Category Archives: Galatians

It is one thing to say that we believe something. It is quite another to be willing to suffer for it. In fact, we can gauge the depth of our convictions by how much persecution we are willing to endure for holding our beliefs. The Apostle Paul was so convinced that salvation can only be attained through following Jesus Christ that he was willing to spend his life spreading Christ’s message to others in spite of all opposition. Unfortunately, some false teachers tried to convince the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia that they needed to observe the Mosaic Law in addition to believing on Christ. To refute this teaching, Paul wrote them a letter through the power of the Holy Spirit. He demonstrated that we can never attain righteousness by trying to keep rules and regulations. Rather, we are justified in the sight of God through belief in Christ. It is not our own efforts which make us acceptable to God, but accepting what God has done for us. Paul closes the letter in chapter 6, verses 11 through 18, with these words:

“See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand. As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even they who receive circumcision don’t keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s Israel. From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.”

Paul normally used a scribe or secretary to write down his letters. However, Paul always wrote a portion of his letters with his own hand. In this passage he draws attention to his poor handwriting. Why? He mentions that one reason the false teachers were promoting circumcision was to avoid persecution. In contrast to these people, we know that Paul was persecuted many times for proclaiming the message of Christ. Was Paul’s handwriting poor because his hands were injured or crippled from the things he suffered? In chapter 4, verse 15 Paul reminded the Galatians that at one point they would have given him their eyes. Did Paul suffer poor eyesight as a result of persecution?

If this is so, there could not be a greater contrast between Paul and the false teachers. They taught their message in order to avoid persecution. Paul taught his message in spite of persecution. This should have helped the people to whom he was writing to judge worth of the two messages.

Paul also pointed out that though these teachers wanted to force the Law on the people they, themselves, did not keep it. In other words, these teachers were hypocrites. They wanted to bind on others something they were unwilling to fully keep. They were not interested in the welfare of the people. They commanded circumcision so that they could brag that they had won converts.

Paul was unwilling to boast about external things. The one thing he would boast about is the cross of Christ. Boasting about the cross of Christ is totally contrary to the thinking of the world. In another place Paul writes, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-25 NIV)

The situation is still the same today. There are many who say that God would never allow His Prophet to suffer such a shameful death. There are many others who do not understand God’s character or the nature of sin and therefore think that the cross is not only unnecessary, but foolish. The fact remains that the cross of Christ is the means which God chose to redeem and save mankind. Who are we to think that we know better than God?

Paul goes on to say that it is through the cross that the world has been crucified to him and he to the world. The false teachers had been claiming that righteousness could only be obtained through following the rules and regulations of the Law. But rules can never change a person’s desires or inner character. It is only through the sacrifice of Christ that our natures can be changed. It is only by means of the cross that our desires can be changed so that we no longer want to sin but want to do God’s will. It is not external appearances which determine whether we are righteous, but whether we have allowed Jesus Christ to make us a new creation. As Paul writes in another place, it when we are baptized into Christ’s death that our old self is put to death and we are raised from the waters of baptism as a new, pure, sinless and righteous creature.

This raises an important question that each of us needs to answer. Are we relying on external forms and rituals to make us righteous, or have we embraced the cross of Christ? Have we been crucified to the world, and the world to us? Are we still clinging to our old nature, or have we become a new creation in Christ?

Paul writes that it is those who have been made new in Christ who will experience peace and mercy from God. He also calls them the Israel of God. The Jewish people, the nation of Israel, were chosen by God as His special people. Because of their unfaithfulness they often failed to fulfill God’s purpose for them. It is the followers of Christ who have become the true Israel and will enjoy the promises which God has made.

The situation among the churches in Galatia had given Paul much pain and anxiety. He plead that no one would cause him trouble because he bore the marks of Jesus on his body. The word he uses refers to the tattoo or brand that people used to mark slaves as their property. The scars that Paul received because of persecution marked him as the slave of Christ. Paul spoke and worked on behalf of Christ. To reject him was, in fact, to reject Christ who had sent him.

Paul closes his letter asking that Christ’s grace would be with the people to whom he was writing. It is only through this grace that we can be reconciled to God. Are you in His grace?

The way to become righteous is not to try to keep a set of religious rules and regulations, but to have a changed character which, by nature, does not want to sin. When a person becomes a follower of Christ, his old self is crucified by being baptized into Christ’s death and he is resurrected as a new person. From that time forward, God’s Spirit lives in this new person and directs his life. A person who is directed by the Spirit has both a godly character as well as a godly lifestyle.

