Devotion
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The Promises of God: Part CCXCIII
Author
Timothy Laughlin
Published
Sep 01, 2025
Tags
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Galatians 3:1-4
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Galatians 3:1-4
The apostle Paul spent considerable time explaining the "works of the law" to the Galatian church to enlighten them and make them aware of the truth of God's word that protects them from legalism.
We as believers are not saved by the law; it is a tutor to lead us to Christ, and it convicts our conscience of sin and iniquity that we have committed in ignorance. The Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus what he had to do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus told him to keep the commandments, and the lad said he had done so from his youth! No one but Jesus has ever kept the commandments!
Man has an inherent tendency to add legalism to the gospel, fueled by the powers of darkness, who would like you to think that you can save yourself by good works. The apostle Paul was adamant about the Galatian church resisting the law being added to the Way of salvation.
Therefore, He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore, know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed by believing Abraham. Galatians 3:5-9
Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
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