Galatians 3

In The Message Bible, Paul starts out by calling the Galatians "crazy" and asks them if they took leave of their senses.  I love that!  In the Amplified Bible they are called "poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galations!"  He is incredulous that they have completely forgotten that they were saved by their faith and not by working their heads off to please God. 

He asks them if they received the Holy Spirt by works, or by faith.  He reminds them of God's promise to Abraham and tells them that Abraham trusted God enough to believe in His promise.  It was based on faith in God alone.  The Galatians had received their salvation by faith but now they had completely forgotten what they received and were now trying to do everything under the law.  Paul tells them that anyone who tries to live as a Christian under the law would fail.  If living under the law would insure their salvation, then why did Christ die?  For what purpose did He go to the cross?

Christ redemed us from the law by dying on the Cross.  Paul reminds them of the scripture that says "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." When Christ went to the cross, He became the curse and with his death, took the curse off us.   And because of this, we are able to receive the same blessing that Abraham received. 

Paul does not discredit the law.  In fact, he explains to them that the law was very important.  It taught Abraham's decendents to obey God's commandments and stay close to God.  It kept them from going so far into sin that they forgot who God was.  It prepared them for when Christ would come.  But now, rather than basing their salvation on works, it was to be done in faith. 

I love it when Paul points out that God said Abraham and his seed, not "seeds."   That "seed"  was and is Jesus Christ.  He was the only one who could save us from the curse.  No amount of work we do is going to save us, only Christ.  God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him.  This mean "ALL" nations.  Jew and gentile alike.  (Me and you and everybody else!)

Paul finishes Galatians 3 with this statement: "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise."  This verse brings to my memory a song we sing to the kids in church...

"Father Abraham, had many sons, many sons had Father abraham.  I am one of them, and so are you, so let's just praise the Lord."  For me, I love that I can say I am a member of Abraham's family.  It means I am part of the promise.

Be blessed,

Sue