Does this mean that a follower of Christ never sins? No. While those who have the Spirit in them will turn away from a habitual lifestyle of sin, it is still possible for them to become entangled in occasional wrongdoing. God’s Spirit never forces a person to do what is right. We must choose to allow the Spirit to guide and direct us. We must allow the Spirit to renew us and mold our character to be like that of Christ. Scripture is clear that we can resist the Spirit. When we do so, and follow our fleshly desires, we will sin. In addition, learning God’s will and learning what is right is an ongoing process. Until we learn, we will keep sinning – even though it is not our intention.

This raises a question. What should our response be to those who do sin? How should we treat them? The Apostle Paul provides us the answer while writing to the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia. In the first 10 verses of chapter 6 of his inspired letter he says, “Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor. For each man will bear his own burden. But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches. Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.”

We have a natural tendency to lash out in condemnation when we catch someone in a sin. But Paul writes that we should treat such people gently. It should be our purpose to restore those who have sinned, not to punish or destroy them.

Perhaps one reason why we are quick to condemn those who are involved in a sin which we have not committed is that it gives us a feeling of superiority. Since we are not involved in their sin, we must be better than they. However, this kind of pride can lead to our own downfall. We are not immune to temptation. We might not be prone to the same weaknesses and sin as the other person, but we have our own areas of vulnerability. Instead of looking down on someone else who has a problem with sin, we should do what we can to help that person overcome it. They in turn can help us in our areas of weakness. When we all help to bear each other’s burdens in this way, we all will be stronger. It is this mutual caring and helping one another which should be one of the distinguishing characteristics of the followers of Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)

Paul writes that each person should have an accurate evaluation of himself. When we begin to compare our strong points against the failings of others it can easily lead to false pride. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are better than we are. On the other hand, we should not underestimate or denigrate ourselves by comparing our weaknesses to the strengths of others.

Though Paul said that we should bear each other’s burdens, he also writes that we should carry our own load. His meaning is that we should not make excuses for our shortcomings by comparing ourselves to others. We cannot excuse our failings by pointing out the failings of someone else. Our standard is not other people, but Christ.

One manifestation of spiritual pride is to think that we have achieved our level of spiritual growth on our own. The truth is that we have had the help and influence of many to arrive where we are. Perhaps it is for this reason that Paul writes that we must share all good things with those who have instructed us. Those who have taught us God’s word have often sacrificed much to meet our spiritual needs. It is our responsibility to help meet their needs as well.

In the rest of this section, Paul reminds his readers of an eternal principle. We will reap what we have sown. If a farmer plants wheat seed, he will grow a crop of wheat. If he plants potatoes he will harvest potatoes. Similarly, we will reap the consequences of the kind of life we have chosen to live. Our eternal destiny will be in harmony with that choice. Have we chosen to satisfy our flesh and the desires of our sinful nature? Then, we will reap destruction. Have we chosen to turn away from sin and to accept the leading of God’s Spirit? Then we will enjoy eternal life. What choice have we made?

Sometimes it is difficult to see the results of our choices. We try to live for Christ; we sincerely try to follow the leading of God’s Spirit. We choose to do what is good. Yet, we still struggle with sin. We encounter hardship and persecution. We may be tempted to give up. But Paul reminds us that there is a proper time to reap a harvest. A farmer does not plant his seed and gather the harvest the next day. It takes time for the crop to grow and mature. The harvest is sure if we do not grow weary and quit.

Because the harvest of eternal life is sure for those who continue to live by God’s Spirit, Paul encourages us to take advantage of every opportunity to do good. Our primary responsibility is to fellow believers in Christ, but we must do good to all whether they are fellow believers or not.

Throughout history mankind has attempted to control behavior by rules and regulations. However, the problem with this approach is that it cannot change human nature. A person may conform to the law because of fear of the consequences of breaking the law, but law can never curb desire. This is one of the fundamental problems with any religion which is based on law. The Holy Scriptures recognize this problem. It says, “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.” (Colossians 2:23 NIV) For example, a person might refrain from theft because his religion forbids it, but a rule against theft will not prevent greed.

