Summary
In “Bewitched by Law,” we will examine Galatians 3:1-6, highlighting the Galatians’ misguided adherence to the law. Paul challenges them to reflect on their salvation experience, questioning whether they received the Spirit through law-keeping or faith. He emphasizes the absurdity of relying on works for salvation, pointing to Abraham’s faith as an example of righteousness credited to him by God. This thread encourages believers to continue living by the Spirit, rejecting self-effort and instead trusting in God’s transformative power.
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Thread
Reflections on Galatians 3:1-6
Think about the countless movies where a character’s memory is stolen to keep them from realizing who they truly are—The Bourne Identity, The Maze Runner, Total Recall. These stories grip us because we know that once the truth is forgotten, people can be controlled, misled, and kept from living out their true purpose. In Galatians 3:1-6, Paul confronts the Galatians as if they, too, have lost their memory. They had experienced the power of the Spirit through faith, yet now they were acting as if they had to earn God’s favor through their own works. It’s as though they had forgotten the very thing that had set them free. Paul’s words are a wake-up call—not just for them, but for us—to remember how we first received God’s grace and to live in that freedom, not in the bondage of self-effort.
Galatians 3:1-6 CSB
You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard—just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?
Paul is addressing a serious issue. Some false teachers, called “Judaizers,” had come along and were telling the Galatians that they needed to follow the Jewish laws (like circumcision and dietary rules) to be truly right with God. Paul is shocked! He wants them to think back to what they already knew to be true.
So, let’s dive into what Paul is saying and see how it applies to us today.
Paul’s Wake-Up Call: Reflecting on What You Know
Paul really wants the Galatians to remember their own experiences and what he taught them. He asks them a series of questions that are designed to make them think deeply about what they believe and why. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, remember what happened when you first became Christians? Don’t forget that!”
Who Has Cast a Spell on You?
Paul uses strong language here. He talks about being “bewitched” or having a “spell” cast on them. He’s saying that the Galatians are acting like they’re under some kind of dark influence. They’ve forgotten the clear message of the Gospel—that Jesus was crucified for them.
Paul had preached the Gospel so vividly that it was like they were there at the cross, seeing Jesus’ sacrifice with their own eyes (1 Corinthians 1:23, 2:2). Now, they’re turning away from that and going back to the law. Paul sees this as incredibly dangerous because it makes the cross of Christ seem unnecessary.
How Did You Receive the Spirit?
Paul wants them to remember how they first became Christians. Did the Holy Spirit come upon them because they were working hard to obey the law? No! The Spirit came because they believed in Jesus.
To understand this better, let’s quickly look at Paul’s journey through Galatia, as recorded in the Book of Acts:
- Pisidian Antioch: Paul preached in the synagogue, summarizing key moments from the Old Testament. The Jews were eager to hear more, and by the next week, the whole town gathered. However, influential Jews became jealous and stirred up opposition. In response, Paul turned to the Gentiles, who gladly received his message of salvation. (Acts 13:48-49).
- Iconium: Paul and Barnabas entered the synagogue and preached to both Jews and Greeks, leading many to believe. However, some Jews opposed them, yet they persisted in preaching, and God confirmed their message with signs and wonders. (Acts 14:3-4).
- Lystra: When Paul healed a crippled man, the townspeople mistakenly thought he and Barnabas were Zeus and Hermes. Paul quickly corrected them, pointing them to the one true God. Soon after, Jews from the previous cities arrived and tried to kill Paul by stoning him. Though left for dead, he survived and traveled to Derbe the next day.
- Derbe: Paul preached the gospel and made disciples.
- Paul then revisited these churches before returning home to strengthen and encourage them.
In all these places, people received the Spirit through faith after hearing the gospel, not through works of the law.
Are You So Foolish?
Paul is getting frustrated! He can’t understand why they would turn away from the truth they once embraced. He points out the utter foolishness of abandoning the Gospel. They started by the Spirit, and now they believe they can finish through their own efforts. That makes no sense!
