Faith, not law In Galatians, Paul was arguing against a legalistic heresy. In Galatians 3:2 he asks, I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? The answer, of course, is that they received the Holy Spirit by faith, not by the law. He asks something similar in verse 5: Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? The answer, of course, is that the Holy Spirit—and salvation—comes by faith, not by law. Consider Abraham, Paul says in verses 6-7. He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. Paul is quoting Genesis 15. Through faith, we are children of Abraham. We inherit the promises that God gave to him. Notice verse 9: So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Faith brings blessings. But if we rely on keeping the law, we will be condemned. We will fall short. But Christ saved us from that. He died for us. Notice verse 14: He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Then, in verses 15-16, Paul uses a practical example to tell the Christians in Galatia that the law of Moses cannot do away with the promises given to Abraham. Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. That seed is Jesus Christ, but Jesus is not the only one who inherits the promises of Abraham. The point that Paul is making is that Christians also inherit these promises. Through Christ, we are Abraham’s children, and we inherit the promises through him.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 18:27:25 +0000
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