Since rules can only control outward behavior, not inward desires, people will often find ingenious ways to keep the letter of the law while indulging their sinful desires. These people may appear righteous because they practice religious rituals, but their religion is a surface thing. They are not pleasing to God in spite of their religious practices. Scripture says, “…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

While outward righteousness may not reflect a heart that is right with God, evil behavior is an indicator of inward evil. Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:19 NIV)

Since evil behavior is a reflection of inner evil we can use attitude and behavior as a test of whether we are pleasing to God or not. It is not religious ceremonies, but the kind of person we are which determines whether we are acceptable to God. The followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia were very attracted to the idea that the way to please God was to govern their lives by religious rules and regulations. In his inspired letter to these people, the Apostle Paul demonstrated that the attempt to attain righteousness through law was, in reality, to turn away from Christ and to subject oneself to slavery. Not only that, since law can never produce righteousness, the people would still be prey to their old sinful nature. In chapter 5, verses 19 through 21, Paul warned them about the consequences. An unchanged heart; an unredeemed character; the nature of one who has turned away from Christ, will inevitably manifest itself in wicked behavior. He writes, “Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

The point is very clear: Those who indulge in sin and live wicked lives will not be able to enter God’s presence in spite of keeping religious rituals and performing religious duties. God is looking for true righteousness. Conforming to a set of rules does not excuse or give a license to sin.

What does Paul mean by the words ‘kingdom of God’? At the very least it means the place where God rules. The reason that people who live according to their fleshly desires will not be included in God’s kingdom is that they are not submitted to God. Instead, they have put self on the throne. God will not share His throne. Either we submit to His rule, or we will be excluded from His kingdom.

If righteousness cannot be obtained by following rules and our fleshly desires lead to sinful behavior, then how can we lead righteous lives and please God? The answer is to change our nature. This change of nature can only take place through placing our faith in Jesus Christ and following Him. When we give our live to Christ, God sends His Holy Spirit to live in us. Our behavior is no longer controlled by external rules, but from within. We avoid sin because we no longer want to do what is contrary to God’s will.

Just as living according to our fleshly desires results in all kinds of sin and wickedness, living according to God’s Spirit results in godly behavior. When we are in Christ and have submitted to the Spirit, not only our outward behavior, but our very character will be righteous. In verses 22 through 26, Paul writes, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.”

When we have the Spirit, no law is needed because there is no law against godly attitudes and righteous behavior. We are free to do anything we like because we only want to do what is right. Paul writes that we “have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.” In other words, we have put to death the things which compelled us to sin. How can this be? In another place Paul writes, “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. …our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin… count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:3-10 NIV)

As these verses point out, when we are baptized into Christ, one of the things which happens is that our old self dies. In place of it a new person is resurrected. This new self has the character of Christ and is filled with God’s Spirit. Sin no longer controls or has power over this new person.

The question we need to ask ourselves is whether our old self has died. Have we been buried with Christ in baptism so that we have new life? As Paul said if we have the Spirit we will show it in the way we live. We will no longer put self first and provoke each other in pride.

One of the problems every society faces is how to regulate behavior. It is obvious that unless people agree on rules of conduct, society would soon degenerate into chaos. Many of the rules have nothing to do with morality or ethics – they exist merely to create order. For example, traffic laws have nothing to do with moral right and wrong, but the reason we have traffic regulations is to balance an efficient flow of vehicles and pedestrians with safety. Similarly, land use regulations are intended to help cities grow in an orderly way. Building standards are intended to help people build structures which are safe and do not endanger others.

Another kind of regulation has to do with agreed standards which help everyone in doing business. For example, buying and selling would be much more difficult if we did not have an agreed set of weights and measures.

However, it is much more difficult for a society to regulate moral and ethical behavior. Most societies attempt to do this by means of elaborate rules which define what is right and what is wrong. For example, most societies have laws against theft and murder. The most famous of these laws is the Ten Commandments which God gave to the Jewish people. These Ten Commandments were part of the Law of Moses whose 618 laws regulated Israelite society.

Even though it was given by God, the Law of Moses shared the same weakness as all other codes of conduct. It was able to govern external behavior but could not change a person’s character. A person might comply with the Law out of fear of punishment for breaking it, but it had no power to control the desire to do wrong. For example, a person might refrain from adultery, yet continue to lust.

In Christ, the basis of morality is entirely different. Instead of attempting to control people by rules and regulations, the basis of ethics and morality for those who are in Christ is a new nature. The old nature which is attracted to sin and wishes to do what is wrong is replaced by a Christlike nature which has an inherent desire to do what is right. Rules are no longer needed to enforce righteousness. In Christ we are given freedom.

Some might mistake this freedom as a license to do wrong. The Apostle Paul discusses this in his inspired letter to the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia. In chapter 5, verses 13 through 18, he writes: “For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Throughout this letter, the Apostle Paul has stressed that the followers of Christ do not need to keep the Law of Moses. We cannot earn our salvation by works of merit. In fact, to try to do so is to turn away from the gift of salvation which God gives us through faith in Christ. If we cling to the Law, Christ is of no value to us. The Law keeps us in bondage. Christ gives us freedom.

