The Clear Picture

Introduction

Several years ago in between schools, I was selling advertising. I was doing sales pitches to companies that wanted the newest trend called “on-hold” advertising, you know when you call a business and are put on hold and you listen to a commercial about what the business offers. I had an appointment with a law firm and was to make a presentation to all three partners in that firm. I practiced and practiced my presentation and when the appointment time came, I gave the most glowing presentation that I had ever done. At the end of my presentation, I asked, “So are you ready to sign up.” One distinguished lawyer spoke, “No, we are not going to sign up. Your presentation was excellent but you did not ask us any questions about what we needed.” I had taken what I thought they needed and put it in a nice package and even put a pretty bow on it. However, I failed to ask questions to give a clear picture of what was needed. I made assumptions on what I thought would be best instead of recognizing what needed to be met. We know the definition of assume, right? And believe me, I lived up to that definition.

In our study of Galatians, Paul encounters folks that are assuming they can still rely on the law and rituals to satisfy their relationships with God. Obviously they have been misinformed and their way has muddied the waters or caused the picture to be out of focus. We see in Galatians 3:1-5, how Paul uses a series of very good questions to make the picture more clear of what it means to be justified by faith.

Galatians 3:1–5 NIV84

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

The Reprimand (vs. 1)

This passage starts out with some strong language. Paul says, “You foolish Galatians!” This is not an insult but a strong reprimand to the church and those Christians. He is focusing on the foolishness of the Galatians going backwards in their thinking. They are having theological inconsistencies. Part of that inconsistency has to do with deception.

Deception

Paul continues asking the question, “Who bewitched you?” The word that we have translated as bewitched means “to bring evil on one by feigning praise or an evil eye.” The teaching that has taken place has led people away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and down the road of works. Anyone that teaches anything apart from Christ is a false teacher and is of the devil, thus the use of the word bewitched. John 8:44 reminds of how false teaching takes us away from the truth.

John 8:44 NIV84

44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Theologian John Stott wrote: “Much of our Christian stupidity in grasping and applying the Gospel many be due to the spells which he casts.”

In other words, we seem to settle for less than the truth. We may go through a period of denial like the Galatians did and think we can do other things to be in a relationship with God.

Denial

Titus 1:16 NIV84

16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

The denial comes into play when we think that what Jesus did on the cross was not enough. We may not actually come out and say that, but our lifestyles reveal it. Instead of living victorious lives, we live lives of guilt and think we are not good enough. Then we try to do good things to make ourselves feel better. We think we can go through rituals and it will make it better for us. Paul’s delivery of this reprimand was to help change what was happening in so many of the Galatians.

Delivery

Paul was telling the Galatians that they had moved from maturity to immaturity. The Christian life should not go backwards.

Philippians 1:6 NIV84

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

So often we think that we do not need to grow anymore. The reality of it all is that we do need to grow. Who needs to be reminded this morning that God is still in the carrying it on to completion business? If you are breathing, God still has a plan for you!

The Reminder (vs. 2)

Galatians 3:2 NIV84

2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?

Paul is emphasizing to those Christians that God used His Holy Spirit to speak to them about the truth of the Gospel. One of the seven realities in our Experiencing God study is that God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.

This is an example of this reality in this passage. The Holy Spirit is speaking through Paul to the Galatian church and in turn God is speaking to us from His word through His Holy Spirit. Imagine Paul directing this question to you. How would you answer that question? What do you believe? Before we answer that question, it might be wise to go and look how we received the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit is given because God is generous and gracious. He freely chooses to give His Spirit to those who hear and believe the Gospel of His Son. You can have the Spirit if you commit yourself in faith to Christ. What do you believe?

What Do You Believe?

Do you believe that you have to perform tasks or do works to have a relationship with God? Do you believe that you have to attend church, where a certain type of clothing, or act a certain way? Do you earn your salvation by keeping the Ten Commandments or did you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord?

Romans 10:9–10 NIV84

9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Have you done that? We are not saved by the law, but by faith in Christ!

Where Do You Place Your Faith?

We had a discussion Wednesday about faith. I made the statement that often we place more faith in the chairs we sit on that we do in our God. What is faith? The Biblical definition is found in Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

We are guided by the Holy Spirit as we express our faith. It is the gift of Jesus!

John 16:7 NIV84

7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

Your faith is guided by the Holy Spirit. What have you seen as you have been guided by the Holy Spirit?

What Have You Seen?

The law and faith are contrary to each other. The law says “Do this”; the Gospel says “Christ has done it all!” The law requires works of human achievement; the Gospel requires faith in Christ’s achievement. The law makes demands and calls us to obey; the Gospel brings promises and calls us to believe!

Paul comes at the Galatians with a series of rhetorical questions.

The Rhetoric (vs. 3-4)

Galatians 3:3–4 NIV84

3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing?

I think it would be wise to allow these to be directed to us.

Are You Foolish?

As I think about this question, I am reminded of the context. I am to establish my relationship with God through faith in Jesus and not through the rituals of practicing being a church member. I have to ask am I practicing anything that allows me to misplace my faith with works? Am I trying to do works instead of having faith? In other other words, am I trying in my own effort?

Are You Trying In Your Own Effort?

The Galatians had been taught erroneously that they could earn their relationship. However, Paul is emphasizing that cannot be taught because it is not truth. Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV84

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Yet, often we try to do it on our own. In doing so, we suffer needlessly. In fact, Paul asks that question quite pointedly: Are you suffering for nothing?

Are You Suffering for Nothing?

Some scholars think that this refers to Acts 14:19

Acts 14:19 NIV84

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

We see in the later verses that Paul was not dead but got up, and the next day he and Barnabas left for another town. Acts 14:22

Acts 14:22 NIV84

22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

In our passage today, Paul is saying you don’t want to endure all this suffering for nothing! Don’t be guilty of slipping back! To slip back could also imply that one never had it to begin with.

We all go through trials and tribulations. Jesus told multiple times that we would.

After hearing these verses, what then should be our response?

The Response (vs. 5)

Galatians 3:5 NIV84

5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

God’s Gift

First and foremost, we should recognize the gift that God has given the Galatians. They had already seen God the Son in verse 1. The received God the Spirit is verses 2-4. They experienced the miracles from God the Father in verse 5. If they can have such an experience, you and I can as well. God’s gift to us is abundant life now and eternal life later through salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

God’s Ability

God is still in the miracle working business. It is not because of our works, but because He is good, generous and gracious! He loves us and will meet our needs.

Philippians 4:19 NIV84

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

God’s Question

In a most simplified form, God’s question is are you going to allow My Spirit to work miracles in your life because you observe the law or because you live by faith?

I think we all need a faith lift! We have gained the double-chins of dependency on our works. We have eyes that are squinting shut to the possibilities of what God can do. We have a nose that snoops down in other people’s business instead of helping them be built up in faith. We have wrinkles on our forehead from scowling and judging others that are different than us. We spiritual frown lines from not living in the joy of Jesus. We have thin lips from shying away from speaking truth. Do I need to go on? Yes, we desperately need a faith lift. The point is that we need to accept what God has done for us through Jesus and allow His Holy Spirit to guide our lives in godliness and faith. Sometimes, we need to ask these questions to help us get a clearer picture of what God desires for us. The ultimate question is, how will you respond?