How Did You Start, and How Do You Continue?
It’s like starting a race with a supercharged engine (the Spirit) and then trying to finish by pushing the car yourself (the flesh).
Paul’s point is that we grow and mature in our faith through the same Spirit who gave us new life. This process of growing more like Jesus is called sanctification. It’s not about trying harder on our own; it’s about letting the Spirit transform us from the inside out.
Was Your Persecution for the Gospel in Vain?
Paul reminds them of the hardships they faced for believing in Jesus. They were persecuted by people who opposed the Gospel. Did they suffer all that because they were trying to follow the law? No, they were persecuted because they stood firm in their faith in Christ. To turn back to the law would be to say that all their suffering was pointless.
Did God Give You His Spirit and Work Miracles Because of Faith or Law-Keeping?
Again, Paul emphasizes that God’s power and miracles came through faith. He didn’t display His power because the people did a little bit better in keeping His commands that day. The Holy Spirit works in our lives, transforming us by the miracle of new birth and spiritual maturity as we trust in Christ and surrender to Him. It’s not about being “good enough”; it’s about relying on God’s grace and power.
Do You Operate in the Same Faith as Abraham?
To further make his point, Paul points to Abraham (Genesis 15:6). Abraham lived long before the law was given to Moses. He was declared righteous, not because of anything he did (which was nothing) or who he was (which was a pagan in a foreign land), but because he believed God. Because Abraham turned from the gods and religions of his area to trust and believe in Yahweh, God credited Abraham’s faith to him as righteousness. Salvation has always been by faith from the very beginning.
Christ at the Center
Abraham had faith in God’s promises and had to look forward to the culmination of those promises, which was the unnamed Messiah to come. Today, we get to look back and know His name – Jesus!
Living It Out
So, what does all this mean for us today? It means that the way we become Christians—through faith in Jesus—is the same way we grow as Christians. We don’t earn God’s love and acceptance; we receive it as a free gift. And we continue to rely on His Spirit to transform us, day by day.
Tim Keller said it well: “Though we began with Jesus as Savior, something has now become our functional savior in place of Jesus. Instead of believing that Christ is our hope and goodness, we are looking to something else as a hope, to some other way to make us feel good and complete.”
Let’s keep our focus on Jesus, trusting in His grace and allowing His Spirit to lead us every step of the way. Don’t be foolish and turn back to trying to earn God’s favor through your own efforts. Embrace the freedom and joy of living by faith!
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FAQs
What does it mean to be “bewitched by law,” and what is the “spell” it casts?
To be “bewitched by law” refers to the situation where believers start relying on their own efforts and adherence to rules or laws to earn God’s favor, forgetting that salvation and spiritual growth come through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. The “spell” is the deceptive influence that makes believers think they need to work to attain what has already been freely given through grace. It is essentially forgetting the initial experience and truth of receiving God’s grace.
Why is Paul so upset with the Galatians in Galatians 3:1-6?
Paul is frustrated because the Galatians, who initially embraced Christianity through faith in Jesus Christ and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, are now turning back to the idea that they need to follow Jewish laws (such as circumcision and dietary rules) to be truly righteous before God. Paul sees this as a betrayal of the Gospel message and a denial of the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice.
How did the Galatians receive the Holy Spirit, and why is this significant?
The Galatians received the Holy Spirit through believing in Jesus Christ and hearing the Gospel message, not through performing works of the law. This is significant because it demonstrates that God’s grace and power are received by faith, not earned through human effort. Their initial experience of the Spirit was a direct result of their faith in the message of salvation.
What does Paul mean when he says, “After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh?”
Paul is highlighting the foolishness of starting their Christian journey relying on the Holy Spirit and then trying to continue and grow in their faith through their own self-effort and adherence to rules. He argues that sanctification, the process of becoming more like Jesus, is also powered by the Spirit, not by personal striving alone. It is essentially saying that they are switching from a divine source of power to a human one in order to achieve their goals.