But if we have freedom, what is there to restrain us from doing wrong? In short, it is the new nature which Christ gives us. Later in this letter Paul will point out that doing wrong is incompatible with the new nature we have in Christ. Here he points out that we are given freedom, not so that we may indulge in sin, but so that we can serve one another in love. Where there is love, there is no need for law. Why? Because love always has the best interests of the other person in mind. If everyone is genuinely working in the best interests of others, then there is no need to restrain anyone’s actions by rules and regulations. In fact, as Paul points out, the rules in the Law of Moses are an extension of the fundamental principle that we should love one another.

In contrast to love is selfishness. While love looks out for the best interests of others, selfishness tries to get ahead at the expense of others. Paul warned the people to whom he was writing that if they kept on putting self first, instead of serving each other, they would destroy each other.

Paul writes that if we live by the Spirit, that is if we allow God’s Spirit to direct our actions, then we will be able to avoid sin. In contrast, if we let our fleshly desires have free reign they will lead us into sin. The flesh desires gratification, the Spirit prompts us to love others. Therefore our flesh and God’s Spirit, who lives in those who follow Christ, are always in conflict. Our flesh pulls us toward sin while the Spirit pulls us toward righteousness.

The way to avoid sin is not to try harder to resist the desires of our flesh, but to allow ourselves to be led by God’s Spirit. In another place Paul writes, “…one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14 NIV) When we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit; when we fix our eyes on becoming like Christ, then doing what is right will become the natural thing for us to do. We will no longer desire to do what is wrong.

Allowing ourselves to be led by the Spirit also resolves another conflict. Our fleshly desires always conflict with the boundaries put in place by the Law. However, when we are led by the Spirit the Law no longer applies to us because the Spirit always leads us to do what is right and good. There is no law against love. Instead, love fulfills the requirements of the Law.

Certain choices are mutually exclusive. If we do this, we cannot do that. We cannot do both this and that. We have to make a choice between the two. It is the same way in spiritual things. Faith in Christ is incompatible with trying to earn our salvation by doing good works. Either we have been set free by faith in Christ, or we are still in bondage to sin.

There were teachers who told the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia that in order to obtain salvation they needed to follow the Law of Moses. The Apostle Paul strongly opposed this teaching. In chapter 5, verses 1 through 12 of his inspired letter to the followers of Christ in Galatia he wrote, “Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace. For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love. You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little yeast grows through the whole lump. I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.”

Paul reminds those to whom he is writing that it is Christ’s intent to give freedom. Therefore, any teaching or system which reduces freedom is contrary to Christ. To obligate oneself to keep the Law places us under it and destroys the freedom which Christ gives. Lest someone think that he could have the benefit without the obligation, Paul points out that submitting to one part of the Law, that is circumcision, obligates one to keep the entire Law. And, since the Law is based on an entirely different principle than faith, to obligate oneself to keep the Law separates us from Christ. We will no longer experience the grace God gives because of faith in Christ.

But what retrains us from sinning if we do not live our lives according to the Law? Doesn’t freedom encourage unrighteousness? Freedom in Christ is not a license to sin. On the contrary, Paul says that it is the Spirit through whom we have the hope of becoming righteous. What Paul is saying is that in Christ, we are not controlled by external rules, but by a changed nature. We are free to do what we want, because by God’s Spirit who is in us we no longer desire to do what is wrong. In another place Paul writes, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) Sin is not compatible with the new person we have become in Christ. As Paul points out elsewhere, “…We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:2 NIV)

Once our nature has been changed through faith in Christ and having God’s Spirit live in us, the external rules and standards lose their significance. For example, it no longer matters whether one has been circumcised according to the Law of Moses or not. It is the new nature which controls our actions. Our faith is demonstrated not by keeping rules, but by love. As Paul writes in another place, “…he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandments there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:8-10 NIV) All of us need to ask ourselves how much love we show towards others. If we have no love, is it possible that Christ has not changed our nature?

The followers of Christ to whom Paul was writing had started out with a proper understanding of the new nature in Christ. It was only when false teachers came to them that they began to be confused. Paul compares what happened to a foot race. The false teachers were preventing these people from obeying the truth. It was like someone tripped a runner in a race. The fact that this message caused people to stumble in their course was proof that the message was not from God who had called them to salvation.

Paul then, issued a warning. He pointed out that it only takes a small amount of yeast to leaven a whole batch of dough. The meaning of this metaphor is plain. Just a little false teaching can spread and ruin our whole spiritual life.

The other part of the warning is for those who give false teaching. Whoever causes a follower of Christ to stumble; whoever causes confusion rather than helping people to see the truth, that person will be held accountable for doing so. James writes, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1 NIV) All of us need to be careful that we neither listen to falsehood, nor teach falsehood to others. If we do we will only bring judgment on ourselves.

