Galatians - Pt 3

Chapter 3

Now that we understand the context I’d like you to read along in your Bibles while I read chapter 3 and loosely paraphrase to make the point.

We’ll start in verses 1-14.

[Paraphrase]

Galatians 3:1–14 NASB95

1 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 [when you were circumsed for conversion], or [did you receive the Spirit when you heard and believed in Yeshua?] 3 Are you so foolish? [Obviously it was when you believed in Yeshua]. Having begun by the Spirit [believing in Yeshua], are you now being perfected by [circumcision leading to conversion in 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 [which is a useless man made conversion ritual], or [Does God do these Spirit filled miracles] by [your] hearing with faith? 6 [You’ve seen the Spirit work without your conversion so obvisouly it was by faith!] Even so [the Scriptures back me up] Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness [not because he was a jew or lived in the context of the law.] 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law [who depend on their connection and interpretation of the law as a means for right standing] are [actually the ones] under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law [or justified by being counted as included amongst the people of the law] before God is evident; for [the Scriptures speak to that same people], “The righteous man shall live by faith.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith [and what I mean is that it does not produce faithful obedience in you]; on the contrary [it demands you to produce faithful obedience when it says], “He who practices them shall live by them.” 13 [And since the law curses the disobedient] Christ 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 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham [the one who was righteous without living under the law] might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Let’s continue in 15-28.

Galatians 3:15–28 NASB95

15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many [meaning God didn’t give this promise to a people group], but rather to one [person], “And to your seed,” that is, Christ [this promise was given to him]. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later [than the promise], does not invalidate [or cancel that] covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance [now extends from] law [-related efforts], it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. 19 Why [was] the Law [given] then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.