Galatians 3:1-5

PART TWO
JUSTIFICATION:
NOT BY LAW BUT BY FAITH IN CHRIST
3:1-4:31

A.

JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH PROVED. Galatians 3:1-14

1.

By reception of the Holy Spirit Galatians 3:1-5

TEXT 3:1-5

(1) O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified? (2) This only would I learn from you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh? (4) Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain. (5) He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

PARAPHRASE 3:1-5

1 The doctrine of justification by faith is so full of comfort, and the proofs of it are so clear, that I must ask you, O senseless Galatians, what false teacher hath deceived you, and turned you from the gospel, to whom plainly Jesus Christ was set forth crucified for you, in order to procure you eternal life?
2 This only would I ask you who are gone over to Judaism, On account of performing the works of the law of Moses, received ye from me the gifts of the Spirit, whereby your acceptance with God was sealed? Or on account of your yielding the obedience of faith? When I communicated the gifts of the Spirit to you, few of you had any knowledge of the law of Moses.
3 Are ye so senseless, that having begun to live acceptably to God under the gospel, ye now attempt to make yourselves perfect in point of acceptance by performing the rites of the law of Moses, whose only use is to purify the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many evils for the gospel to no purpose? seeing indeed it is to no purpose to have suffered them, if ye seek justification by the law of Moses; for in that case, the gospel will be of no advantage to you.
5 He, then, who communicated to you the gifts of the Spirit, and who wrought miracles among you, did he these things on account of recommending the works of the law of Moses, as necessary to your justification? or on account of recommending the obedience of faith to you, as the means of your salvation?

COMMENT 3:1

O foolish Galatians

1.

Here he does not call them brethren but foolish people.

a.

They had listened to false teaching.

b.

They were returning to bondage.

2.

What a person believes does make a difference according to the word of God.

a.

Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 where division is condemned.

b.

Cf. John 10:16; John 17:20-21 where Christ speaks of oneness.

3.

Foolish people risk the danger of coming short of God's rest. Cf. Hebrews 4:1; Hebrews 2:1; Hebrews 3:12

who did bewitch you

1.

The implied answer is Satan.

2.

He points out that this is a fruit of the flesh.

3.

Idolatry and Witchcraft are also bewitching. Galatians 5:20

4.

Following false teaching surely classifies one in the realm of foolishness.

that ye should not obey the truth

1.

This phrase does not appear in the American Standard version.

2.

The Catholic Biblerevision of the Challoner Rheims versionin the footnote says Some Vulgate codices and the Clementine edition add That you should not obey the truth. p. 516.

before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth

1.

Was he crucified where they could see Him?

a.

Such was not likely: no doubt none, or very few, were present at the crucifixion.

b.

The Catholic Bible says, been depicted crucified.

2.

It may mean Paul had portrayed the crucifixion until they saw it clearly enough to believe and obey.

a.

It was set before them in preaching.

b.

It was set before them through the spreading of the Lord's Table.

3.

Was something set forth before Paul's eyes? Not likely.

a.

Paul's eyes beheld two things if this view is accepted:

1)

Christ crucified

2)

Galatians bewitched

b.

Of course this could be in a figurative sense, but it is not the teaching of the text.

crucified or Crucified among youLuther.

1.

Perhaps he says they have recrucified Jesus.

a.

Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:6

b.

In the light of Hebrews 6:6 this is not an impossible interpretation of Luther'S.

2.

This would be a serious charge to these brethren.

BEWITCHED 3:1

One thing made clear by Jesus was that men could be deceived. Jesus stated it before Paul did. Jesus prophesied saying that some of the people are going to testify that during their lives on earth they prophesied, they exorcised demons, and did many other miracles which would include speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues and all the other forms of supernatural phenomena that fall into this category of charismatic gifts. Note that our Master did not deny that they did this, but rather He denied that He (or God) was the source of their miracle working.
People can talk themselves into most anything.
Rationalizing is the great narcotic that people use to anesthetize their consciences and justify yielding to temptation.

We know that not only does Satan, himself, bewitch people, but that he uses other people to do the bewitching. Did not Satan use Eve as the one who misled Adam? Paul warned of enemies of your own selves when talking to the elders at Ephesus. Acts 20:30.

Just what methods does Satan use in the misleading or bewitching? We know he tells lies even as he did to Eve in Genesis 3:5. We know also that he uses half-truths to deceive and half-truth is worse than no truth at all. That was one of the ways which Satan used on the Galatian Christians. And Satan also uses traditions to bewitch people and mislead them. Jesus refers to such traditions as DOCTRINES, THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN Matthew 15:8-9. Satan not only teaches falsely, but he supplies the power-source for the performing of some supernatural phenomena such as tongue speaking, healings, exorcisms, etc.

WORD STUDY 3:1

Bewitch (baskainobask EYE no). This interesting word goes back to witchcraft and the popular belief in the power of the evil eye. Of course Paul did not hold any such superstition, but his biting use of sarcasm said, in effect:

Why, you-'re acting crazy in turning back to the law! What's wrong? Has someone cast a spell on you? Surely you would not do this if you were rational and could think clearly!

Openly set forth (prographopro GRAH fo). Paul so graphically described the crucifixion in his preaching that they virtually saw it with their own eyes. The word prographo was used of official notices and public proclamations, much in the sense of our modern billboards. The message is so public and plain that one just can-'t miss it!

COMMENT 3:2

this only would I learn from you

1.

Let me ask you one question; that is enough to settle the question.

2.

This expression shows Paul's great concern.

received ye the Spirit

1.

Yes, they did receive personally the indwelling presence.

a.

And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galatians 4:6

b.