Paul closes this section with a reminder that he was still being persecuted. The reason he was being persecuted is he taught that, in Christ, the Law of Moses had been fulfilled. It no longer had a place in bringing people to God. Instead, God has reconciled mankind to Himself through the death of Christ on the cross.

The followers of Christ live righteous lives, not because they follow a set of rules and regulations but, because they have a new nature. They are free from the law. God’s Spirit lives in them and produces right behavior.

We do things in the expectation that we will obtain particular results. Unfortunately, things which we did not expect often result from our actions. These unexpected consequences occur because we often do not take sufficient time to think about our actions, or we are ignorant of the significance of what we do.

The followers of Christ who lived in the Roman province of Galatia were starting to try to earn their salvation by keeping the Law of Moses. By turning away from the principle of justification by faith in Christ to the principle of salvation by works, these people were going to reap a very different consequence than they expected. The Apostle Paul wrote them that they were turning from freedom to slavery.

To explain his point, Paul gave them the illustration of Hagar and Sarah. In chapter 4, verse 21 through 31, of his inspired letter he writes, “Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise. These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who don’t bear. Break forth and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.” Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. However what does the Scripture say? “Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.”

In this illustration, Paul contrasts what man does to that which God does. Abraham had two sons. The first one was born in the way that children are naturally born. This was Ishmael whom Abraham had by his slave, Hagar. Abraham’s second son, however, was not born in the ordinary way. Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was barren. There was no way in which she could have a child in the normal course of events. Similarly, Abraham, himself, was too old to father a child. How, then, did Sarah bear a son to Abraham? Isaac was born because God promised that it would be so, and Abraham believed the promise. In another place, Scripture says, “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (Hebrews 11:11 NIV)

Isaac’s birth was so unusual that Paul writes he was “born by the power of the Spirit” (verse 29 NIV). In this sense, Isaac became a forerunner of Jesus Christ. Scripture records that Jesus’, “…mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:18 NIV) The difference between Isaac and Jesus is that no man had any part in Jesus’ conception, while Abraham fathered Isaac.

Not only were the births of Ishmael and Isaac very different, so too was the status of their mothers. Paul points out that Hagar was a slave and her children were intended to be slaves also. In contrast, Sarah was free and the full wife of Abraham. Any children she bore were legitimate heirs of Abraham. Because of this, Hagar’s son, Ishmael, never enjoyed the status of an heir. On the other hand, Sarah’s son, Isaac, was acknowledged as Abraham’s legitimate and full heir from the time of his birth. Ishmael’s birth was a source of strife and contention in Abraham’s household. Isaac’s birth was a cause for rejoicing and blessing.

Under the circumstances, it was natural that Ishmael would resent Isaac and the status Isaac enjoyed. Scripture says that Ishmael mocked (Genesis 21:9) and persecuted (Galatians 4:29) Isaac. As a result of this, Ishmael and his mother Hagar were expelled from Abraham’s household. Ishmael not only lost the privilege of living with his father, he never received an inheritance. He did not share in the blessings which God promised Abraham.

Paul writes that Hagar and Ishmael are representative of all those who try to obtain salvation by their own efforts. They are a picture of the Old Covenant or the Law of Moses. Just as Hagar was a slave, those who follow the principles of the Old Covenant are in bondage to those principles. There is nothing in them to set men free from sin. Just as Ishmael was born as a result of man’s will and did not receive an inheritance from Abraham, those who rely on their own efforts to please God will not receive the inheritance which God promises to those in His household. Just as Hagar and Ishmael were thrown out of Abraham’s household, those who rely on their own good works will be rejected by God.

In contrast, Sarah and Isaac represent the New Covenant which God has made through Jesus Christ. Just as Sarah was free, those who accept the work of God through Christ to justify them, are freed from sin. Just as Isaac was born into Abraham’s household as a result of Abraham’s faith in the promise of God, those who believe in Christ are born into God’s household. Just as Isaac received an inheritance as Abraham’s son, those who are in God’s household because of their faith in Christ, will receive an eternal inheritance. Just as Abraham recognized Isaac as his legitimate son, God accepts in His household those who belong to Christ.

Each one of us needs to evaluate ourselves in light of this. Are we relying on our own good deeds to earn us a place in paradise, or are we relying on the work of God, through Jesus Christ? Are we in slavery to rituals, customs and regulations, or are we free because we have been born of God’s Spirit? Are we part of God’s household, eagerly awaiting the inheritance He has promised us, or will we be rejected?

