Note: in the body on this article the verses from Galatians Chapter 3 are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.
In Chapter 3 Paul’s anger at the Galatian Church for receiving a false gospel is still very much in evidence right from his opening exclamation of, “O foolish Galatians.” He then picks up where he left off in Chapter 2 in further expounding the truth of justification by faith in Christ Jesus alone and tells us in no uncertain terms that going back to the Law is not only sinful but will open us up to bringing a curse upon ourselves! This is serious business and we, as born again Christians, are not to take it lightly or ignore the warning to not be led astray by the teachings of false teachers and prophets!
Justification by Faith and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
In verses 1 – 5 above, Paul let’s his anger and irritation with the Galatian churches be known without any attempt to muffle it. He is very ticked off with them! He continues to remind the Galatians and us that our justification comes by faith in Christ Jesus alone and not from anything or anyone else!
In his opening statement in verse 1 he exclaims emphatically, “O foolish Galatians!” Paul is not pleased with them and the English translation of just ‘foolish’ doesn’t quite show us just how angry he is!
So, let’s examine the translation of ‘foolish’ a little more in death from the original Greek word, shall we?
The Greek word for foolish in this verse is ‘anoétos’ (pronounced an-o'-ay-tos – Strong’s 453) and its expanded meaning besides ‘foolish’ is ‘without understanding’, ‘without reasoning things through properly’ and ‘being thoughtless.’ It is made up of the prefix ‘a’ which means ‘without’ and ‘noiéō’ which means ‘to think’.
So, you can see just by this opening statemen that Paul is letting them know that he means they are much more than just being foolish as we understand the word! In modern terms I guess you could say that Paul was saying something like this, “Church, you are acting in a mindless, dense and a plain stupid way! You are not using the common sense and good logic that the Lord has blessed you with!”
When I look around today’s Church, I can see that we are in the same predicament today! Many are being led astray by false teachings and legalism and Christians themselves are not thinking things through, they are acting mindlessly when they don’t think through what they are being told from the pulpit and social media platforms. They are not examining things against the Word of God – does what I am being told line up with what the Bible says?
Brothers and sisters, we must know for ourselves what the Bible says! We must read and study the Bible for ourselves! We have no excuse for embracing false doctrines from false teachers and prophets. We must not be mindless followers but mindful followers of Christ Jesus and Him alone!
We must be like the Bereans and search the scripture to make sure of what we are being told and sold! Let’s receive the truth of the Bible with a “noble Character!”
Acts 17:11-12 (NIV)
11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
Moving on to the next sentence in verse one we see that Paul continues his admonition of the Galatian churches but in even stronger terms when he asks them, “who has bewitched you?”
When we read the word “bewitched” here our Christian ears should prick up and start to tingle because Paul is now moving us into the realm of spiritual warfare! Our battle is not against flesh and blood! We need to take serious notice of what Paul is telling us through just using this one word – “bewitched!”
Ephesians 6:12 (AMP)
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places.
So now, let’s examine the word ‘bewitched’ from its Greek form!
The original Greek word for ‘bewitched’ is baskainó (Pronounced bas-kah'-ee-no – Strong’s 940). It is a verb and thus a doing word. In this case it is something that someone does to another. Its definition is to slander or bewitch and it is used in ancient texts to describe someone doing evil to someone else by witchcraft, for example ‘to give someone the evil eye’, to fascinate in a bad way such as bewitching or overpowering the mind.
Baskainó is a derivative of the Greek word baskanos which has a more evil connotation to its meaning which is: to cast an evil spell, wishing injury upon someone; to bewitch; to exercise evil power over someone, like putting them under a spell – to capture someone’s mind and exercise evil influence over it by appealing to their vanity and own selfishness.
In classical Greek, Aristotle the Greek philospher used baskaínō for "bewitching through the use of an evil power." That is, putting someone under a spell so they can no longer think or act according to reason. Baskaínō is also associated with envy or jealousy as used by some of the classical Greek historians and philosophers like Josephus, Demosthenes and Theocritus.
So, from this we can see that the word “bewitched” in this verse illustrates a whole melting pot of evil that false prophets and teachers are poring out on the Church.
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS THEY ARE SAVAGE WOLVES!
So, from the very first verse in this chapter we can see just how serious the teachings of false teachers and prophets are viewed by God and this view has not changed! Today, Church, we are still to have no dealings with such people! God considers their teachings as witchcraft, and they are from people that are in rebellion to God!
1 Samuel 15:23 (NKJV)
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
He also has rejected you from being king.”
The teachings of false prophets and teachers is pure evil, we can see how God considers them to be ravenous wolves as they devour and corrupt people’s minds – these are the words of Jesus Himself!
Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
In verses 2 – 5 of our chapter Paul asks the Galatians (and us today) a rhetorical question so that they can better understand what he is telling them: “did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” The question is rhetorical, and the answer is obvious. Of course, it wasn’t by works of the Law (obeying the law of Moses) but by faith in Christ that they had received the Holy Spirit. That of itself proves that the power is in the Spirit received by faith, not by the following the works of the Law.
Paul points out to the Galatians that they began as believers by the Spirit and because of this he asks them why would they now start to think that the Law could perfect them?
The word translated “perfect” here is from the Greek word epiteléō and it is better translated as “complete” or “mature.”
Paul is pointing out that when we are justified by faith through the Spirit, that is our new birth. Like any baby, we now need to grow up into maturity in Christ Jesus, this is being completed as a new creation.
It makes no at all sense that God would make us a new creation by the power of the Holy Spirit, then grow us up by the law? The reality of a Christian’s walk is that we grow up the same way we are born again, by faith in Christ Jesus alone. If the Spirit is given to us because of our faith in Christ, why would we think we would now be made complete or perfected by another means?
Abraham believed God in Faith
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
In verses 6 – 9 above, Paul quotes Genesis 15:6, “Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”
It was Abraham’s faith that gave him right standing with God, specifically his faith in God’s promise. God promised Abraham that the number of his offspring would be larger than the number of stars in the sky, and Abraham believed Him. Here, Paul argues that it is not simply the Jewish people who are the offspring of Abraham, but those who are of faith, that is those of us that are born again through faith in Christ Jesus. And God promised Abraham that “all nations will be blessed in you”, not just the Jewish people – all nations. And “those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham”, all believers. Jesus the son of David, Abraham’s offspring, has provided a means for Gentiles to join Abraham’s family through faith. Just as Abraham is a believer, the Gentiles are believers, and are justified in the sight of God through Christ.
The message of Galatians is clear: Paul is showing us that it is through faith in God that Abraham and everyone else gains right standing with God, not by following religious rules such as the works of the law or by any other legalistic approach to Christianity – but by faith in Jesus alone.
The Law Brings a Curse
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In verses 10 – 14 above, Paul tells us that if we try and live according to the law and not through faith in Christ Jesus alone, then we bring a curse upon ourselves because if we live according to the law then we have to faultlessly live by all of them.
No man was able to do this except Jesus and if we live by faith in Christ Jesus then we are not under the curse of the law. Jesus has set us free! As born again believers we live under grace through faith in Christ Jesus! No man is justified by faith in the law but only by faith in Christ Jesus! In verse 11 Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:4, when he says. “the just shall live by faith.”
Everyone who tries to live by the law will fail, because the law requires 100 percent perfection – only Jesus could do this. Jesus took all our sin upon himself on the cross, His death, burial and resurrection has set us free from the curse of the law. Because of His sacrifice and through faith in Him alone, we can receive the promise of salvation and the Holy Spirit. Christ became a curse for us!
And in verse 14 Paul ties Jesus back to Abraham. Jesus was not only Abraham’s physical offspring (seed), but also the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham: that all nations would be blessed through him. In Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham come to the Gentiles, because through faith in Christ Jesus we all gain right standing with God.
The Changeless Promise
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
In verses 15 – 18 above, Paul continues to remind us that the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham was in the person of Jesus His Son and our Lord and Saviour and not through the law. The law had nothing to do with it!
Paul points out the Bible says ‘seed’ (verse 16 of our chapter) and not seeds. The fact that “seed” has no “s” to make it plural tells us without any doubt Jesus is the fulfilment of the promise and that He is the ‘seed’ and that through faith in Him, all nations will be blessed.
It is through this promise that the Gentile believers throughout the ages are blessed with salvation in Christ Jesus and not through the law! The primary point is that they are benefitting from Christ and the promise of God, not the law. The law had nothing to do with Abraham or God’s promise to Abraham. The Law came four hundred and thirty years after God’s promise to Abraham.
Paul also points out that the Law was not an amendment or a change to the promise. More importantly, the law did not nullify the promise. Something God himself promised through Abraham could not be changed by a Law established 430 years later. All God’s promises are, “Yes and Amen!” The inheritance is based on a promise, not a set of rules. God granted it to Abraham through a promise, and Gentles (such as the Galatians and the Church today) inherit the promise the same way as Abraham, by believing God through faith in Christ Jesus alone! God’s promises are forever!
The Purpose of the Law
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
In verse 19 above Paul asks the question, “What purpose does the law serve?”, and then answers it himself. It was given to Israel because of their sin and would stay in effect until the “Seed” comes, the Messiah, Jesus! Paul expands on this in Romans 7 where he explains that if it wasn’t for the law, he wouldn’t have known what sin was! Do yourself a big favour and read the whole of Romans 7 for yourself!
