being bewitched would have been understood by the Galatians. Magic was common by both trickery and sorcery. Had someone given them the evil eye causing this problem?
Since they knew Christ crucified and since they knew the Spirit came by faith, what else could make them change their minds? These people had trusted in Christ and received the Holy Spirit in their life. Paul said this was clearly portrayed to the them. The Greek word for 'clearly portrayed' means it was placarded. The word was used for a poster or public announcement; even a legal announcement to all. The truth of Christs crucifixion was placarded before them.
Paul is telling them they are accountable for the truth they've been exposed to. They can't be Christians saved by grace and Jews of the law at the same time. The Spirit was active in their lives, calling them to ministry, working the gifts among them and transforming them into the image of Jesus Christ. Having started their walk in the Spirit they were bound to be perfected in the Spirit. They were on their path. There was an active work of the Spirit in each of their lives. Yet, they changed directions and were led astray. Were they denying the work of the Spirit in their lives? How can this happen? That is 's question.
If they denied grace and stepped back to the law, did they believe the law had given them the spirit that would transform their lives? By their denying grace, they were denying the sufficiency of Christ. Now, they were in essence denying the work of the spirit in their life. Did they think the work of the spirit was of the flesh? Had they transformed themselves? Were they on their path, being sanctified, ministering to others, experiencing grace and living a life of being transformed? Did they think the law was doing that? These are Paul's questions, all with obvious answers, given to shock them and deliver them from this deception. If they held to the deception, then the evil eye was the only explation. This thought alone would have shook them.
As a Christian, if you are constantly fighting this battle between legalism and grace, how can the spirit continue on in that sanctification process? How can you be grown to be more like Christ if you step away from grace and step back into the courtroom and put that heavy burden of the law back on? How can you be a disciple of Christ, ministering to others, growing in grace and love and mercy, if you are dragging around all that baggage? That's what Paul was asking the Galatians. Through God's word, he asks us the very same.
As we move through life, saved by grace, we look back and see that a transformation has taken place. We see a growing in holiness. Not by works or laws, but by grace. This happens through a humble spirit, a life of repentance and the work of the spirit in our lives. Not by keeping a list of rules. Keeping a list of rules will run you off your path. You'll be in the ditch, stalled out because the burden is too great. Then as you look back on your life you won't see spiritual growth. You might see personal accomplishments, maybe even grand and valiant efforts, but they will have your name on them, not the Lord's. You may have grown more self righteous but not holy and transformed by walking in the Spirit.
Galatians 3:5-6
Paul's going to force them to think. He's trying to break the spell they are under; blindly following these men. It's like he is saying, snap out of it, start thinking!! Answer the question," Does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"
Then in verse 6 he gives an example. This is the first of 6 Old Testament quotes; just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." This is interesting because these guys were leaning on the law of Moses, saying it had to be kept. Yet, as a Jews, they were all about Father Abraham. So Paul says, if you want to go back to our fathers, let's not stop at Moses. Let's go all the way back to Abraham.
And the scriptures don't say Abraham kept the law and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Abraham wasn't even aware of any law. Abraham just believed God. God gave him promises, he believed and it was accounted to him for righteousness. This is saying the righteous live (or have life) through faith. So, these false teachers came in among the Galatians and told them they had to identify with Abraham to be saved. They said you had to keep the law and become a Jew before they could become a Christian. Yet, Abraham didn't keep the law. He just trusted in the promises of God.
Paul continues in verse 7, drawing a conclusion because Abraham believed and it was credited as righteousness.
Galatians 3:7
We can draw the conclusion because of what we know of Abraham: Only those who are of faith can truly be sons of Abraham. It has nothing to do with keeping the law. It has nothing to do with being Jewish. Abraham wasn't Jewish. He was a man chosen by God and because he was faithful and believed in God a nation was born out of him.
Galatians 3:8-9
This is an example of the New Testament being the Old Testament revealed. Paul is revealing in detail that this passage is referring to salvation by faith alone. That saving faith is found in Jesus Christ. In Genesis 12:3 Abraham was given the promise. is the New Testament; the new Covenant concealed in the Old Testament. That promise was the gospel preached to Abraham; in him all nations shall be blessed. Look at Genesis 15:4.
4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
The "word of the Lord came to him" in verse four. Then at the beginning of verse five, that same word of the Lord is referred to as "He". Jesus took Abraham outside and pointed to the heavens and compared these to his descendants. This would be the affect of the gospel message. Countless souls throughout the ages would believe the promises of God by faith as Abraham did. If you are in Christ, Jesus spoke of you as one of those stars.
Paul, by the use of the Old Testament, showed us that Justification by faith alone because Abraham believed and from that he was declared righteous. As a Christian believer, because we had faith to believe God's promises, we are considered children of Abraham.
Galatians 3:10
How could he declare them cursed? He probably didn't even know some of them. He could do this because the law wasn't designed to be kept; it was designed to show us the standard of holiness and our inability to measure up. The law makes us sinners. It can't save us; it just shows us we need saved.
