Galatians 3

SUMMARY.--The Spirit Imparted to Galatian Christians Through the Gospel. This, too, Before They Knew of the Works of the Law. Abraham Justified by Faith, While Yet Uncircumcised. Those of All Nations, Who Believe, Blessed With Abraham. All Condemned by the Law Since All Are Sinners. Christ, Whom It Slew, Redeemed Us from Its Curse. The Covenant With Abraham Which Included the Gentiles Made Before the Law. The Law Cannot Disannul It. It Included Christ. All Believers Having Put on Christ, the Seed of Abraham, Become Abraham's Children.

      1-5. Who hath bewitched you? That they, Gentiles, instructed in the gospel, should virtually deny Christ's death by seeking justification by the law was inexplicable. Were they bewitched? Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth. Paul, while among them, had so faithfully and vividly preached Christ crucified, that it might be said that he was pictured before their eyes. Yet, if they were justified by the law, Christ was crucified in vain. 2. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law? Let them answer this. He had preached Christ to them, they had heard, believed and obeyed; not a word was said of the works of the law; yet God had acknowledged the work by imparting his Spirit. 3. Are ye so foolish? They had begun with a spiritual religion, and received the Spirit. Did they expect to be made perfect by the fleshly ordinances of the law? 4. Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If they turned from the cross to the law for salvation, all that they had suffered for Christ was in vain. If it be indeed in vain. I take this to mean, "If it be possible that you do turn to the law and make your sufferings vain." 5. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit. Did God bestow spiritual gifts and miraculous powers among you as the result of works of the law, or of the hearing of faith? Were these bestowed through the law, or the gospel?

      6-9. Even as Abraham believed God, etc. The Galatians would have to reply to the questions of verse 5 , "By the hearing of faith?" "Yes," says Paul, "Even as Abraham, who was accepted as righteous by faith without the law." See Gen. 15:6 . This passage is quoted in Romans 4:3 Romans 4:9 Romans 4:21 Romans 4:22 9 . 7. Know ye therefore. Paul now states his great argument. Abraham's faith made him righteous; he is the spiritual father of believers. Those who believe upon Christ, the promised seed of Abraham, are the spiritual children of Abraham and the heirs of the promise. 8. The Scripture, foreseeing. Looking forward to the salvation of the heathen who believe on Christ. Preached before the gospel unto Abraham. Announced it in anticipation, in a great Messianic promise. In thee shall, etc. See Gen. 12:3 . Observe (1) that this promise is made to Abraham long before he was circumcised. (2) It is a promise of a blessing for the Gentile nations through him. (3) It is a promise of Christ, and hence the gospel in promise before the law existed. 9. So then. Then this promise embraces Gentile believers. They are blessed as believing Abraham was blessed. See verse 6 .

      10-12. For as many as are of the works of the law. Having just shown that believers through Christ are justified, he next shows that all under the law are in condemnation. It is written. See Deut. 27:26 . Compare Romans 3:19 Romans 3:20 . Not only those under the law fail of justification, but the curse rests upon them, for all fail to obey all the things in the law. See Rom. 3:23 . 11. The just shall live by faith. To seek righteousness by the law is also contrary to the prophets, for Habakkuk 2:4 says that the just shall live by faith, not by the works of the law. 12. The law is not of faith. Is not a system of faith, but proclaims life by doing the law, rather than by faith. The quotation is from Lev. 18:5 . But since none can keep it perfectly, all are under the curse ( verse 10 ).