Day 552: Galatians 3- Faith And Promise

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith--6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
The Law and the Promise15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Meditation
Years ago our family was moving and one of our children wanted to “help.” He put his hand on an already moving sofa and after it was loaded said, “We did it- we moved the sofa. What’s next?”
 
God is faithful and He does not need the help of His children to move His promise forward. Faith alone in the work of Christ alone gives us access to God’s promise.
 
The word “faith” cascades through the chapter. Faith aligns all kinds of people with Abraham’s family and the gospel promise God made to him. Faith justifies, making us right before God. By faith we are children of God, filled with the Spirit of God.
 
“Promise” is another word prominent throughout the chapter, contrasted with the word “curse” and climaxing in the work of Christ. God moves His promises through covenant representatives, Abraham and Jesus Christ respectively. The law highlights our need to be justified because, “cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law and do them.” Jesus became the curse so lawbreakers like us could access the promises of God by faith in Christ alone.
 
 No one can look at our faithful Father moving His promises through history and say, “We did it!” The promise of the gospel, to be justified by faith, adopted as sons, and filled with God’s Spirit, is accessed by faith alone through the work of Christ alone. “For in Jesus Christ you are all children of God by faith” (25).
 
Richly Dwelling
-God does not need your help to move His promises forward. Jesus Christ did all the work! What are ways you deceive yourself to believe your work helps move God’s promises forward?
 
-My young son could have enjoyed riding on the sofa rather than trying to “help” carry the sofa. What good works do you need to repent of so you can enjoy being carried by the promises of God?
 
-Jesus Christ is the focus of the promise. The work of Jesus makes us right before God, adopted as children of God, and filled with the Spirit of God. Take a moment to talk to Jesus and ask Him to make the promise of God more real to you, helping you walk by faith in Him alone.
 
Key Verse
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.