So, the law was given to help men identify sin in themselves, but the law did not bring salvation for man because no man is able to keep the law in its entirety - only Jesus could do that! The law served to highlight the fact that man needed a saviour! Jesus is the ‘promise’, Abraham’s seed!
In the last part of verse 19 and in verse 20, Paul tells us that the law was given through a mediator which implies a covenant between two parties both of whom have responsibilities. This means that the law was given through Moses to Israel (the one party) and God (the other party). This is the Mosaic Covenant which required both parties to meet their obligations in full.
The promise to Abraham was given directly to him by God, there was no mediator. This promise was unilateral and was given to all mankind (including Gentiles) and requires only responsibility from God to action and to bring to fulfilment. The Abrahamic covenant (the promise) was dependent only on the commitment of God, who is one. Therefore, the law was inferior to the promise given to Abraham as its fulfilment didn’t require any action from sinful man.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
In verse 21 above, Paul raises another rhetorical question when he asks, “Is the law then against the promises of God?”
Paul answers the question immediately with an emphatic, “Certainly not.” And from the last sentence in verse 21 through verse 25 he tells us why.
Verse 21c: The law was unable to give life as no man except Jesus could fulfil it in its entirety. Therefore, man could not obtain righteousness (right standing) with God through the law and thus faced eternity in hell – spiritual death which is eternal separation from God.
The law bound man to sin like a prisoner, we became slaves to sin as we all sin and fall short of God’s glory!
But the promise of faith in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death and gives us eternal life!
Verse 23: Before the coming of Jesus as Saviour, the law kept man as a prisoner to sin until His coming and until we put our faith in Him alone!
Verse 24: In this verse, as an explanation, Paul likens the law as being our ‘teacher’, revealing to us what sin is, with the purpose of leading us to Christ Jesus so that we can be justified by faith in Him alone.
Verse 25: Here Paul tells us that once we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, we no longer need the law as our tutor.
The Greek word for tutor in these verses is paidagōgos and describes what we translate as ‘tutor’ as “one who has responsibility for someone who needs guidance, guardianship and leadership. Our tutor as born again believers in Christ Jesus is of course the Holy Spirit who guides us in all truth.
Sons and Heirs
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 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 neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
In his closing paragraph to this chapter, Paul reminds the Galatians and us that because of our faith in Christ Jesus:
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and discernment so that I will not be led astray by the errant teachings of false prophets and teachers. Reveal to me, I pray, the wolves in sheep’s’ clothing that I may not stray from your path – Jesus Christ and Him crucified! Lord, I pray that you would keep my ears and my heart ever attentive to the voice of your Holy Spirt! Amen!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!
It was Abraham’s faith that gave him right standing with God, specifically his faith in God’s promise. God promised Abraham that the number of his offspring would be larger than the number of stars in the sky, and Abraham believed Him. Here, Paul argues that it is not simply the Jewish people who are the offspring of Abraham, but those who are of faith, that is those of us that are born again through faith in Christ Jesus. And God promised Abraham that “all nations will be blessed in you”, not just the Jewish people – all nations. And “those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham”, all believers. Jesus the son of David, Abraham’s offspring, has provided a means for Gentiles to join Abraham’s family through faith. Just as Abraham is a believer, the Gentiles are believers, and are justified in the sight of God through Christ.
The message of Galatians is clear: Paul is showing us that it is through faith in God that Abraham and everyone else gains right standing with God, not by following religious rules such as the works of the law or by any other legalistic approach to Christianity – but by faith in Jesus alone.
The Law Brings a Curse
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In verses 10 – 14 above, Paul tells us that if we try and live according to the law and not through faith in Christ Jesus alone, then we bring a curse upon ourselves because if we live according to the law then we have to faultlessly live by all of them.
Deuteronomy 27:26 (NKJV)
‘Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.’
No man was able to do this except Jesus and if we live by faith in Christ Jesus then we are not under the curse of the law. Jesus has set us free! As born again believers we live under grace through faith in Christ Jesus! No man is justified by faith in the law but only by faith in Christ Jesus! In verse 11 Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:4, when he says. “the just shall live by faith.”
Romans 6:14 (NKJV)
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Habakkuk 2:4b
But the just shall live by his faith.
Everyone who tries to live by the law will fail, because the law requires 100 percent perfection – only Jesus could do this. Jesus took all our sin upon himself on the cross, His death, burial and resurrection has set us free from the curse of the law. Because of His sacrifice and through faith in Him alone, we can receive the promise of salvation and the Holy Spirit. Christ became a curse for us!
