Doug
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2018
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- Christian
- Political Affiliation
- Conservative
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- Married
Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
The Galatians were being removed from the gospel of grace unto another perversion of the gospel (Galatians 1:6-7). Paul affirmed that the gospel he preached was not after man, but revealed to him by Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:12). Some were saying that circumcision was necessary for salvation and were thus perverting the gospel (Acts 15:1).
3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith
The working of the Spirit toward the believers is not by the works of the law, but rather by faith.
3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Not only the believing Jews were counted as being the children of Abraham, but all those who follow in the footsteps of faith are the children (Galatians 3:26 Romans 4:11-16).
3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
There is more than one gospel in the Bible, as God deals with mankind differently in each dispensation, and progressively reveals salvation. The gospel preached to Abraham is simply as stated "In thee shall all nations be blessed".
All nations were to be blessed through Abraham and his seed, which was to include the Gentiles.
3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
All those of faith are blessed along with Abraham.
3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
If the Galatians were circumcised and placed themselves under the works of the law for justification (Galatians 5:4), they would bring cursing on themselves (verse 10). Justification is by faith (verse 11). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (verse 13) that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ (verse 14). The blessing of Abraham is the receiving of the Spirit through faith (verse 14 Ephesians 1:13-14) and the covenant God made with Abraham in promising blessing can not be made void, nor added to by circumcision (verse 15).
3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
The promises were made to Abraham and his seed. Not all the promises were made in regard to the descendants of Abraham, but unto the seed, which is Christ Jesus.
God promised that from the seed, Christ would establish his kingdom (Samuel 7:12)and all the nations would be blessed by Christ, the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18). Abraham was promised to be heir of the world through the righteousness of faith (Genesis 12:3 Romans 4:13).
3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
We are Christ's by faith (1 Corinthians 3:23).
As children of God by the faith of Christ (Galatians 3:26), we are made heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We are blessed in being justified by his grace that we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).
We are heirs according to the promise found in Genesis 12:1-3 below whereby we are blessed along with Abraham.
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The Galatians received the adoption of sons and had the Spirit of his Son sent into their hearts (Galatians 4:6). They were not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage of the law by being circumcised (Galatians 5:1); they were encouraged to be led of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18 Galatians 5:25).
The Galatians were being removed from the gospel of grace unto another perversion of the gospel (Galatians 1:6-7). Paul affirmed that the gospel he preached was not after man, but revealed to him by Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:12). Some were saying that circumcision was necessary for salvation and were thus perverting the gospel (Acts 15:1).
3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith
The working of the Spirit toward the believers is not by the works of the law, but rather by faith.
3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Not only the believing Jews were counted as being the children of Abraham, but all those who follow in the footsteps of faith are the children (Galatians 3:26 Romans 4:11-16).
3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
There is more than one gospel in the Bible, as God deals with mankind differently in each dispensation, and progressively reveals salvation. The gospel preached to Abraham is simply as stated "In thee shall all nations be blessed".
All nations were to be blessed through Abraham and his seed, which was to include the Gentiles.
3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
All those of faith are blessed along with Abraham.
3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
If the Galatians were circumcised and placed themselves under the works of the law for justification (Galatians 5:4), they would bring cursing on themselves (verse 10). Justification is by faith (verse 11). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (verse 13) that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ (verse 14). The blessing of Abraham is the receiving of the Spirit through faith (verse 14 Ephesians 1:13-14) and the covenant God made with Abraham in promising blessing can not be made void, nor added to by circumcision (verse 15).
3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
The promises were made to Abraham and his seed. Not all the promises were made in regard to the descendants of Abraham, but unto the seed, which is Christ Jesus.
God promised that from the seed, Christ would establish his kingdom (Samuel 7:12)and all the nations would be blessed by Christ, the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18). Abraham was promised to be heir of the world through the righteousness of faith (Genesis 12:3 Romans 4:13).
3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
We are Christ's by faith (1 Corinthians 3:23).
As children of God by the faith of Christ (Galatians 3:26), we are made heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We are blessed in being justified by his grace that we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).
We are heirs according to the promise found in Genesis 12:1-3 below whereby we are blessed along with Abraham.
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
The Galatians received the adoption of sons and had the Spirit of his Son sent into their hearts (Galatians 4:6). They were not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage of the law by being circumcised (Galatians 5:1); they were encouraged to be led of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18 Galatians 5:25).