Click Here to Read Galatians 3:1-14

This chapter has some strong words from Paul regarding the behavior of the Galatians and their understanding of Jesus crucified.  Words like “foolish” and “evil spell”.  Some translations use the word “bewitched” (“who has bewitched you…” (Gal. 3:1 AMP).  I get curious sometimes as to why certain words are used so let’s look at these for a moment.

Foolish: lacking good sense or judgement; unwise; lack of discretion. 

Bewitched: to enchant or delight (someone), cast a spell over (someone) affect by witchcraft or magic.

That is interesting.  When I see the word “enchant” my mind goes right to the Garden of Eden when the serpent was talking to Eve.  Wouldn’t you say she was “enchanted” by the idea that she could be like God?  This isn’t just a simple misunderstanding; Paul is telling the Galatians that they have been lured into a delusion by a tactic of the devil.  This is why it was so important to him that they knew he was commissioned by Jesus to preach a gospel that Jesus had revealed to him, he was not sent out by man to preach any philosophical gospel.  Yet the Galatians were allowing teaching that was mixing law with grace to distort the message of the cross.  Isn’t that the goal of Satan?  The cross is the center of the gospel and all of God’s provision.  Jesus crucified was the means of Satan’s total defeat.  If we have a misrepresented belief of the cross, we are not under its provision and we can be “bewitched” or “enchanted” into believing a lie like Eve did.

How can we protect ourselves from falling prey to this tactic of Satan to misguide and deceive us?  Paul gives us the answer in verse 3: “Your new life in the Anointed One began with the Holy Spirit giving you a new birth.  Why then would you so foolishly turn from living in the Spirit by trying to finish by your own works?”  Holy Spirit was sent to us to be our guide, to bring us understanding, to teach us truth.  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the (Holy) Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the (wonderful) things freely given to us by God.” (1 Cor. 2:12 AMP).  We have the Word of God, and the Spirit of God to help us understand it.  We have the responsibility to measure everything we hear by the Word and the Holy Spirit helps us to discern what is truth.  If we allow a lie to come in and mingle with the truth it pulls us out of alignment with the heart of God and therefore gives us a misunderstanding of Him.  I lived that way for a long time, viewing God as the law and thinking I could never live up to His demands of me.  But the opposite is true.  All I have to do is love Him.  And loving Him motivates me to do all things that honor Him.

Paul also points out in verse 3 that we receive a new birth by the Holy Spirit and then questions as to why we would go back to living out of our own strength and finish by our own works.  Why indeed!  The Holy Spirit is the one who brings understanding and revelation, helps me to stay in tune with God and always speaks truth to me.  He showers me with love and has the best intentions for me.  I have learned that sometimes I don’t even have the best intentions for me.  But He always does.  So why would I want to try to finish this life without Him?  I have an independent personality but even I will admit being dependent on the Holy Spirit (while sometimes nerve-racking) is incredibly freeing.  It’s like just being a kite in the wind.  

Paul also reaffirms that we did not receive the Holy Spirit through works: “The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us through the revelation and power of faith, not by keeping the law!” (Gal. 3:5).  He speaks of Abraham’s faith as an example.  Abraham’s faith in God released God’s righteousness to him.  Abraham was counted righteous when no man could be found righteous.  Isn’t that interesting?  “He believed God and the substance of his faith released God’s righteousness to him.” (Gal. 3:6).  Through the substance of our faith in Jesus we are also given righteousness and, in this way, “the blessing of Abraham’s faith is now our blessing too!” (Gal. 3:9).   Paul goes on to say in verse 10, “But if you choose to live in bondage…”.  I know when we think of the word “bondage” the word “victim” is probably right behind it.  But Paul says we “choose” to live in bondage.  This is an empowering statement.  I am not bound to anything but by my own choosing.  The opportunity to be free is there and nothing is stopping me from receiving it if I really want it.

Why does Paul say that living under the legalistic rule of religion is living under the law’s curse?  That’s another strong word.  But when the Law of Moses was given there was a stipulation that every part of it was to be followed: “Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them (Deut. 27:26 NKJV).  Habakkuk 2:4 in the Amplified says, “But the righteous will live by faith (in the true God)”.  Trying to live by the law we are cursed because it is impossible to keep to every part of it.  Especially since we have to rely on our own limited self to perform.  But living by faith we are made righteous.  How is it, then, that we can move from being cursed under the law into righteousness?  My Jesus!

“Yet, Christ paid the full price to set us free from the curse of the law.  He absorbed it completely as he became a curse in our place.  For it is written: ‘Everyone who is hung upon a tree is doubly cursed.’  Jesus, our Messiah, was cursed in our place and in so doing, dissolved the curse from our lives, so that all the blessings of Abraham can be poured out upon even non-Jewish believers.  And now God gives us the promise of the wonderful Holy Spirit who lives within us when we believe in him.” (Gal. 3:13-14).

Let’s pray.

Father, we thank you for Jesus who willingly became a curse in our place to absorb the law completely so that we may receive all the blessings of Abraham.  Your word says that you blessed Abraham in all things.  Through our faith in Jesus, we too can be blessed in all things.  We thank you for your Holy Spirit whom you gave to us not as a reward but as a gift; to guide us into all truth.  We pray that you would heighten our awareness of you, Holy Spirit, and give us a heart to hear you.  As we continue to seek you, we pray that you would bring fresh revelation to us and guard us from the lies that seek to distort the true nature of God’s heart for us.  Plant within us a hunger to pursue you and you alone, for only you can satisfy everything in us.  Thank you for your Word that is the breath of God, inspired by you, Holy Spirit.  We pray according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that it empowers us by its instruction and correction, giving us the strength to take the right direction and lead us deeper into the path of godliness.  In Jesus’ name we pray these things.  Amen.