How Were You Saved (Galatians 3:1-9)
Today we will look at the first nine verses of Galatians 3. These words indicate that the first century Christians doubted their initial salvation. Men were telling them that they were never saved to begin with. They hadn't done some critical acts God requires in his OT Law. Until these Gentile Christians submit to circumcision and eat only clean meats, they are not saved. Listen to what Paul says in response in this text.
Galatians 3:1--9 (ESV) --- 1 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--- 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.
Consider Your Experience
The first thing that Paul says is intended to be shocking. Imagine gathering for church and learning that there is a letter from Paul. Then, the guy reading tells us that we have fallen for a distorted gospel. In Chapter 3, he says, "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" Ouch! Wouldn't that be kind of shameful to hear? Paul is hard on them because this is a serious situation. The rest of this chapter lays out what they are doing wrong. We don't have time to go through all of it, but tonight we will try to cover these nine verses.
"You Saw Christ Crucified"
In the first five verses, Paul tells them they have been acting foolish because they believe in a lie that contradicts everything they have experienced thus far. To begin with, he says that these Christians saw Christ crucified. They haven't seen the event that occurred 20 years earlier. Paul has told them about it, and they believed him. The truth of the crucifixion of Christ for their sins initially became natural to them. This is the event that opened the way to salvation for all. His sacrifice, not their good works, has resulted in this salvation.
All of us can relate to that. The death of Christ on the cross is what convinces us to submit our lives to him. He has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. Jesus has died for us to live. So, the question becomes, "What must I do to be connected to that sacrifice?" This is precisely where Paul goes next.
"You Received The Spirit"
When you read "The Spirit," please understand that Christians received it in at least two different ways. There is the miraculous sense, which happens when an apostle lays hands on a disciple. Acts 8:17-19 makes it clear that this was a power given only to the apostles and not to be imparted to just any disciple. it was God's method for spreading the truth through prophets and "tongue speakers." The other way one can talk about receiving the Spirit is the promise of the Spirit that was poured out on the day of Pentecost and can still be received today. We studied this in the book of Acts. Prophets like Isaiah (32.15-18, 44.3) and Ezekiel (39.29) foretold of God bringing restoration, a new covenant, forgiveness, fellowship, inheritance, and a great blessing through the pouring out of the Spirit. When believers were baptized, they received the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. They were sealed by the Spirit, receiving every spiritual blessing and becoming children of God.
Paul's question is, "Did you receive the Spirit by hearing with faith, or works of the law?" Hearing with faith describes repentance and baptism, as he mentions later in this chapter (26-27). Of course, it wasn't by works of the law. Paul did not tell them to be circumcised to receive the promised blessing of God. So, if hearing with faith brought about the initial reception of Christ's gift, how could we believe that our works would add more value?
Verse 3 again calls this foolish thinking. He says, "Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" In other words, "We couldn't save ourselves at first. Do we think we can do it now?" Why would we want to? Salvation is offered once for all time (*Heb 10:12*)
"Have You Suffered In Vain?"
In verse four, Paul continues to illustrate this foolishness by pointing out that their initial suffering was in vain. If they weren't saved by hearing with faith at the beginning, they shouldn't have suffered at the hands of the Jews. In Acts 14.22, we can read about this kind of persecution happening at the hands of the Jews. Turning to the law now makes that suffering look more like rebellion than an act of faith. I'm sure many feel passionate about their initial suffering for Jesus. This would strike a chord with them.
Being circumcised and eating only clean foods might seem like a reasonable sacrifice based on the Jewish explanation, but God is not impressed. How could he be? They are acting self-sufficient and forgetting God's grace.
"Witnessed miracles"
The final experience Paul points to is all the miracles they witnessed, along with the initial proclamation of the gospel. Paul did lay hands on some of them and allowed miraculous works to be performed among them. But did God show that level of approval because they had been circumcised and eaten only clean meats? No way! The Spirit was working in that group because they had faith in the word of God preached through Paul. Miracles had nothing to do with obedience to the Law of Moses.
