"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the 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 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"
Today, we're dealing with a society that is being sold the philosophy that there is no absolute truth. Our society could be characterized by the term moral relativism. There is not only no absolute truth, there is no authority. There is no standard. There is no inviolable law. There is no one against whom we are being measured. There is no one who has established the authority to whom we must all answer. Every individual is his own personal authority, has his own truth, and is determiner of what is right or wrong for him.
In Christ's precious name
Amen
That Paul is both mystified and frustrated over the Galatians’ conduct is evident from the manner in which he addresses them as foolish. The Judaizers had come along and convinced them that their experience was not complete. That they needed something else. The Galatian believers had become so fascinated by these false teachers’ arguments that they had become bewitched.
Magicians or sorcerers were common in Paul's day, which was recorded in the book of Acts, and used optical illusions and satanic power to perform their rites. The word bewitched, is of course, related to witchcraft. It means to cast a spell upon someone through the power of evil or the evil eye. Paul therefore calls them foolish or spiritually dull. Certainly they remembered who and what saved them.Paul had portrayed or verbally created a picture for them the Gospel. In vivid fashion the Holy Spirit had caused their minds and hearts to see the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. That picture of Christ "having been crucified" for their salvation was to remain an accomplished fact with present results, in their minds. That is what they were to continue to focus upon it. But their minds had become bewitched. They had come under the power of the evil eye and had gazed at it so long that they were transfixed by it. If the Galatians had kept their eyes where they belonged, upon Christ crucified, this bewitchment would never have occurred.
For example, just as long as Peter kept his eyes fixed upon Jesus he walked on water. Only when he looked at the tossing sea did he begin to sink, recorded in Matthew 14:28. The sheep that strays from the fold and the watch-care of the Shepherd becomes easy prey. Planes fly in formation in aerial warfare for protection. The plane that leaves the formation becomes a "sitting duck." We must fix our mind’s and heart’s eye upon Jesus the founder and object of our faith.
Because the Galatians had lost sight of Jesus they had fallen prey or had become bewitched. They had turned from Calvary to Sinai, from Son-ship to slavery, from liberty and freedom to legalism and bondage, from faith to works, from Christ to ceremonies.
A home missionary who had outstanding success among industrial employees kept a counterfeit coin in his pocket. Why? So that when asked about the many religions that compete for attention, he would take out his fake coin and ask why anyone would go to the trouble to make such an exact replica. The point he would drive home is this: The counterfeiter goes to the trouble to reproduce a copy of the genuine currency because the genuine currency has value. He hopes to deceive people into accepting his imitation in exchange for real money. If he can do so often enough, he stands to make considerable financial gain.
Is it not because the gospel has such power to change people’s lives that the devil offers so many alternatives? Some of these are glaringly seductive, calculated to draw people away from moral living and thus away from God. Others conceal their purpose under the guise of false faiths and philosophies that challenge the need for the Cross of Christ. Only the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, can ward off these enemies of the soul. Pray for an informed mind and loyal heart to resist the bewitchments of the devil.
In order to cause the believers to think about their salvation, Paul uses four rhetorical questions. The first, is found in verse 2. This is the only thing I want to find out from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?Since they were saved and received the Holy Spirit when they placed their faith in Jesus, how do they plan to grow or reach maturity in Christ? The second question affirms that since they began their lives in the power of the Spirit, therefore, they must grow in and by the Spirit’s power. They could not grow by human effort or by trying to keep the law in the power of the flesh.
We grow spiritually in Christ because of by being obedient to God’s working in and through us by His Spirit, not by following special rules. The goal of maturity is reached by the work of the Spirit within an individual not by a person’s own will power or following the law. Paul’s point is the incongruity of beginning spiritual life by the Spirit then trying to continue it some other way.
Flesh refers and the old nature, that can even be fleshly circumcised, to indicate things people do in their own power. If you begin life by the Spirit can you go on to maturity without the Spirit? By depending once again on the flesh? Since you were saved by the Spirit’s leading and regenerative power and sealed by the Spirit, and not by fleshly circumcision, then it is reasonable that we should develop from infants Christians into maturity or perfection with the Spirit. Being mature is not a measure of what we have refrained from doing but it is who we are becoming, it is a development of Christ-like character. Walk in the Spirit and you will grow in the Lord.I am sad to say, this problem still plagues the church today. We take pride in our own efforts instead of in what Christ has done and doing for us. God isn’t impressed by our fleshly accomplishments.
We are to grow in grace and serve the Lord from a great love. Relying on the Spirit, we can live in such a way that honors Christ. It is our Father’s will, and precious in His sight, that Christians learn to walk in wisdom and light. I have found that some Christians, who should be on the front lines, are still in basic training.The third question in verse 4 relates to the experience of the Galatians since becoming Christians. "Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?"
In other words, Paul is asking "have you experienced so much for nothing?" The verb translated suffered, or epathete, is neutral and depending on the context may refer to either a painful or good experience. It is a touching experience. Whether the lesson is unfavorable or favorable, the Lord desires everyone to profit spiritually by the events which they experience. He wants His people to use experiences to good advantage, to profit by them.
To live the Christian life trying to obey the law instead of obeying the Spirit is to make the Christian life futile or for nothing.
The apostle Paul final question in verse 5 relates back to the first one in verse 2, but to heighten the effect he changes the second person to the third and the past tense to the present. "So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"
The continuous present tense verbs gives and works both refer to God. His wondrous accomplishments always come from Him, not us. The word rendered works, in the Greek, ergōn, which is where our English word energy comes from. "Among you" could be translated in or within you. Either way, however, makes sense. Among being outward gifts such as healing, and prophesies. Or if it could indicate inward spiritual endowments such as faith, hope and love. Blessings of both kind had been bestowed by the Spirit. Had they be imparted as a result of obedience to the law or as a result of faith in Jesus Christ?
In Closing...
The Galatians knew that they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed Christ, not when they obeyed the law. God continued to provide and work because of the application of faith in Him and His word which was accomplished by His Spirit.
People still feel insecure in their faith, because faith alone seems too easy. People try to get closer to God by following certain rituals, or rules. While certain disciplines through Bible study, prayer, worship, and service may help us grow, they must never take the place of following the Holy Spirit’s leading in us or become ends in themselves.
By asking these key questions, Paul had hoped to get the Galatians focused on
Jesus again. The accumulative effect of these questions is to cause them
to see their salvation came from and continues through grace by faith
in Jesus. From beginning to end salvation is a matter of faith in Jesus
and accomplished by God’s grace.
A picture of God’s law, strikes a signal, pointing us to the Lord’s perfect standards, but it cannot correct the wrong. The second method is a picture of God’s grace. That the law could not do, His Spirit can accomplish.
God’s law reveals sin, but it is powerless to save us from sin. It can show us
our weakness, but it cannot provide strength. It can condemn, but it cannot justify. The law commands, but it does not enable. The law kills, but grace gives life. Law is outward, grace is inward.
You can’t overcome sin and obey the Lord unless you have placed your faith in Him and have His Spirit living in you. Then remain in close fellowship with Christ. We must stay connected to the Master.
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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