• Paul’s dramatic conversion
• Gospel not from human origin
• Beware of the temptation to be people-pleaser
• Justification by faith alone leads to church unity, maturity
• Union with Christ – identity and power

Galatians 3:1-5

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? 

It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 

2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 

4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 

5 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— 

We have received the Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:2

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

How did they receive the Spirit? (v2)

How have they begun by the Spirit and were being perfected (completed) in the Spirit? (v3)

How have they suffered for the Gospel? (v4)

How does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you? (v5) 

We are the blessed along with Abraham

Galatians 3:6-9

6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 

8 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.” 

9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Genesis 15:5-6

“Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

• Faith is not a “righteous work”
• Faith transcends reason
• Faith will lead to trust and obedience

James 2:19

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

We have been redeemed from the curse of the law

Galatians 3:10-14

10 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.” 

11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”

12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 

13 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”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit   through faith.

• Is there really no one who can perfectly obey the law to have life?
• Who can be our substitute so that by faith we may have atonement for our sins?

The great substitution on the Cross

Galatians 3:13-14

13 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”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit   through faith.

John Stott

For the essence of sin is man substituting himself for God, while the essence of salvation is God substituting himself for man. Man asserts himself against God and puts himself where only God deserves to be. God sacrifices himself for man and puts himself where only man deserves to be.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. And as for you, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Hearing -> Living

Luke 10:20

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]