Many today claim that imparting miraculous spiritual gifts happens when we hear and have faith. They say, "If you don't experience the miracle, you don't have enough faith." That is not what we see as a pattern in the New Testament. The miracles came because the apostle Paul was empowered with the ability to impart those gifts to those who had faith. People who believe you need enough faith to experience a miracle ask for faith in man's doctrines and beliefs that aren't related to what we find God promising in scripture.
Consider Scriptures
After Paul points out the foolishness of contradicting their initial salvation experience, he turns to scripture. Specifically, he turned to Abraham. As we study Paul's letters, Abraham is a common example because he was chosen and loved before he did any great work for God.
Verse 6 transitions us to Abraham, saying, "Just as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness." This is a direct quote from Genesis 15:6. He was not counted righteous because he was circumcised or because of his diet. Circumcision doesn't come until Chapter 17. He was counted righteous for believing God's promise and submitting. The only work he did was leave his homeland and go to a foreign land. Paul says that those who have the faith of Abraham are the sons of Abraham.
Being a son of Abraham means that you are worthy of the inheritance God promised to Abraham. The promised land and citizenship in God's kingdom are included in that promise. Jews didn't need to rely on their circumcision to be sons of Abraham. They needed to rely on faith and total submission to the promises of God.
Verse 8 is amazing. Back in the time of Abraham, God told us that he would save mankind by faith. The faith of Abraham resulted in a descendent who provided the ultimate blessing for all nations. This tells us that God preached the gospel before the New Testament. Many believe God expected men to do everything perfectly and keep every law in the Old Testament. They think God used to care about works, but now he doesn't. God counted those who had faith as righteous all along. He gave works of the law because Israel needed them to see their sin. The most important thing has never been a clear record. It has always been the heart of the man who loved God and lived to serve him.
God will bless Abraham and everyone with faith like Abraham through Jesus. The righteous live by faith. God wanted to save everyone all along the way. Works of the law will never accomplish righteousness. That's what this entire chapter is about. God's true blessing, the pouring out of the Spirit, is made available because Jesus was faithful, and we put our faith in him. It's not about our ability to keep the code of conduct.
Consider This Message
These Galatians were looking for something beyond what Paul initially taught them. They doubted their salvation. They were losing faith because false teachers came in and shook them with opinions about the law that were not true. Salvation is not about them and their works. After receiving the blessing from God, all that is required is to love God and pursue a life Christ would be happy to see. As harsh as Paul is in this letter, his message is the greatest ever told. It explains how the gospel sets us free from the law.
Application
What about us? Is the only application we can draw from this that works of the Old Testament Law don't save us? Should we conclude that the New Testament has outlined a series of works we must do to be good enough? God doesn't want us to trade out the mentality of these false teachers for another false mentality. We are not saved because we keep laws or do works worthy of saving. We are saved because of what Christ has done for us.
Remember that before your eyes, Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Do we see the cross? Why was Jesus up there? Was it not to save us because we can't save ourselves? We need faith in the power of his sacrifice for all who love him and put their faith in him. He blesses all who submit and commit their lives to him. He gives that blessing through water baptism. That is our circumcision, which is made without hands.
If this is true, how important is it for us to have faith in our salvation? It's not that I'm recommending anyone blindly believing God has saved them. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. We need faith in the truth, not in man's interpretation. Hearing the word of God and understanding it increases our faith. Devote yourself to understanding it and believe what you read. Let your faith and assurance grow, so you are encouraged to live for God. Please don't do it out of obligation. Do it out of admiration and love. Do it out of fear, not of God's punishment for you but of God's punishment on those who don't believe.
Conclusion
I hope and pray that you understand this and that you are ready to submit your life to God. Jesus has accomplished what we can't, so we can bear fruit for God. Trying to be righteous by works puts faith in me, not God. Put faith in God, and let him have his way with you.