Background Scripture: Galatians 3:1-18
Lesson Context: Paul’s letter to the Galatians arose from a real life crisis. He was confronting a menace to the churches he had planted in the province of Galatia. This danger was the false teaching that it was necessary to keep the Jewish law to be saved. Paul’s argument against this heresy necessarily involved exposition of Scripture.
After the Law (Galatians 3:1-5):
A. Foolishness (v. 1).
1. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Paul did not mean that they were morally or mentally deficient. Instead, Paul used the ancient word anoestos which had the idea of someone who can think but fails to use their power of perception. The principles Paul referred to are things the Galatians knew, things they had been taught. The knowledge and understanding were there, but they were not using them.
“Who has bewitched you?” Bewitched has the idea that the Galatians were under some type of spell. Paul didn’t mean this literally, but their thinking was so clouded-and so unbiblical-that it seemed that some kind of spell had been cast over them. Paul encouraged the Galatians to keep their eyes always and steadfast upon Jesus.
The idea behind clearly portrayed is something like “billboarded,” to publicly display as in setting on a billboard. Paul wondered how the Galatians could have missed the message because he certainly made it clear to them. When they left the message of Jesus and Him crucified, they left the message Paul preached. Paul’s preaching was like setting up posters of Jesus all over town-if you saw anything, you saw Jesus.
Receiving the Spirit (v. 2).
2. “This only would I learn of you: Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Obviously, the Galatians received the Holy Spirit through simple faith. The Holy Spirit is not a prize earned through the works of the law.
C. Continuing in the Flesh (vv. 3-5).
3. “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” The Galatians were deceived into thinking that spiritual growth or maturity could be achieved through the works of the flesh, instead of a continual simple faith and abiding in Jesus.
Before the Law (Galatians 3:6-9):
A. Abraham’s Faith (v. 6).
6. “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Among the Galatian Christians, the push towards a work-based relationship with God came from certain other Christians who were born as Jews and who claimed Abraham as their spiritual ancestor. Therefore, Paul used Abraham as an example of being right before God by faith and not by faith plus works. Paul quoted from Genesis 15:6. It simply shows that righteousness was accounted to Abraham because he believed God. It was not because he performed some work and certainly not because he was circumcised, because the covenant of circumcision had not been given.
9. “So them they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” The blessing we receive with believing Abraham is not the blessing of fantastic wealth and power, though Abraham was extremely wealthy and powerful. The blessing is something far more precious: the blessing of a right standing with God through faith.
References: International Sunday School Lessons, KJV 2023-2024, Standard Lesson Commentary, David Guzik: Study Guide for Galatians