LESSON 3a
THE LAW VERSUS FAITH
Galatians 3:1-29
Memory Verse: 3:11
Introduction:
Paul now begins to compare law and grace. Grace is God’s unmerited favor, but the law is a curse. How foolish for anyone who has been saved by grace to desire to go back under the law, which cannot save nor keep!
The law had three parts:
1. Then ten commandments.
2. The ceremonial law of sacrifices and offerings, which foreshadow Christ.
3. The judgment law, given for the civil government of Israel.
Sometimes the Bible refers to one being the law, and sometimes all three being the law. This can be determined by the context and interpretation.
I. BEWITCHED BY FALSE DOCTRINE vv. 1-14
A. The Gift of the Spirit Is by Faith, vv. 1-5.
1. Bewitched [fascinated] (occult power), v. 1; Galatians 5:7, “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?”
a. Satan has his way of doing this, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
A. T. Robertson says regarding this expression: “to speak, then to bring evil on one by feigned praise or the evil eye (hoodoo), to lead astray by evil arts. Only here in the New Testament. This popular belief in the evil eye is old and persistent, Deuteronomy 28:54, “So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:”
b. Christ the only cure, Deuteronomy 32:6, “Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee, and established thee?”
2. If they received the Spirit by faith, how foolish to change back to the flesh, vv. 2-3.
a. The Holy Spirit need not be sought; like salvation He came by faith, v. 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.”
b. We must beware of false doctrine on the Holy Spirit, Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
3. If they went back to the law, all their suffering would have been in vain, v. 4; Acts 14:1-7.
4. Were the miracles by faith or by law? v. 5; Acts 14:9-10, “The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”
B. Abraham an Example of Salvation by Faith, vv. 6-9.
1. Abraham was justified by faith, v. 6.
a. He believed God, Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
b. He was declared righteous before circumcision, Romans 4:9-10, “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.”
2. All who believe are children of Abraham, v. 7;
a. The Judaizers were teaching that a person had to be saved by the works of the law.
b. They which have faith in Christ are the children of Abraham, Romans 4:11, “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:”
3. Abraham justified by faith, long before circumcision and the law given. This is still God’s only way, vv. 8-9; John 8:56, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
C. The Law Cannot Save, it Can Only Curse, vv. 10-14.
1. Judaizers were being cursed by the law, v. 10; Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.”
a. The Lord told them to search the Scriptures, John 5:39-40, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
–Lesson by E. L. Bynum; Revision by Art Davison