The Epistles · Chapter 3 of 6

Galatians 3

Paul rebukes the Galatians for drifting from faith to law. He points them back to how they first received the Spirit, not by keeping rules but by believing the gospel. Abraham was counted righteous by faith, and in him all nations would be blessed. The law brings a curse; Christ took that curse to bring the promise to everyone who trusts him.

What happens in Galatians 3

Paul opens with sharp astonishment that the Galatians, who saw Christ crucified preached plainly among them, would abandon faith for law. He asks a piercing question: did they receive the Spirit by works or by hearing with faith? He appeals to Abraham, counted righteous simply because he believed, and shows that true children of Abraham are people of faith from every nation. The law, he argues, pronounces a curse on all who fail to keep it perfectly, and no one can.

Then comes the heart of the chapter: Christ redeemed us by becoming a curse for us, hanging on a tree, so that Abraham's blessing and the promised Spirit might reach the Gentiles. Paul reasons that the promise given to Abraham and his seed, meaning Christ, came centuries before the law and cannot be annulled. The law served as a temporary guardian until Christ came, and now all who believe are God's children, clothed with Christ, one in him.

Galatians 3 in context

Galatians is among Paul's earliest and most urgent letters, written to churches in the region of Galatia that had welcomed teachers insisting Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the Mosaic law. Paul writes to defend the gospel of grace.

Chapter three forms the doctrinal core, marshaling Scripture, experience, and the story of Abraham to prove that righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone, not through the works of the law.

Main themes of Galatians 3

Galatians 3 (KJV)

1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Verses to carry from Galatians 3

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:”Galatians 3:13

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”Galatians 3:24

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”Galatians 3:28

Reflection

Consider where you are quietly trusting your own performance to make you acceptable to God. Galatians three invites you to lay that weight down and rest in what Christ already accomplished by becoming a curse in your place. Faith, not effort, makes you a child of Abraham and an heir of every promise.

A prayer from Galatians 3