Why do people turn away from the truth? There could be several reasons. Some are deceived. In other words, they have mistakenly believed falsehood as the truth. Others are misinformed. They do not understand the truth which has been told to them. There may be another reason as well: For example, they have begun to doubt the trustworthiness and character of the person who told them the truth and have fallen under the charismatic personality of a false teacher.

The Apostle Paul preached the gospel in the Roman province of Galatia. As a result, many people began to follow Christ, and churches came into existence. Unfortunately, other people came after Paul and taught that faith in Christ is not sufficient – it is also necessary to follow the Law of Moses in order to receive salvation. Paul was not only alarmed by this situation, he was puzzled by it. How could the people to whom he had preached the gospel abandon it? In an inspired letter to the followers of Christ in Galatia, Paul presented several logical arguments to prove that we are saved by faith in Christ, not by the Law. In addition, Paul also made a personal appeal. In chapter 4, verses 8 through 20, he writes, “However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again? You observe days, months, seasons, and years. I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you. I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong, but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them. But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you. My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you – but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.”

One of the things which perplexed Paul was that whether these people had been idolators or Jews before becoming followers of Christ, they had already experienced the slavery of trying to earn their salvation through works of merit. They did not know God. Instead, the rituals, ceremonies and regulations which they followed became a substitute for God. In Christ, however, they had come to know God. They had experienced freedom from the worldly principles which had ruled their lives. But now, they were returning to those same things again. They were starting to observe the same kind of rituals and ceremonies which had enslaved them before they followed Christ.

Paul was concerned that perhaps he had wasted his time. What was the point of preaching the gospel to these people, and telling them about Christ, if they were going to return to the same life which had enslaved them before? At the same time, Paul was quick to reassure them that they had not wronged him. His concern was not for himself, but for the harm these people were doing to themselves. Paul reminded them of the joy they had experienced when they heard the gospel. This joy was not because of Paul – for Paul’s illness was a trial and repulsive to them. No, their joy was because of the message Paul brought. But now, where had their joy gone? Could they not see that returning to their former principles and way of thinking was taking away the joy they experienced by following Christ?

Another result of trying to follow a set of rules rather than Christ, was that it caused alienation. They were starting to doubt the very person they had once welcomed as if he were Christ himself. At one time the people to whom Paul is writing would have been willing to pluck out their own eyes and given them to him. Now, they viewed him with suspicion.

In view of this, Paul draws a contrast between the false teachers and himself. Who is it that has the best interests of the people in mind? Paul is instructing them for their own good. He asks whether he has become their enemy by telling them the truth. In contrast, the false teachers do not care about the benefit of the people but seek to benefit from the people.

This is an important principle by which we can gauge the sincerity of a teacher. Who benefits? If the teacher seeks to profit from those he teaches rather than the good of those he teaches; if he encourages people to be enthusiastic about him rather than be enthusiastic about truth, then his motives are not good.

Perhaps one of the things which distressed Paul the most was that by going back to a system of law the people to whom he had preached the gospel were no longer growing in the character of Christ. It is not God’s purpose to merely save us from the consequences of our sin. God’s purpose is to change our characters. He wants us to become like Christ. In another place Paul writes that we are to, “…become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13 NIV)

Law defines sin and convicts us of it. While law may prevent us from doing wrong, only character can prevent us from wanting to do it. Earlier in this letter, in chapter 3, verse 27, Paul wrote about being clothed with Christ. It is only when we become like Christ; it is only when His character becomes our character that we gain victory over sin. We no longer sin because we no longer desire to do what is wrong. We all need to ask ourselves what restrains us from sin. Is it fear of breaking a command, or is it a Christ-like character which no longer wants to do wrong?

In his letter to the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia, the Apostle Paul proved that we attain righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ rather than through attempting to keep a law through our own efforts. If righteousness were the only result from putting our faith in Christ, it would be extremely precious. But faith does much more. In verses 26 through 29 of chapter 3 of his letter Paul explains:

“For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise.”

In this passage, Paul lists four results of believing on Christ. The first is that those who have faith in Him are children of God. Other Scriptures say that God adopts those who believe in Christ into His household. We become part of God’s family. As Paul writes in another place, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,” (Ephesians 2:19 NIV)

The second result of believing on Christ is that we are clothed with Christ. This means that when God looks at us, He does not see our sins and imperfections, but Jesus. It also means that we become like Jesus. We start to think as He does. We live our lives as He would.

