GALATIANS

“The Gospel and the Law”

Lesson 5, Page 19Lesson 5, Page 19

Galatians 3:1-14Galatians 3:1-14

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First Topic: Paul’s Questions for “Foolish”

Victims of Judaizers

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About our last lesson…About our last lesson…

From 2:15-21, it should be obvious to the Galatians, as it had been clear to Peter, that no one versed in the gospel of Christ can challenge the truth that neither Jew nor Gentile should seek righteousness through any part of any law.

Justification is not by “the works of the law” (v.16)

“…if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (v.21)

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About today’s lesson…About today’s lesson…

“The Gospel and the Law”(The title of our workbook)

Justification is by faith in Jesus Christ– It is by faith, not by works of the law, that

miracles were and are being worked among the Galatians

God’s covenant with Abraham– How the Judaizers have misused “the promise

to Abraham”– The blessing of Abraham comes upon Gentiles

through Jesus Christ

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About today’s lesson…About today’s lesson…

“The Gospel and the Law”(The title of our workbook)

1.Paul uses a series of questions to make his points and to shows how they are “victims” of the Judaizers (verses 1-6)2.He rescues Abraham from the hands of the Judaizers (verses 7-9)3.He appeals to the obvious – no man can be saved by Moses’ law (verses 10-14)

1 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 3 Are you Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 4 Have you suffered so many things in Have you suffered so many things in vain - if indeed it was in vain?vain - if indeed it was in vain?

(continued)(continued)

Read Galatians 3:1-6

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5 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? by the hearing of faith? 6 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousnesswas accounted to him for righteousness

Read Galatians 3:1-6

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:13:1

“Who bewitched you?” – “Bewitch” [baskaino] means, first, “to

slander, to prate about anyone”; then “to bring evil on a person by feigned praise, or mislead by an evil eye” (W.E. Vine)

– The word suggests both the ungodly tactics used by the Judaizers and the “foolishness” of their prey who had failed to “test the spirits” (1John 4:1) before accepting their false teachings about the Law and the gospel

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:13:1

“Who bewitched you?” – Christ had been “clearly portrayed” [“openly” --

ASV] to them by Paul and other faithful teachers as crucified for their salvation Doubtless, their portrayal had in cluded some of the

same “infallible proofs” by which the apostles themselves had been convinced about the message of the gospel (Acts 1:3)

– The Galatians had not merely been duped by a harmless deception – Their acceptance of error was preventing them from

continuing to “obey the truth” Jesus will “take vengeance on those who...do not

obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2Thess. 1:8)

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:23:2

“Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” – Signs and wonders had been done before the

Galatians during the first preaching of the gospel (Acts 14:3)

– These signs demonstrated that the message advanced by Paul was endorsed by the powers of heaven (Mark 16:20)

– Another possibility is that they had “received the Spirit” when God “sent forth the Spirit” into their hearts

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:23:2

“Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” – Similarly, they had “received the Spirit” when

they had begun to “walk in the Spirit,” not “fulfilling the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16)

– They were “led by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:18) and they “lived in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) when they had first committed themselves to His control after obeying the gospel

– More likely, the Galatian churches had been favored with spiritual gifts and had been able to witness the power of the Holy Spirit in their own personal manifesta tions

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:23:2

“Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” – Miraculous powers were not attached to the

keeping of the Law– Those who had disturbed the faith of believers

through their advocacy of the Law had never performed any miraculous works among the Galatians as the gospel preachers had done, and

– They certainly had never imparted supernatural powers to any others

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:33:3

“Are you so foolish?” – If the Spirit had done such extraordinary things

among them in connection with the gospel of faith without works, and since the proponents of the Law had proved themselves helpless to offer similar gifts, how could wisdom dictate any course to wise men other than to remain faithful to the doctrine through which the powers had come?

– They clearly had enjoyed “perfection” [completeness] while they held to Paul’s message about Jesus.

– Had the Law of the flesh added anything to their spiritual life that made them any more complete? Obviously not!

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:43:4

“Have you suffered so many things in vain?” – We are not informed about what things the

Galatians had suffered for the sake of truth Paul declared to Timothy that “...all who desire to live

godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2Tim. 3:12), so no doubt their problems had been very real

– But to give up the truth for which they had made sacrifices would be to make those sacrifices worth nothing – they were in vain

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:53:5

“Does He [God] do His wondrous works through the law or through the gospel of Christ?” – The question was rhetorical

The answer was clearly evident

– God’s recognition of their righteousness had been expressed in His rich supply of the Spirit’s benefits, especially the miraculous signs and wonders done among them after acceptance of Paul’s gospel

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:53:5

“Does He [God] do His wondrous works through the law or through the gospel of Christ?”