This should prove the inferiority of the law.

2.

Yes, they did, for some of them were able to work miracles. (Galatians 3:5)

by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith

1.

Name the proper answer and you will see wherein is the approval of God.

2.

They began in the Spirit, now they are trying to perfect themselves in the flesh.

3.

The hearing of faith brought them the Spirit; now why go back to the law that did not and could not bring them the Spirit of God?

OBEY THE TRUTH 3:2-7

In our permissive society, we need to take a new look at obedience.
The principles of obedience, submission, and authority are clearly set forth in both the Old and New Testaments. Every creature of God has his appointed place, from cherubim, seraphim, archangels, and angels down to the lowliest beast. Man himself is made a little lower than the angels, and was commanded to have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves.
The modern cult of personality makes submission a degrading thing. We are told that we cannot be whole persons if we submit. Obedience is thought of as restrictive and therefore bad. Freedom is defined as the absence of restraint, quite the opposite from the scriptural principle embodied in Jesus-' words, If ye continue in my words, then are ye my disciples, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
Freedom in God's view lies always on the far side of discipline, which means obedience. Wholeness is achieved not by casting off restraint, but by obeying the laws of creation. A river must be harnessedlimited, channeled, restrictedin order to produce power. It is not by leveling and equalization that the life of a Christian is enriched, but by recognition of and obedience to the order given by the Creator. To attempt to apply democratic ideals to the kingdom of God, which is purely hierarchical, can result only in a loss of power and ultimately in destruction. Christ, himself, the Servant and Son, accepted limitation and restriction. He subjected himself. He learned obedience.
We can do no less.

COMMENT 3:3

having begun in the Spirit are ye now perfected in the flesh

1.

This is advancing backward, Paul says.

a.

Note that Paul in Galatians 4:1-6 says law then Christ.

b.

Here he says your step has been Christ and now law.

2.

They have begun in the Spiritwith power, miracles, liberties, grace. Now they have turned to perfect their lives by fleshly rites, forms, ordinances.

3.

How do we perfect ourselves? Let the Scriptures answer.

a.

By study of the Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

b.

... that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me. John 17:23

c.

By being transformed. Romans 12:2

COMMENT 3:4

did ye suffer so many things in vain? If it be indeed in vain

1.

You embraced the Christian doctrine and suffered for it.

2.

Your folly is greater if you desert it now.

3.

To forsake Christ after your vision of Him is a shameful thing.

a.

You could have escaped sufferings altogether by embracing Judaism in the first place, for the Jews are not persecuted.

b.

The Jews stirred up the hostility of Gentiles.

4.

McGarvey says it may be translated If indeed it is only in vain.

a.

Here Paul would mean he hopes that the reward of suffering would not extend to the loss of salvation.

b.

This, McGarvey feels, is forceful, but a strained interpretation. p. 265

5.

McGarvey feels that actually Paul is expressing a hope that they may repent of their apostasy and so not lose the reward of their sufferings. Cf. Matthew 5:11-12

WORD STUDY 3:4

Outside the New Testament the word suffer (paschoPAH sko) is often translated simply to experience. There is a good chance that Paul was referring not to persecutions which they had suffered, but to divine blessings which they had experienced. Either way, it was all in vain if they turned back to legalism.

COMMENT 3:5

he therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit

1.

Who is the He?

a.

No doubt it is Godfor it is God back of the person even if a person is meant.

1)

For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

2)

The Spirit comes to the believer in faith and obedience, therefore God supplies the Spirit.

b.

This verse itself indicates that Deity is involved for it is the hearing of faith that causes the Spirit to be supplied.

2.

Paul could mean self: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Acts 19:6

and worketh miracles among you

1.

Paul had.

a.

At Lystra, he made a cripple (from mother's womb) walk. They called Barabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercury. Acts 14:8

b.

Paul was stoned and left for dead, but arose. Acts 14:19

2.

McGarvey feels that He refers to God, rather than to God's minister who worked miracles.

doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith

1.

God had not worked, miracles among them at the hand of the Jews, but by men who preached the Gospel.

2.

It came by their belief and so their case was like Abraham'S.

WORD STUDY 3:5

The word supply (epichoregeoeh pee koh ray GEH oh) goes back to the Greek theatre, where a wealthy patron would provide funds for the chorus, the costumes, etc. A later usage in marriage contracts is illustrated in this papyrus scrap:

Let him who is marrying provide for his bride the necessities of life to the extent of his ability.

Our Father has abundantly furnished, even lavished, His Spirit upon His children.

STUDY QUESTIONS 3:1-5

239.

How does Paul address the Galatians in this chapter?

240.

In what way had they become fools?

241.

What does bewitch mean?

242.

Are we bewitched if we follow false teachers?

243.

Is it possible to be obedient to truth and yet practice false doctrines at the same time?

244.

Did these converts see Christ's crucifixion?

245.

How could Paul have meant it?

246.

Is it possible that he meant that they had crucified Christ?

247.

If false teaching crucifies Christ, has a false teacher any right to expect salvation?

248.

What did Paul want to learn?

249.

Had they received the Spirit?

250.

When did they receive the Spiritafter they gave up the law or before?

251.

If faith brings the Spirit, what would be the advantage of returning to the law?

252.

Of what foolishness are they accused?

253.

Is the law of Moses a perfecting instrument?

254.

If we begin in Christ, are we to end in Him too?

255.

What had they suffered?

256.

Why had they suffered?

257.

Is suffering for righteousness in vain?

258.

Identify the supplier here.

259.

Who worked miracles among them?

260.

Is the miracle worker and supplier, the apostle Paul?

261.

What is the record of Paul's miracles?