How and when do we clothe ourselves with Christ? Paul says it occurs in baptism, that is when we are immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. It is baptism which brings us into Christ, and it is baptism which clothes us with Christ. Many deny that baptism has any role in the process of salvation. After all, did not Paul say in chapter 2 and verse 16 of this very letter that we are justified by faith? Those who take this position fail to understand that baptism is actually a part of faith. It is true that water does not save. It is also true that immersion is not a work of merit. But it is also true that baptism is a vital part of the salvation process. Baptism and faith are not opposed to each other, rather baptism is faith manifesting itself in action.

A third result of believing on Christ, is that in Him we are all one. Many people make distinctions between themselves and others. They regard themselves as superior and others as inferior. Christ, wipes away all the barriers that people erect to divide themselves. Regardless of our gender or our economic, social or ethnic backgrounds, we are united in Christ. All have the same worth before God.

The fourth result of believing on Christ, is that in Him we are heirs. Spiritually speaking, by faith we are descendants of Abraham. Therefore, since we are his descendants, we will also inherit the promises made to Abraham.

Because of faith in Christ, our status is also very different than before. Paul explains the difference in verses 1 through 7 of chapter 4: “But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all; but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father. So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children. And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

Paul compares the status or condition of people before the coming of Christ to that of an orphaned child. Until such a child reaches the age when he is legally considered an adult, he is under the authority of guardians and trustees. They control his life. In that sense he is no better off than a slave, even if he is extremely wealthy. He has no control over his wealth and must obey what he is told to do. In the same way, before the coming of Christ, people were under the rule of law. Right behavior was defined by rules and regulations.

But the day comes when a child reaches the age set by his father. The estate and wealth is now his. He is no longer under the authority of those who guided and directed him while he was still a child. How he acts on his own, and what he does with his wealth will now not be determined by rules made by others, but by what kind of person he is.

In the same way, a person who is in Christ enjoys a new status. He is now part of God’s household, one of God’s sons. This change in status reflects a change in character. A member of God’s household will act in godly ways because it is his nature to do so. Before coming to Christ, a person had to be controlled and directed by external forces. Rules and regulations were needed to show him the right thing to do. By putting on Christ, however, a person becomes like Christ. And, once a person becomes like Christ, he does what is right because it is the nature of Christ to do what is right. A person in Christ is inner directed rather than a slave to external rules. He no longer needs rules to direct his behavior because he has God’s Spirit living in him.

In light of this, each of us needs to evaluate our own lives. Why do we act the way we do? Are we trying to live our lives by a set of external rules, or is it our nature to do what is right? If there were no rules, would we live a godly life anyway? If not, we need to ask whether God’s Spirit is living in us. If our lives are not directed by God’s Spirit, then are we part of God’s household? Are we in Christ?

One of the characteristics of God is that He does not change. We can take great comfort in this. How tragic it would be if all our lives we did our best to do God’s will, only to find out that what pleased Him in the past is the very thing which brings His anger upon us now.

There are some who say that God overturns what He said in the past by a newer saying. But, because God does not change, His word does not change either. The Scriptures say about God: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19 NIV)

But this raises a question. The Apostle Paul wrote to the followers of Christ in the Roman province of Galatia that people are justified by faith rather than obeying the Law of Moses. To establish this, Paul pointed out that Abraham was justified by faith and God promised that all nations would be blessed through him. However, since the Law of Moses was given after the promise to Abraham isn’t the promise abrogated by the Law? Paul answers this question in chapter 3, verses 15 through 18.

“Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “To your seed,” which is Christ. Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.”

To illustrate the point that the Law of Moses did not abrogate the promise God made to Abraham, Paul reminds his readers about human covenants. In the Greek language the word which is translated ‘covenant’ also means ‘will’. This makes Paul’s point extremely clear. Once a will has come into effect, no one can annul it or make any changes to it. The will stands just as it was written. In the same way, the promise which God made to Abraham cannot be changed or annulled by the Law which was given to Moses over 4 centuries later. The principle that all peoples will be justified by faith in ‘Abraham’s seed’, that is Jesus Christ, still stands.

If people are justified by faith rather than obeying the Law, then some might argue that there was no purpose for the Law of Moses. Paul addresses this issue in verses 19 and 20.

“What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.”

Paul writes that the reason the Law was given was because of transgressions. Elsewhere Paul explains that it is “…through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20 NIV) In other words, the Law shows us how much we need to be justified by faith. The Law serves to help us recognize our problem, but offers no solution to it.

Paul also points out that the Law was intended to be temporary. It was only to be in effect until Abraham’s seed, that is Jesus, came. Does this mean that Jesus abolished the Law? No! As Jesus, Himself, said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 NIV)

Another characteristic of the Law is that it was brought into effect by angels through a mediator. In contrast, the promise made to Abraham was given directly by God. This shows that the promise is superior to the Law of Moses. Paul continues, in verses 21 through 25:

“Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.”

