The Galatians hd been saved but now they were deceived into thinking they had to “keep themselves saved.”
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
YES, you have been bewitched if someone has made you think that you can keep yourself saved by your own goodness.
Paul knew somebody had came in to “bewitch” them. A false teacher came in and had them under a “spell.” 2 Corinthians 11:15 tells us that Satan’s ministers are “transformed into ministers of righteousness.” They will “bewitch” you. There is no such thing as a “good witch.” Some preacher said “the only good witch is a sandwich.” I have found that to be true. Especially if you didn’t make it yourself. It always tastes better if someone else makes it.
The Galatians are being “foolish.” It is a foolish thought to think that we can earn our salvation or keep our salvation. If we could than Jesus Christ died in vain.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Notice Paul said “that ye should not obey the truth.” They were not obeying the doctrine that Paul taught them. This is proof they were “bewitched.” To disobey is rebellion. Remember what Samuel said?
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
The Galatians were obviously saved but they had their doctrine messed up. They were “bewitched” and “foolish.” Even after Paul had preached the cross to them so clearly and he had the marks of the LORD Jesus in his body. In the same epistle Paul speaks of this.
Gal 6:17 From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
I believe this is why Paul says in Galatians 3:1 “…before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you..” They saw Paul living a crucified life and literally bearing in his body the marks.
The Galatians may not have been at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ but they still SAW HIM. For example it says something about Moses in Hebrews 11:27 that would shed light on this.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
So the apostle Paul was so Christ like that he placed the cross of Jesus Christ right in front of the eyes of the Galatians.
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
That should be every Christians desire is for people to see CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY. I know there have been plenty of times where my pastor Donnie Dalton has been preaching on the cross and it’s like you can see Jesus Christ crucified.
Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Paul is basically saying to the Galatians: “let me ask you one thing, did you get saved by doing the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?” The reason he asks this is because just like some people believe they get saved initially by being a good person and doing good works, there are also people who teach you are saved by grace through faith without works but the works keep you saved. That was the Galatians problem. They were bewitched into thinking the works were keeping themselves saved. So Paul calls them “o foolish Galatians.”
Someone who is relying on works is to get to the third heaven is…
FOOLISH
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
They “began in the spirit.” When you got saved the Spirit is the one that baptized you into the body of Christ. The spirit is the one that sealed you unto the day of redemption. After salvation you can choose to “walk in the spirit” or “walk in the flesh.” However choosing to walk in the flesh doesn’t effect your salvation but it effects your testimony, your rewards, your health, and your life. When it comes to the judgment seat of Christ a Christian should be getting down to business. However when it comes to salvation a Christian is SITTING in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. When it comes to salvation it is DONE. Jesus said himself “it is finished” and he SAT DOWN at the right hand of the father. I’m all about getting to work for the LORD but that work has nothing to do with my eternal destination. I’m not made PERFECT by the flesh but I’m made perfect by the spirit and it is already a done deal.
Paul says “are ye so foolish?” It is foolish to think that they could be kept saved by works when works couldn’t get them the salvation to start with. So he asked them “having begun in the spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Can your sinful flesh make you more righteous than the blood of Jesus Christ had already made you? When Paul plainly says “there is none righteous, no not one.” The thing that happens at salvation is Jesus Christ gives you his righteousness and doesn’t count any of your unrighteousness to your record. Even the GOOD THINGS that a saved person may do aren’t on his record when it comes to him getting into heaven. They count for his rewards. They have to do with his discipleship but they have absolutely nothing to do with his salvation.
Draw a straight line for your life on a piece of paper. In the middle draw a small vertical line and put under that line “the day you believed on Jesus Christ.” Then put a circle around that line. On the left side of the line write “before I got saved.” On be right side of the line write “after I got saved.” Now listen to this, when it comes to your salvation, All that comes into account is what is in the circle. All that matters is if there was a time when you believed on Jesus Christ from the heart. What you did before that and what you did after that is a SEPARATE issue. What you did after salvation is a discipleship issue. It isn’t a salvation issue. What you did before salvation is forgotten and couldn’t stop you from getting saved. Salvation is not of works BEFORE salvation and it isn’t of works AFTER salvation.
Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Since they started out believing the gospel correctly they did some suffering for preaching the truth.
Paul says some things that lets us know that men would add circumcision to the gospel so that they wouldn’t face persecution for preaching salvation “by grace through faith without works.”
Gal 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
Gal 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
If the Galatians were right and works did keep them saved than they suffered all of that persecution in vain when they were preaching the true gospel.
Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
Gal 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
The person that is “ministering” to them is the same one who “bewitched” them in verse 1. Notice it says he is working “miracles.” Miracles can be counterfeited by the devil. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 shows he can perform “signs and lying wonders.” Revelation 13:13 shows he has the power to call down fire on the earth in the sight of men. You saw what the devil did with the two magicians in the book of Exodus. Simon the sorcerer bewitched the people in Acts 8:9-11. Here is what they said about him..
Act 8:10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God
The Galatians had been bewitched by this man who came in telling them they were kept saved by faith and works.
Gal 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Notice it says “he therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit.” This guy is a saved man with bad doctrine. Heresies are a “work of the flesh” according to Paul in Galatians chapter 5. Bewitching someone and being bewitched is something a Christian’s flesh could struggle with. This is why Paul also calls “witchcrafts” a “work of the flesh” which a Christian CAN commit.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Notice he is talking to CHRISTIANS. A lost person isn’t “led of the spirit.” So Paul is explaining to them in this chapter that if they walk in the spirit than they aren’t going to commit these sins listed In verses 19-21 in Galatians chapter. However they CAN walk in the flesh.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
So this man “who bewitched” the Galatians is a saved man with bad doctrine and he is tricking them into thinking they are kept saved “by the works of the law” and not “faith.”
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Abraham believed God ! He didn’t have a Bible but if he did he would be a part of the Bible believing crowd. What did Abraham believe God about? He believed God about his seed.
Gen 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Abraham wasn’t “looking forward to the cross.” He believed God about his seed. Even in Romans chapter 4 it shows you what Abraham was believing.
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Rom 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Abraham believed God about his seed. For this reason he was given imputed righteousness. This is a picture of how today we get imputed righteousness by believing on something. We get it through believing on Jesus Christ.
Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Imputed righteousness happens the moment that you believe on Jesus Christ. At that moment the LORD gives you the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived a sinless life. He fulfilled all righteousness. He has a perfect record and that record is given to you at salvation. Not only this but your unrighteousness before and AFTER salvation is not imputed to you.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
So imputation has to do with the fact that if your saved you have the LORDS righteousness imputed to you and your sin is NOT imputed to you. This is why you can never lose salvation. This is why you don’t keep yourself saved. Jesus Christ did all the work in his life and then did the work on the cross by paying the penalty for sin so that you could accept the payment.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
If you are saved than you are a child of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Notice that “the scripture” is what preached “the gospel” to Abraham. At that time Abraham did not have a Bible. Moses wrote Genesis and Moses hadn’t even been born when Abraham was here. So the LORD is giving the scripture God like attributes.
Psa 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
We don’t worship the Bible but the LORD puts his word up there VERY HIGH.
Paul does a similar thing in the book of Romans. When discussing Pharaoh who didn’t have a Bible it says in…
Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Now this gospel preached to Abraham was not “the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The gospel means “good news.” We have already talked about what the gospel to Abraham was. It was the fact that he would be the father of many nations. That was the “gospel” or glad tidings to Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, Jesus Christ will die on the cross for our sins, be buried, and resurrect.
No that’s not what it said. Let’s read it again.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Abraham was going to become a mighty nation and the LORD told him “in thee shall all nations be blessed.”
Gen 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Gal 3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Abraham got “imputed righteousness” and “justification” through FAITH. If your a born again Christian than you also have both.
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
If you aren’t “of the faith” like the people in vs.9 than you are “of the works of the law.” If your “of the works of the law” than your under a curse. You would have to do everything in the law with no slip ups to get to heaven through it. It says “cursed is everyone that continueth not in ALL THINGS which are written in the book of the law.” It is much more than abstaining from murder and adultery. You can’t eat pork, you would have to keep the sabbath, you couldn’t pick up sticks on the sabbath, and all kinds of stuff. We aren’t under the law. Nobody ever even kept the law perfectly. They would try their best to keep it and then offer the prescribed sacrifice when they broke it. That was the only way any of them could be “according to the law blameless.”
Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
If you are “justified” than you have been declared righteous. The law doesn’t declare you righteous. It actually does the opposite for every man that ever lived. It actually declares you GUILTY.
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
You can’t be justified by the law. You must be “justified by faith.” Faith in what?
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
“The law is not of faith.” If your trying to “keep yourself saved” by doing good things and by abstaining from bad things than that isn’t FAITH. Your trying to make it on your own because you don’t think deep down that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world.
