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Summary

Galatians 3:1–5 – Beginning by the Spirit, Not the Flesh

What happens: Paul asks who bewitched them, since Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. They received the Spirit by hearing with faith, not by works. He asks if they will now finish by the flesh what began by the Spirit.

What it means: God saves and empowers by the Spirit through faith. Human effort cannot complete what grace starts. God is faithful; believers must keep trusting Him.


Galatians 3:6–9 – Abraham and the Blessing by Faith

What happens: Paul cites Abraham who believes God, and it is counted to him as righteousness. Those of faith are sons of Abraham. Scripture foretells that God justifies the Gentiles by faith, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

What it means: God’s promise plan has always been by faith, not ethnicity or works. The covenant blessing comes through trusting God’s word. God’s heart includes the nations.


Galatians 3:10–14 – Christ Redeems from the Curse

What happens: All who rely on law-keeping are under a curse because no one keeps it perfectly. Christ becomes a curse for us on the cross to redeem us. Through Him the blessing of Abraham comes to the Gentiles, so we receive the promised Spirit by faith.

What it means: At the cross God’s justice and mercy meet. Christ bears the curse our sins deserve and gives the Spirit. Redemption is God’s work, not ours.


Galatians 3:15–22 – Promise Precedes Law

What happens: A human covenant once ratified is not annulled; so God’s promise to Abraham stands. The law, given later, does not cancel the promise. The law is added because of transgressions until the offspring, Christ, comes. Scripture imprisons all under sin so the promise is given by faith in Jesus.

What it means: God’s promise is firm and fulfilled in Christ. The law exposes sin and drives us to grace. God is faithful to His covenant word.


Galatians 3:23–29 – From Guardian to Sonship

What happens: Before faith came, the law was our guardian. Now that faith has come, we are sons of God through faith in Christ. Baptized into Christ, we put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female; all are one in Christ and heirs of the promise.

What it means: God forms a new family in Christ where identity is defined by union with Him. Equality in worth and access to God marks the covenant people. Adoption highlights God’s love and the unity of His church.


Application

  • Keep relying on the Spirit, not on performance.
  • Trust God’s promise in Christ for standing with God.
  • Rest in Christ who bore the curse and gave the Spirit.
  • Live as one family in Christ, honoring every believer as an heir.

Bible

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.

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