Faith in Christ, Not Law-Keeping

Galatians

Galatians 3:1-4:7

GAL_005

NET Bible Text

3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! 3:2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3:3 Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? 3:4 Have you suffered so many things for nothing? - if indeed it was for nothing. 3:5 Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard? 3:6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, 3:7 so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham. 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you." 3:9 So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. 3:10 For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law." 3:11 Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith. 3:12 But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them. 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree") 3:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith. 3:15 Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, "and to the descendants," referring to many, but "and to your descendant," referring to one, who is Christ. 3:17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. 3:18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise. 3:19 Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary. 3:20 Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one. 3:21 Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 3:22 But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given - because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ - to those who believe. 3:23 Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. 3:24 Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female - for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise. 4:1 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 4:2 But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 4:3 So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. 4:4 But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls "Abba! Father!" 4:7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.

Simple Summary

Paul tells the Galatians that they received the Spirit by hearing with faith, not by doing the works of the law. Abraham was counted righteous by faith, and those who belong to Christ are his heirs according to promise. The law had a real purpose, but it was temporary, like a guardian until Christ came.

What This Passage Means

Paul begins with a strong rebuke because the Galatians are turning away from what they already knew and saw. Christ was clearly set before them as crucified. They also received the Spirit and saw God at work among them. So Paul asks a direct question: did these gifts come through law-keeping, or through believing the message they heard? The answer is clear. They came by faith.

Paul then points to Abraham. Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous. This means the true children of Abraham are those who believe, not those who depend on the law. Scripture also showed ahead of time that God would bless the nations through faith. So those who believe share Abraham’s blessing.

Paul also explains why the law cannot justify anyone. Those who depend on the law are under a curse, because the law demands full obedience. No one is made right with God by the law, because the righteous live by faith. The law speaks in terms of doing, but faith receives God’s promise.

Christ rescued his people from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for them on the cross. He did this so that Abraham’s blessing would come to the Gentiles, and so that believers would receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Paul then shows that the promise came before the law. A later law cannot cancel an earlier promise from God. The law was added later because of transgressions, and it lasted only until the promised Seed came. The law was not evil, and it was not against God’s promises, but it could not give life. Its role was temporary and preparatory.

Before Christ came, the law was like a guardian watching over minors. But now that faith has come, believers are no longer under that guardian. In Christ Jesus they are all sons of God through faith. Those who belong to Christ have clothed themselves with Christ. So ethnic, social, and gender status do not decide who has access to God’s family. All who belong to Christ are one, Abraham’s offspring, and heirs according to promise.

Paul ends by saying that God sent his Son in the fullness of time to redeem those under the law and adopt them as sons. Then God sent the Spirit of his Son into believers’ hearts, so they cry, “Abba! Father!” They are no longer slaves but sons, and if sons, then heirs through God.

Important Truths

• The Galatians received the Spirit by hearing with faith, not by works of the law.
• Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God.
• Those who believe are the children of Abraham and share his blessing.
• Relying on the law brings a curse, because the law requires complete obedience.
• Christ redeemed his people from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for them.
• The law came later than the promise and could not cancel it.
• The law had a temporary role as a guardian until Christ came.
• In Christ, believers are sons of God and heirs through promise.

Warnings, Promises, or Commands

• Warning: Do not rely on law-keeping as the basis for being right with God. Paul says the law cannot justify or give life.
• Warning: Do not reduce this passage to “law bad, faith good.” Paul says the law had a real God-given purpose, but only for a time.
• Warning: Do not turn Galatians 3:28 into a denial of all human differences. Paul’s point is equal standing and inheritance in Christ.
• Promise: Christ redeemed believers from the curse of the law so that Abraham’s blessing would come to the nations.
• Promise: God sent the Spirit of his Son into believers’ hearts, and they cry, “Abba, Father.”
• Command: Believe the gospel. Do not go back to trusting religious performance as the ground of your standing before God.
• Command: Live as sons and heirs through God's promise, not as slaves under the old custody.

How This Fits in God's Plan

This passage shows God’s saving plan moving from promise to fulfillment. God promised blessing to Abraham before the law was given. The law served for a time as a guardian, but it could not replace the promise. In the fullness of time, God sent his Son to redeem those under the law and sent his Spirit to give believers sonship and heirship in Christ according to promise.

Simple Application

Trust Christ, not your own performance, for your right standing with God. Live as a son or daughter of God, not as a slave trying to earn acceptance. Obey God, but do not make obedience the ground of acceptance. Treat all who belong to Christ as equal heirs of the promise.