The curse is the judgment that is against sin. Sin must be judged. penalty of sin is death. Anyone who is living by the law is living under the curse and will stand in judgment because no one can keep the whole law. You can't say, "I kept most of the laws." If you broke one law, you are a lawbreaker and will be judged as such. Lawbreakers will stand before a just judge.
Galatians 3:11-12
If you want to be justified, you have no hope in the law because we were born with a sinful nature. We've all broken the laws so many times we would never stand a chance. Just think if you really understood how important it was to be justified early in life you could say, "I'm going to live my life perfect in the eyes of God." You would have to always put God first in your life, honor your parents, never covet anything, tell no lies, never steal anything, etc.
Just think, you could live your entire life, if it were possible, perfect, righteous, blameless, for your whole life. Then when you were ninety nine years old and lying on your death bed your wife walks in and says, "honey, do you like the new dress I bought today? It doesn't make me look fat does it?" Just one little lie. That's it, you done you're a liar, a lawbreaker. That's how high and holy and perfect God is. To us that sounds harsh, to God it is perfection and holiness.
If you want to be declared just, there is only one way that will come about. As Paul continues his Old Testament bible study he gives them a quote from Habukuk 2:4; "the just shall live by faith". It is by faith that a man will be declared just, not by law. In quoting Habakuk Paul shows that its always been God's plan to save faith alone.
The just live by faith; the cursed live by law. It doesn't say the just Jew lives by faith. Ethnicity, heritage, education, birthrite, sex, financial status, etc. have no bearing on your justification; that happens by faith alone.
Verse 12 is the answer to those that might say, "Keep the law and do as good as you can. Then let faith take care of the rest." The law is not faith. If you want to live by the law, live by the law and receive the curse. If you want to live by faith, by definition it takes faith. You have to be all in, relying solely on Jesus Christ and his redemptive work. You can't attempt to keep the law and keep Jesus like an insurance policy in your back pocket. You put that big heavy burden around your neck or you let Him take it.
Galatians 3:13-14
Verse 13 said, Christ has redeemed us. The word 'redeemed' is like buying a slave; buying a life. This redemption is not buying a slave to keep them as a slave. It's buying one out of slavery to set them free. Christ purchased us from death; from that curse of the law; with his shed blood. He became a curse, taking on the sins of man and receiving the just punishment for that sin.
Paul quotes from Deuteronomy to make his point. Here is what it says.
22 "If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
A person deserving death was executed and then their body was hung on a tree for all to see. It was a testimony to the penalty. This was a clear message to others who were sinning. They got to see what they deserved as punishment.
Paul said Jesus was the fulfillment of this passage because he took our sin to the cross, becoming the curse that I deserved. His body hanging on the tree says, "This is what sinners deserve!" The law finds you guilty. The law is a curse. The law will nail a man to a tree and that punishment would be just.
When Christ was crucified the blessing of Abraham came to the gentiles. By the work of Christ, we are redeemed, bought out of that slavery of sin and set free. The shed blood purchased us by paying our sin penalty. Then, verse 14 says, in that way we receive the Spirit through faith, just like Abraham believed and it was credited to him as righteousness. It was no different for these Galatians and it is no different for us.
Galatians 3:15-16
Paul calls these men Brethren – this is a term of endearment. He wants them to know he cares because he's getting ready to get tough with them. He's going to kick it up a notch. Speaking in the 'manner of men' is using a sommon situation to help them understand; an analogy.
God made a promise to Abraham. It was an everlasting promise. It wasn't conditional on anything Abraham did. The value of this promise was based solely on the immutability of God. That is to say God is the same yesterday, today and forever. A promise given thousands of years ago doesn't grow old or expire. God is never changing.
The promise was made to Abraham and his seed. Paul instructs that the seed is Jesus Christ. All the nations would be blessed by this descendant; not because Abraham's bloodline filled the land. But because justification, by the same faith Abraham expressed, was available to all of mankind.
Galatians 3:17-18
As Paul preached his message of grace, salvation by faith, he knew these legalists would object. He anticipated their objection. He was sure they would say that the law annulled the covenant promise. This was saying, God made a promise to Abraham then Moses came along and was given the law and that somehow voided out the promise given to Abraham. The law couldn't annul the promise of God. The Abrahamic Covenant had no conditions, it was a promise. If we can't rely on God to keep his promises, then we should all just go home. If we don't believe God will keep every promise, every time, we are all just wasting our time here.
God gave Abraham a promise 430 years before the Israel became a nation born in Egyptian slavery. The promise was given prior to the instruction of circumcision, a sign of the covenant. Therefore, the promise couldn't be contingent on performance of the law (or anything else). The law that was given was conditional. It said, if you do this, that will happen. But if you do that, this will happen. Abraham was given a promise; inheritance came through that promise, not the law. Though things have changed in the world, God remains the same. Faith and salvation come from a promise, not from the keeping of the law. Salvation is by grace through faith.