Gal 3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them
If a man kept the law he would preserve his physical life and since his soul was stuck to his flesh in the Old Testament it also effected his spiritual life. In the Old Testament they were not “sealed unto the day of redemption.” They didn’t have the “spiritual circumcision.”
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed isevery one that hangeth on a tree:
Jesus Christ “redeemed” us. So this means he bought us back. Acts 20:28 says God “purchased us with his own blood.”
Jesus Christ was “made a curse.” 2 Corinthians 5:12 says “for he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Jesus Christ became the serpent on the pole when he hung on the cross. Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
We don’t have to “keep the law” because Jesus Christ fulfilled it and then died the death which was the penalty for every man who ever lived that broke it. He redeemed us from the curse of the law.
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Jesus Christ made it possible for the blessing of Abraham to come on the Gentiles. The imputed righteousness and justification by faith. We receive those things through faith. Abraham is a great picture of our salvation, especially to the Galatians, because Abraham received imputed righteousness in Genesis 15 before he was circumcised in Genesis 17. The Galatians are needing to be corrected that CIRCUMCISION has nothing to do with them getting imputed righteousness.
Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men;(he is going to give them a common man’s illustration) Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
This is the covenant to Abraham. Nothing can “disanule” it. Meaning nothing can make it void or get rid of it. The Abrahamic covenant was unconditional. The mosaic covenant was conditional on how they did.
Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
This is a spiritual seed.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
The covenant with Abraham was made before the law. The law couldn’t take anything from it or add anything to it.
Paul says the covenant was “confirmed before of God IN CHRIST.” Isaac represents Christ in the context. Because Isaac typified Jesus Christ. The law was 430 years AFTER the covenant. So the covenant was made way before the law even came about. Abraham got imputed righteousness by faith 430 years before the law. So why would it be far fetched to think that we can get imputed righteousness without the law today? It wouldn’t be far fetched because Abraham was given imputed righteousness without keeping the law.
Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
If the inheritance is “of the law” than it would be of Works. However it is “of promise.” Our eternal life is an unconditional promise just like Gods Covenant with Abraham.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The law had to come about because under the covenant Israel was living wicked and living in idolatry. God had to set some boundaries. The law would be in effect until “the seed should come to whom the promise was made.”
The seed is Jesus Christ.
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the only person to keep the law perfectly. He is the reason that me and you would never have to keep the law to be saved. Jesus Christ did all of the work.
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
The LORD gave Moses the law. Moses talked to the angel of the LORD. Moses met with God on Sinai. Moses then gave the law to the people. He was the mediator.
Now today we don’t have a man as a mediator. Our mediator is the saviour himself. The LORD Jesus Christ is our mediator.
Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus
Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
The law isn’t against the promises of God. God gave the law, a conditional covenant, to keep men straight under the unconditional covenant.
If the law could have given life than there would have been no reason for Jesus Christ to die on the cross.
Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
The scripture has concluded “all under sin.” Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” However the PROMISE by faith of Jesus Christ is given to them that will believe on Him to be their saviour. You get the promise through faith.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Notice that phrase “before faith came.” Of course men had faith in the Old Testament but this shows that what we have in the New Testament is a different kind of faith. Even different than Abraham. Abraham believed God about his seed. We believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST. The men “under the law” were “shut up unto the faith which should AFTERWARDS be revealed.” They had no idea that Jesus Christ was going to die on the cross for their sins, be buried, and resurrect.
1Pe 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
The law brings you to Jesus Christ. Having a law lets you know that you can’t keep it. When you find out that you can’t keep it then you find out your a sinner and need a saviour. Then you can believe on Jesus Christ and be “justified by faith.”
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Now that I’m in Jesus Christ I’m no longer under the law. If you reject Jesus Christ than your still UNDER THE LAW and you would have to keep every bit of it to make it to heaven. Nobody ever kept all the law.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
The moment you believe you were a child of God. The world thinks everybody is a child of God. This isn’t so. Before you believed you were a child of the devil.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Don’t get this confused with water baptism. This is spirit baptism. The moment you believed on Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit baptized you into the body of Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we bebond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
In this body of Christ we are ONE. In this body you lose your national distinction. Remember this chapter is about SPIRITUAL things. We know this because even though we are in the body of Christ, when it comes to our physical body we are still “male and female.” Your still whatever race you are physically. However in Christ we are none of that and we are one.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Jesus Christ is the PROMISED SEED and In Jesus Christ you are the spiritual seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.