– Those manifestations of God’s pleasure likely had ceased in those who had fallen prey to the Judaizers, and what did that indicate to thoughtful people? God has always attached His special blessings to

obedient lives, and He has withheld them from any who choose to

govern their lives by something other than His revealed will

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Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Paul’s Questions for “Foolish” Victims of Judaizers Victims of Judaizers Galatians Galatians 3:63:6

“Does He [God] do His wondrous works through the law or through the gospel of Christ?”

– ““Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned [accounted] to him for righteousness” reckoned [accounted] to him for righteousness” (v.6)(v.6)

– Abraham was a prime example of this principle He was justified in the same way – by the hearing of faith It was not by subscribing to any kind of law that made

him righteous in God’s eyes Rather, he pleased God by his unwavering faith in what

God told him in spite of “logical” reasons to question the promises made to him

7 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. are sons of Abraham. 8 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” nations shall be blessed.” 9 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.believing Abraham.

Read Galatians 3:7-9

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Paul’s Rescue of Abraham From the Hands of the Judaizers Galatians 3:7Galatians 3:7

It was important that Abraham be “rescued” from his “captors” – The Galatians must know that using Abraham

as an example of pleasing God by complying with the law [circumcision] was totally wrong

– “Sons” of Abraham are identified by following his example of trusting in God rather than by trying to keep a law which they never kept

Gentiles, of course, could never take pride in any such relationship as the Jews boast ed– They did not have a physical link with Abraham

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Paul’s Rescue of Abraham from the Hands of the Judaizers Galatians 3:7Galatians 3:7

Apparently, the Judaizers had made much of their supposed connection to Abraham as they sought to subvert the minds of the Galatians– The Jews gloried in their physi cal descent from

the patriarch– They supposed that God’s blessings to

Abraham had all descended to them in a way that could never be altered

– In fact, their relationship to Jehovah was defined by the connection they enjoyed with the greatest man in their national history

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Paul’s Rescue of Abraham from the Hands of the Judaizers Galatians 3:8Galatians 3:8

The same gospel [“good news”] that had been preached to the Galatians had first been preached to Abraham– Its most significant message: “In you all the

nations shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:1-3,7)– This “blessing” would be spiritual, not physical– It would bless all nations through faith, not

through law– The promise was made many years before Christ– It would “justify” the nations– The promise of justification by faith was made

many years before the law of Moses

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Paul’s Rescue of Abraham from the Hands of the Judaizers Galatians 3:9Galatians 3:9

Paul summarizes this portion of his argument in verse 9, “So then they that are of faith are blessed

with the faithful Abraham”

10 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”them shall live by them.”13 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Read Galatians 3:10-14

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Paul’s Appeal to the ObviousGalatians 3:11Galatians 3:11

Verse 11, “But that no one is justified by Verse 11, “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident the law in the sight of God, is evident [obvious], for “The just shall live by faith.”[obvious], for “The just shall live by faith.”

Paul now begins another approach which Paul now begins another approach which should have been obvious to the should have been obvious to the Galatians…Galatians…

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Paul’s Appeal to the ObviousGalatians 3:10Galatians 3:10

Justification under law always requires Justification under law always requires perfect obedienceperfect obedience to the law – which is a to the law – which is a curse (v.10)curse (v.10)– ““Cursed is everyone who does not continue in Cursed is everyone who does not continue in

all things which are written in the book of the all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” (Deut. 27:26; 28:15)law, to do them” (Deut. 27:26; 28:15)

– Law makes demands; it does not forgive Law makes demands; it does not forgive breaches of its demandsbreaches of its demands

– The Judaizers had convinced the Gentiles that The Judaizers had convinced the Gentiles that they need obey only the “easy” things of the they need obey only the “easy” things of the Law, not the things that were “hard” for them Law, not the things that were “hard” for them to doto do

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Paul’s Appeal to the ObviousGalatians 3:12-13Galatians 3:12-13

Paul said in Gal. 2:16, “…knowing that a Paul said in Gal. 2:16, “…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ…”but by faith in Jesus Christ…”

““The law is not by faith…” (v.12”)The law is not by faith…” (v.12”) ““The man who does them shall live by them”The man who does them shall live by them”

““Christ has redeemed us from the curse of Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law…” (v.13)the law…” (v.13) He willingly died in a manner that branded Him He willingly died in a manner that branded Him

a transgressor (Luke 22:37) and a transgressor (Luke 22:37) and presumedpresumed God’s displeasure [“curse”] at the behavior God’s displeasure [“curse”] at the behavior that had brought about the crucifixion (Deut. that had brought about the crucifixion (Deut. 21: 22,23)21: 22,23)

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Paul’s Appeal to the ObviousGalatians 3:14Galatians 3:14

Jesus was made a curse for us “that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus…” (v.14)– They [Gentiles], too, were cursed in their failed

attempts at justification and righteousness His death gave us “the promise of the Spirit

through faith” (v.14)– By dying in man’s stead, the blessing of Abraham

(verse 8) could be shared by “all nations” This was especially good news to the

Galatian Christians, most of whom were Gentiles