Deuteronomy 21:23 (NKJV)
his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.
Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)
In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
In verses 15 – 18 above, Paul continues to remind us that the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham was in the person of Jesus His Son and our Lord and Saviour and not through the law. The law had nothing to do with it!
Paul points out the Bible says ‘seed’ (verse 16 of our chapter) and not seeds. The fact that “seed” has no “s” to make it plural tells us without any doubt Jesus is the fulfilment of the promise and that He is the ‘seed’ and that through faith in Him, all nations will be blessed.
Genesis 22:18 (AMP)
Through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.”
Paul also points out that the Law was not an amendment or a change to the promise. More importantly, the law did not nullify the promise. Something God himself promised through Abraham could not be changed by a Law established 430 years later. All God’s promises are, “Yes and Amen!” The inheritance is based on a promise, not a set of rules. God granted it to Abraham through a promise, and Gentles (such as the Galatians and the Church today) inherit the promise the same way as Abraham, by believing God through faith in Christ Jesus alone! God’s promises are forever!
2 Corinthians 1:20 (AMP)
For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.
The Purpose of the Law
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
In verse 19 above Paul asks the question, “What purpose does the law serve?”, and then answers it himself. It was given to Israel because of their sin and would stay in effect until the “Seed” comes, the Messiah, Jesus! Paul expands on this in Romans 7 where he explains that if it wasn’t for the law, he wouldn’t have known what sin was! Do yourself a big favour and read the whole of Romans 7 for yourself!
So, the law was given to help men identify sin in themselves, but the law did not bring salvation for man because no man is able to keep the law in its entirety - only Jesus could do that! The law served to highlight the fact that man needed a saviour! Jesus is the ‘promise’, Abraham’s seed!
Romans 7:7 (NIV)
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
In the last part of verse 19 and in verse 20, Paul tells us that the law was given through a mediator which implies a covenant between two parties both of whom have responsibilities. This means that the law was given through Moses to Israel (the one party) and God (the other party). This is the Mosaic Covenant which required both parties to meet their obligations in full.
The promise to Abraham was given directly to him by God, there was no mediator. This promise was unilateral and was given to all mankind (including Gentiles) and requires only responsibility from God to action and to bring to fulfilment. The Abrahamic covenant (the promise) was dependent only on the commitment of God, who is one. Therefore, the law was inferior to the promise given to Abraham as its fulfilment didn’t require any action from sinful man.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
In verse 21 above, Paul raises another rhetorical question when he asks, “Is the law then against the promises of God?”
Paul answers the question immediately with an emphatic, “Certainly not.” And from the last sentence in verse 21 through verse 25 he tells us why.
Verse 21c: The law was unable to give life as no man except Jesus could fulfil it in its entirety. Therefore, man could not obtain righteousness (right standing) with God through the law and thus faced eternity in hell – spiritual death which is eternal separation from God.
The law bound man to sin like a prisoner, we became slaves to sin as we all sin and fall short of God’s glory!
Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:20-23 (NKJV)
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But the promise of faith in Christ Jesus sets us free from the law of sin and death and gives us eternal life!
Romans 8:2 (NKJV)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Verse 23: Before the coming of Jesus as Saviour, the law kept man as a prisoner to sin until His coming and until we put our faith in Him alone!
Verse 24: In this verse, as an explanation, Paul likens the law as being our ‘teacher’, revealing to us what sin is, with the purpose of leading us to Christ Jesus so that we can be justified by faith in Him alone.
Verse 25: Here Paul tells us that once we have put our faith in Christ Jesus, we no longer need the law as our tutor.
The Greek word for tutor in these verses is paidagōgos and describes what we translate as ‘tutor’ as “one who has responsibility for someone who needs guidance, guardianship and leadership. Our tutor as born again believers in Christ Jesus is of course the Holy Spirit who guides us in all truth.
John 16:13 (NIV)
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Sons and Heirs
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 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 neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
In his closing paragraph to this chapter, Paul reminds the Galatians and us that because of our faith in Christ Jesus:
- We are all sons of God.
2 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
“I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
- We belong to Jesus and are coheirs with him.
Romans 8:17 (NIV)
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
- We are all one in Christ and are made perfect in Him.
John 17:20-23 (NKJV)
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
- If we are in Christ, then we are all Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the ‘promise’. See Romans 8:17 above.
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and discernment so that I will not be led astray by the errant teachings of false prophets and teachers. Reveal to me, I pray, the wolves in sheep’s’ clothing that I may not stray from your path – Jesus Christ and Him crucified! Lord, I pray that you would keep my ears and my heart ever attentive to the voice of your Holy Spirt! Amen!
To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!
Jesus the Name above all names!
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!