Since the promise made to Abraham is clearly superior to the Law given through Moses, some might conclude that the two are opposed to each other. Did God contradict Himself? Paul points out that this is not so. Instead of being contradictory, the promise and the Law are complimentary. The promise is needed because law cannot impart righteousness. The Law is needed to demonstrate the necessity of the promise. As long as we think that we are capable of obtaining righteousness through our own efforts, we will not see the need of faith. The Law, however, forces us to acknowledge that our own efforts are not enough. We are incapable of keeping it. In the Law there is no way out of our own insufficiency. It is though it has us locked up in prison.

The purpose of the Law, then, was to cause us to seek another solution. Paul writes that the Law served as a custodian to bring us to Christ. In Christ, the promise made to Abraham is fulfilled and the Law leads us to Christ. Once we have put our faith in Christ, the Law has served its purpose. There is no longer any need for it. The real question is this: Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ, or are you still trying to obtain righteousness by your own efforts? Are you relying on the promise God made to Abraham or are you still trying to earn your way to heaven?

Do we trust in our own good works to save us from our sins, or do we rely on the work of God to do so? In his letter to the churches in the Roman province of Galatia, Paul forcefully stated that the followers of Christ are not obligated to keep the Law of Moses. In fact, attempting to be justified by keeping the Law is to turn one’s back on the grace of God.

In the next section of his letter Paul presents several arguments which prove the inferiority of the Law. The first argument is the personal experience of the Galatian Christians. In chapter 3, verse 1 through 5, Paul writes, “Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified? I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?”

Paul addresses the Galatians as people who have the capacity to think and understand, and yet have allowed something to interfere with their minds. Though they have all the right information, they have arrived at the wrong conclusion. It is as if they have given someone else power over their minds.

The reason Paul writes this way is that he had clearly proclaimed Christ to them. His message was so plain that it was as if he had shown them a picture of Christ being crucified. Receiving justification through the cross of Christ is contradictory to the attempt to earn salvation by keeping a code of conduct.

Even in their state of confused thinking, the followers of Christ in Galatia could remember how they received God’s Spirit. It was not by observing the Law of Moses. They received the Spirit by believing the gospel. Having received the Spirit’s power at the beginning, could they not see how foolish it would be to try to go forward in their own strength?

These people had suffered for following Christ, were they now going to say that they had made a mistake? Did they think that God would continue to give them His Spirit and do miracles among them if they abandoned their faith in Christ to observe the Law of Moses?

In his second argument Paul refers to the experience of Abraham. In verses 6 through 9 he writes, “Even as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.”

If we desire for God to count us as righteous, it is wise to ask how those who have gone before us have obtained righteousness. In this regard Paul uses Abraham as an illustration. Paul quotes Genesis chapter 15, verse 6 which tells us why God counted Abraham righteous. It was not because Abraham was able to perfectly keep a code of conduct. No, Abraham was counted righteous because he believed God.

This was not a special arrangement just for Abraham. God promised that all nations would be blessed through him. How would all nations be blessed? Through Jesus Christ. Through His mother Mary, Jesus is a descendant of Abraham. Just as Abraham was justified by believing God so, too, are all those justified who believe in the One whom God sent to pay the penalty for sin.

In contrast to the justification which comes through belief, the Law can only condemn. In verses 10 through 14 Paul writes, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.” Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not of faith, but, “The man who does them will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Paul points out that the reason those who try to observe the Law of Moses are under a curse is because the Law requires perfect obedience. There is no provision in the Law to compensate for breaking the Law. The penalty for breaking the Law is spiritual death. Since no one aside from Christ has ever been able to keep the Law perfectly, the result is that the Law condemns us all. And once we have been condemned by the Law, the Law cannot justify us.

Justification is given by a different principle than by keeping a code of conduct. Paul tells us what this principle is by quoting the prophet Habakkuk, “The righteous will live by faith.” In other words, it is faith, not our efforts to observe the Law which will justify us before God. How does this work? All of us are under a curse because we have broken God’s commands. Jesus, who kept the Law perfectly, took our curse upon Himself and sacrificed Himself on our behalf. He paid the penalty which we incurred as a result of our sin. It is through believing on Jesus Christ and accepting the sacrifice which He made on our behalf that we are justified.

The principle of justification by faith is not restricted to the Jewish people. It is a universal principle. Christ’s sacrifice made it possible for people of all races to have a right relationship with God. It is not only the physical descendants of Abraham who are blessed (that is who are redeemed from the curse), but all those who put their faith in Christ. And, to those who believe, God has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.