How does the example of Abraham relate to Paul’s argument about faith versus works?
Paul uses Abraham as an example because Abraham was declared righteous by God because of his faith, long before the law was given to Moses. Genesis 15:6 says that Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. This demonstrates that salvation has always been based on faith in God’s promises, not on adherence to laws or rituals. Abraham’s faith predates the Law of Moses by centuries.
What is the danger of relying on self-effort instead of grace in the Christian life?
Relying on self-effort undermines the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, making it seem as if His death was not sufficient for our salvation and spiritual growth. It also leads to bondage, legalism, and a lack of joy and freedom in our relationship with God. Furthermore, it diminishes the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives and hinders our ability to be transformed from the inside out.
What are some practical ways to avoid “being bewitched by law” in our daily lives?
To avoid this, we must consciously focus on Jesus Christ and His grace, continually remembering that our acceptance and growth come from Him. We should regularly examine our hearts to identify any areas where we are relying on our own efforts instead of trusting in God’s power. Additionally, we need to immerse ourselves in the Word of God, seeking to understand and apply its truths to our lives, and cultivate a consistent prayer life, asking for God’s guidance and strength.
What is Tim Keller saying when he asserts something else becomes a “functional savior?”
Tim Keller is emphasizing that even after accepting Jesus as our Savior, we can unintentionally replace Him with other things in our lives that we believe will provide us with worth, happiness, or a sense of completeness. These “functional saviors” might include achievements, relationships, possessions, or even religious performance. He urges us to keep Christ at the center of our lives and to recognize that only He can truly fulfill our deepest needs.
Glossary of Christianeze Words
Galatians: The people living in the region of Galatia to whom Paul wrote this letter.
Judaizers: False teachers who insisted that Gentile Christians must follow Jewish laws to be saved.
Law: The Old Testament laws given to Moses, including circumcision, dietary rules, and other religious practices.
Spirit (Holy Spirit): The third person of the Trinity, God’s presence and power in the lives of believers.
Faith: Trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and relying on Him for daily life.
Works: Actions or efforts performed to try to earn God’s favor or merit salvation.
Grace: God’s unearned favor and love, freely given to those who believe in Jesus.
Flesh: Human effort or reliance on one’s own strength instead of God’s Spirit.
Justification: Being declared righteous in God’s sight through faith in Jesus.
Sanctification: The process of becoming more like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Righteousness: Moral uprightness and conformity to God’s standard.
Messiah: The promised deliverer and king of the Jewish people, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Study Questions
Context
1. What events in Paul’s ministry to the Galatians might have influenced his strong language in this passage?
2. How does Paul’s reference to Abraham in verse 6 connect to the broader narrative of faith in the Bible?
3. What specific false teachings or practices might Paul be addressing in this letter?
4. How does this passage relate to Paul’s overall message in the book of Galatians?
Observation
1. What words or phrases does Paul repeat in this passage?
2. How many questions does Paul ask the Galatians in these verses?
3. What contrasts does Paul make between the Spirit and the flesh?
4. How does Paul describe the Galatians’ initial response to the gospel?
Meaning
1. Why does Paul call the Galatians “foolish” in verse 1?
2. What does Paul mean by “publicly portrayed as crucified” in verse 1?
3. How does Paul use the Galatians’ experience of receiving the Spirit to make his point?
4. What is the significance of Paul mentioning Abraham’s faith in verse 6?
Application
1. How can you ensure that you’re relying on faith rather than works in your Christian walk?
2. In what areas of your life might you be tempted to “finish by the flesh” rather than by the Spirit?
3. How can you keep the message of Christ’s crucifixion central in your daily life?
4. What experiences in your own faith journey can you reflect on to strengthen your reliance on God’s grace?
