Paul had experienced life as a Pharisee under the law of Moses as a descendant of Abraham and the result in his life was hatred. Then he had a personal experience, an encounter with Jesus Christ and everything changed. Now he understood that we are not justified by the law but as Abraham was, so are we in Galatians 3:6-7 “Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness 7 then understand that the ones who have faith, these are sons of Abraham.” Now Paul says in Galatians 2:20 20 “and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, and that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”. When we “have faith in the Son of God”, as Paul says, “I no longer live”, the lusts and desires of the flesh no longer control, instead, we have the Spirit of God to lead us.
Our Freedom That we Have in Christ Jesus
Galatians 2:1–5
Paul had an experience with Jesus Christ that completely changed his lifelong beliefs as a Pharisee. After his encounter with Jesus, he stopped persecuting Christians and became one of the strongest witnesses for Christ of his age. Paul did not seek anyone’s approval because he already had approval from the King of Kings, Jesus Christ himself. Now, the Lord leads Paul to go to Jerusalem in
Galatians 2:2 (LEB) “Now I went up there because of a revelation and laid out to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles, but in private to the influential people, lest somehow I was running, or had run, in vain”
This was because there where those that were pressing for legalism that would require all to follow the law which was contrary to the message Paul was preaching so in
Acts 15:4 (LEB) And when they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and reported all that God had done with them.
Paul held fast to the truth, the freedom of the gospel that salvation through Christ is by grace, not by the keeping of the law.
I Had Been Entrusted With The Gospel
Galatians 2:6–10
How Can You Compel the Gentiles to Live Like Jews?
I Live by Faith in the Son of God
Galatians 2:15–21
Paul speaks to the Jews as they understand themselves to be God’s chosen people. They, by their lineage and birthright, are separate from the Gentiles and are taught the covenant that was given to them through Abraham. There is a blessing through that covenant but there is only one way to be justified, and that is through Jesus Christ in
Galatians 2:16 (LEB) “but knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, if not by faith in Jesus Christ, and we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.”
Paul also speaks to the Gentiles and tells them that if they are justified by Christ they are not free to do anything, in fact, they are now “enslaved to righteousness” in Romans 8:18.
When Paul says we “live by faith” he is using this word justified in the sense that it is only through Christ that we are “put right with” God, that we are “set free” from the control of sin and death, that we are now able to “obey righteous commands” as the word justified is defined: “1. put right with, justify, vindicate, declare righteous, i.e., cause one to be in a right relation (Ro 3:24); 2. show to be right, demonstrate to something is morally just (Ro 3:4); 3. acquit, remove guilt, set free, i.e., clear of a transgression (Ac 13:38); 4. set free, release from the control of (Ro 6:7); 5. obey righteous commands (Lk 7:29)”1
The Ones Who Have Faith, These are Sons of Abraham
Galatians 3:1–7
There is one simple truth and that is that Abraham walked into this covenant with God because he believed God in
Galatians 3:6 (LEB) “Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness”
this means that the true sons of Abraham are not those that mark their bodies with the sign of circumcision because it is not circumcision that justifies it is faith that justifies as in
Galatians 3:7 (LEB) “then understand that the ones who have faith, these are sons of Abraham.”
This is because believing God is a spiritual transaction and not a physical one. Paul says it this way in
Galatians 3:2–3 (LEB) “I want only to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now trying to be made complete by the flesh?
Once we “have faith in God” and “receive the Spirit”, there is a transformation that works from the inside to manifest the righteousness of God in our physical lives.
In You, All the Nations of the World Will be Blessed
Galatians 3:8–14
Study Verses
- Galatians 2:1–5 Our Freedom That we Have in Christ Jesus
- Galatians 2:15–21 I Live by Faith in the Son of God
- Galatians 3:1–7 The Ones Who Have Faith, These are Sons of Abraham
Today’s Reading
- Galatians 2:1-21
- Galatians 3:1-14
References
- 1. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
