Don't Get Hoodooed

The Galatians were a mostly Gentile church. They were not steeped in Judaism. They probably didn’t know a lot about Jewish Traditions and Old Testament Law. When the Jewish false teachers arrived on the scenes, they would have been vulnerable to slick talking, knowledgeable teachers.

Paul used the occasion of these false teachings and the teacher’s attacks on him to really drill down on the Gospel: What is is, What it is not, and its implications in the life of a believer.

Paul believed that the Galatians, who didn’t have a great theological background, were capable of understanding doctrine and doctrinal words. I heard recently about a pastor who told some folks he didn’t go deep because they couldn’t handle it. Paul did not underestimate the Galatian Christians.

In chapter 3. 1-9 Paul will more really begin to expound on some wonderful doctrinal truths.

Galatians 3:1–9 HCSB

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has hypnotized you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified? 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? 6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, 7 then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. 9 So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.

Paul reminded them of the priority of faith using two examples.

Their Experience With Faith

Galatians 3:1–5 HCSB

foolish- mindless, unintelligent.

Hypnotized, bewitched. cast a spell with harmful effect… only once in the Bible. Hoodooed you.

The Crucifixion and its effect had been spelled out plainly and starkly to the Galatian Christians.

When Paul came preaching it was about Jesus: His death, burial, and resurrection, not the keeping of the law.

As he reminds them of their faith, he brings up four questions that are reminders of their faith.

They received the Spirit by faith. 4.2

This is the first time that the Holy Spirit has been mentioned in Galatians. 4.6 calls Him the Spirit of His (God’s) son who was sent into our hearts.

When God justified us, we received the Holy Spirit also.

This all occurred by hearing with Faith… Faith comes by hearing. Romans 10.17

They were being sanctified by faith. 4.3 Began by faith. completed or finished by faith. “He who began a good work, will be faithful to complete it” When we got saved, it was by faith, but if we aren’t careful we will think that we grow in the Lord by our own effort. But our growth comes as we yield to the Spirit of God by faith.

They suffered for their faith. 3.4 Paul predicted this in Acts 14.21-22 and sometime later it must have come to pass. If they were going to move from faith in Jesus to the keeping of the Law, then all they suffered was for no reason.

The miracles they saw resulted from faith. 3.5 God met the need miraculously through the Spirit, not by the Law. Miracles is the same word we get power from. God send His Spirit as a provision for us. And He does this in response to faith, not works of the law.

Abraham’s Example of Faith

Galatians 3:6–9 HCSB

6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, 7 then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. 9 So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.

The Jewish false teachers appealed to the Law, Paul backed up to Abraham.

Genesis 15:6 HCSB

6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:3 HCSB

3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.

James 2:23 HCSB

23 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.

(Here James shows that obedience was the fruit of his belief. Faith without works is dead.)

The Scripture “Saw” in advance- The promise, recorded in the Scripture

Ever person who comes to God by faith is justified (declared righteous, and becomes a son of Abraham)

Paul calls this “Gospel” or good news… justified by faith, just like Abraham was.

To this day Jews will celebrate a bar mitzvah, or bat mitzvah, declaring them to be a son or daughter of the Law. Paul says we are spiritual descendants of Abraham (Jews and Gentiles alike, when we come to God by faith)

Genesis 12:3 HCSB

3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Blessed by faith just like Abraham was. What a wonderful promise.

We might have grown up in a wonderful, religious home. That gave us background, but The Faith must become OUR faith.

We may have grown up in a non religious home, or even without a faith, but when we come to Jesus by faith, we are justified, the Spirit moves in us, and we are kept and sanctified, all as we yield to God by faith.

Have you been saved? Justified?

Are you walking yielded to the Spirit of God in your life?

Are you allowing God to shape you and mold you?

Prayer for people_ IF this will bring them closer, let them have it.

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