Galatians 3; Verses 1-5; Living by Faith/Serving the Law

Thank you for taking a look †

Now remember as Christians the law is not done away with. The law is there for correction while following and serving Christ. I would hope so unless one is making up their own law and saying they are serving Christ in grace? We should be living serving Christ in relationship (not religion, but relationship) first. Therefore, the ability to keep God's law in the process. Thus being in God's will.

(Galatians 3:1-5) "O foolish (unintelligent in understanding) 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?

(Kind of like did someone put a spell on you? The salvation message was clearly laid out. But, as we will see man's natural gravitation is to go back to self-justification through serving the law. This can even come through backsliding/going back to sin for a bit. Trying to make up for it/lost time, etc. We repent and move on, this of course can be easier said than done in our minds. And that is the danger in warnings to not backslide).

2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Which one was it again?

3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
(Is living by the law going to complete you? this is of the flesh--sacrilegious--in vain. Making the cross null and void. Ultimately saying, we don't need Christ and the cross--and the power through it carried out through the power of the Holy Spirit).

4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

(The suffering of the flesh. Christ paid that price, that we may live complete in the and through the Holy Spirit).

5He 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?


Reflection, what did the changing in you? What gave the power to cast out evil spirits, power over satan, be healed? Giving peace of mind?

Cross reference, living by the flesh as opposed the the Holy Spirit:

(Colossians 2:20-23) "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

(From the cross. Rudiments = The fundamental evil things/of the flesh. Okay they are doing that. But they are viewing it wrong, their perspective).

21(Touch not; taste not; handle not;"

(Living not to do. Just as in sin/breaking God's law. We don't live not to sin. We live for Christ and serve Christ in response of the cross. Then naturally you won't sin as He did not. Which is why we learn the Word to even accomplish that).

22Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

(The things of the world are wasting away).

23Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."

Two complete opposite perspectives. As we see one is serving man and the law (God's), and one is serving Christ.

(It looks good to man. Moral correctness. It neglects the body because it's not living by the Spirit. Extremely tough on the mind. Essentially, we're living not to do, instead of living to do. Kind of like get busy living, or get busy dying. Living not to be punished, living free. Living in fear of consequences, or living doing right and having confidence). 

(Now this is a strange thing about the world. Because they may not like Christians, however Christians are respected for moral standards generally speaking. Surely, Christians have what the world desires but cannot find a way out because they cannot humble themselves through belief/repentance having the forgiveness of sins.

(For example, I can live by not cheating on my wife, or live by truly loving her, which covers not cheating on her. Serving Christ. As always, God covers kills two birds with one stone, making the work less. The LORD takes away and removes burdens. He does not give them or add to them).

(I can live by not doing drugs. Or I can look to Hebrews 2:18 and draw from that help looking at how Christ was tempted. He was tempted to be king of the world then twice. Then tempted to be "breadwinner" to the poor (Matthew 4; Luke 4).

You can apply the above to any sin.

Amen †