Galatians 3 and the HRM

Galatians 3:1-9

Galatians 3:1–9 ESV

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Old Problem, New Name

Hebrew Roots Movement

Casual interest in Hebrew background ------------> blatant rejection of the faith

Casual Interest

Jesus was Jewish, as were his disciples

There are significant points of interest in objects, words, details of OT stories

broadened understanding equates with deepened faith experience

Serious Commitment

awareness of paganized historical traditions in Christianity

dates of Christmas, trees, easter eggs, etc.

awareness of Biblical calendar/ feasts and their significance

Awareness of Jewish dietary law

becoming “Torah Observant”, writing G-d, Yeshua, Jehovah, use of Hebrew terms

Critical Spirit

critique of Pauline writings (2 Cor 3:1) ?commend ourselves?

belief that Jesus affirmed and expanded OT Law instead of fulfilling it (Matt. 5:17) “I came to fulfill the Law, not abolish the Law)

Another Gospel

rejection of Christian orthodoxy and replacement of Christian orthopraxy

doubt and/or rejection of Jesus as member of the Trinity

insistence that “God is one” means no trinity

full return to a “simplified’ version of Torah observance (without temple sacrifice)

Response

OT is to be understood in light of the NT, not the other way around

progressive revelation, not regressive

Acts 15- Jerusalem council

liberty from the Law

observe so as not to offend

Gal. 1:8-9; 2:15-16; 5:1-3

Rom 3:19-31; 14:1-5

Col 2:16-17

I Cor 8

2 Cor 10:4-5