Paul said God "gave" this promise to Abraham in verse 18. That word 'gave' was translated from is khä-re'-zo-mi and it's tied closely to grace. It's to give freely not considering any debt or any payment. God bestowed His grace on Abraham in this promise. The promise was nothing he earned or deserved. It was not based on Abrahams goodness but God's love and mercy for His people.
Galatians 3:19-20
You can imagine these guys giving up saying, "Fine Paul, we get it, no man can be saved by the law. So, smart guy, what's the purpose of the law?" Paul anticipated their question.
The law was given to show us our transgressions. You can't be a lawbreaker without laws. God made known his standard through the law. In seeing the law men knew what was expected of God. He didn't just make this up, he revealed what had always been. His perfection was eternal and if men would be in good standing with God, they had to be righteous in His eyes. They had to be declared just by the judge using the Judges holy standard of perfection.
The law was given by God and perfect in its purpose. Angels were involved in the giving of the law. By Jewish tradition, these angels were mediators between God and Moses. Moses, a sinful man, needed mediation and these angels were the ones who actually gave him the law.
Part of the law that was given was the requirement for the shedding of blood for the covering of sin. The tabernacle was made and the altar and all the implements of the priests. All these things were very detailed and very specific; each for a purpose and all of these things foreshadow the coming messiah. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 that He came to fulfill the law, not destroy it. If you look at the holy requirements of the law, you'll find that Jesus met those requirements. We don't need a mediator to go between us and God, because Jesus is our mediator.
Galatians 3:21-22
The law serves God and drives men to the cross. God's righteousness and holiness are revealed through the law. His promised messiah then fulfills his law and satisfies all the just requirements of the law.
Moses led the Israelites out of bondage. They journeyed across the wilderness and enroute they received the law. They were also guided and given manna all along the way protected and watched over. Moses walked the Israelites to the brink of the Promised Land, right to edge, but couldn't take them across the Jordan. They had to claim the promise by faith. By faith they followed their captain, Joshua (Yeshua).
Galatians 3:23-25
In the same way Moses delivered the Israelites right to the edge, the law brought us to the promised land but had no ability to take us in. Before we believed, we were brought out of our bondage. We made a decision to repent, to step out of that darkness. We turned away from the world. We then made that spiritual trip through the wilderness where God was watching over us. He was guiding us and His manna sustained us. Then we are brought to the brink of the Promised Land, right to the edge.
The law showed us our need for salvation and where it was to be found but the law can't save you. It'll take you right to the edge and then it has done its job. It has served its purpose. The next step must be taken by you, by faith in Jesus Christ. You have to step in faith.
For us to receive the promise and step forward in faith, we have to be standing in that place where we are 'confined by sin.' We have to understand, we are condemned by the law. The law convicts us, we are sinners, there is no turning back. You can't go back to the wilderness and live by the law and eat manna. The law and the manna were just the means to deliver you to the banks of the Promised Land. The law was our tutor to teach us. Once the lesson is learned the tutor is no longer needed.
To cross over is the take that step of faith. The Israelites followed their Joshua or Yeshua. We follow our Yeshua; our High priest and the captain of our faith. Once we have faith in Christ to deliver us, the law has done its job and we are no longer in bondage or held under the law.
Galatians 3:26-29
We have become sons of God through faith in Christ. What an awesome statement that is. The foolish Galatians were being fooled, bewitched into believing that faith wasn't enough. When we are baptized into Jesus Christ, we have 'put on' Christ. We are covered or clothed with Jesus and God no longer sees our sin but the righteousness imputed to us by Him.
They say the Pharisees would pray each morning, "Thank you God that I am a Jew and not a gentile; a man and not a woman; and a free man, not a slave." These teachers were still teaching with that mindset, creating divisions, placing a burden on men. Paul said, in Christ there are no longer distinctions of Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free. We are all one in Christ and co-heirs with Christ and we are Abraham's seed. These thoughts were offensive to the Jews.
This is Paul's argument against the Judaizers and their teachings. He encourages the churches in Galatia to remember the promises of God. They will stand up against false teachings and they will stand the test of time. The promises are still good today. We should never forget these things as the church today is under similar attack all the time. These legalisms sneak in on us. You have to do this and you better do that. If you're going to be a Christian you have to look this way, speak that way.
Works righteousness is everywhere. Before you know it, you've stepped away from grace; you've grabbed onto legalisms and you've made Christianity a burden. Salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. It is never a burden. It's liberty, because we used to be captive by the law. It's life, because we were spiritually dead. It's sure, so there is never a reason to turn from it.
It's eternal, infinite, glorious, magnificent and awesome because it is made available from a God who is eternal, infinite, glorious, magnificent, awesome, holy, righteous, and amazing and on and on.
Amen
©2017 Doug Ford
[1] Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 283). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
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