Are You So Foolish?
23012
Galatians 3:1-5 The Context: Paul is writing to the church at Galatia because they have been drawn back into trying to earn God’s favor by keeping various religious (Old Testament) rules. Paul challenges them to remember the reason and the affect of Christ’s sacrifice for us. The whole Old Testament is a demonstration of the impossibility of deserving God’s favor. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ paid the penalty of our sin and provided for us the forgiven relationship God gives to all who simply receive the free gift of God’s grace. To try to earn a free gift is to misunderstand and even miss the gift.
God Asks Us: 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 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?
JNE: Are there some ways that I have fallen into the trap of thinking I must or can earn God’s blessings by some religious behaviors? Have I forgotten that Jesus died to accomplish something that I could never have done? Have I forgotten the amazing gift that is mine simply to believe God and His Word? Have I experienced the freedom of obeying God out of thanksgiving to Him rather than the futile guilt of trying to earn His favor?
Galatians 3:1-5 The Context: Paul is writing to the church at Galatia because they have been drawn back into trying to earn God’s favor by keeping various religious (Old Testament) rules. Paul challenges them to remember the reason and the affect of Christ’s sacrifice for us. The whole Old Testament is a demonstration of the impossibility of deserving God’s favor. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ paid the penalty of our sin and provided for us the forgiven relationship God gives to all who simply receive the free gift of God’s grace. To try to earn a free gift is to misunderstand and even miss the gift.
God Asks Us: 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 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?
JNE: Are there some ways that I have fallen into the trap of thinking I must or can earn God’s blessings by some religious behaviors? Have I forgotten that Jesus died to accomplish something that I could never have done? Have I forgotten the amazing gift that is mine simply to believe God and His Word? Have I experienced the freedom of obeying God out of thanksgiving to Him rather than the futile guilt of trying to earn His favor?