In a previous post, I wrote about the second chapter of the book of Galatians. Paul was reminding them of the true Gospel by recounting the events surrounding the Jerusalem Council as recorded in Acts 15. At the council they concluded that the Gentiles were justified by faith just as they were, and not by keeping the Law. We have been crucified with Christ, and now live by placing our faith in Him. Paul ended the chapter by stating that if righteousness comes through the Law, then Jesus died for us in vain.
Paul then moves away from his personal experience and gives them doctrinal instruction. He states, “O 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?” The word bewitch here is translated to mislead with evil intent, or to fascinate. It is in man’s nature to think he can achieve righteousness or the favor of God by his own works. It gives us a sense of accomplishment when we can look back and say “I did this or that.” These false teachers knew this, and had begun to draw the Galatians away into this false doctrine of works. No doubt there is a demonic deception that goes along with this: The devil would love nothing more than to draw us away from the doctrine of grace into thinking we must do something besides believing on Jesus who has already done it all for us. People who say we must believe in Jesus plus do good works or other religious rituals in order to be saved do not understand how sinful they really are, and as a result do not understand the mercy and grace of God. Paul had preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified among them, and they had turned away from obeying this truth. He reminded them that they received the Holy Spirit by faith, and that if they begun in the Spirit, why would they think they could be made perfect by the flesh (good works)? The signs and wonders that were done among them were also done through faith. He reminded them of Abraham who believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. So then, we are Abraham’s children through faith, and when the Lord told Abraham that in him all nations would be blessed, it was a prophecy concerning the salvation that would come through Jesus Christ.
Those who are under the Law however are under the curse. It is a curse because in order to be righteous by the Law, we must keep it in its entirety. This is something that no person has done or ever can do. The Scriptures state that there are none righteous. No man is justified in the sight of God by keeping the Law (the 10 commandments), for it is an impossible task. If I have told a lie, I am a liar. If I have stolen anything, I am a thief. If I have hated someone, I am a murderer at heart. These are only three of the 10 Commandments. He then quotes from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, “The just shall live by faith.” However, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. The Scriptures say that cursed is every man that hangs on a tree. Jesus absorbed your and my punishment, and as a result we get to receive the blessing of Abraham. Abraham was promised a son (Isaac) who was a foreshadow of the Son, Jesus Christ, who was to come. This promise made to Abraham came over 400 years before the Law was given.
So if the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ comes through faith, what then is the purpose of the Law? The Law was added because of transgressions. In other words, its job is to reveal our sin. It is not against or contradictory to the promises of God, but it concludes all to be under sin in order to show us our need for a Savior. Paul wrote in Romans, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:19) If we really take a hard look at God’s perfect Law, our mouths are stopped, and we will come away with the realization that faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God is our only answer. The Law is our schoolmaster or tutor to bring us to Christ. Unfortunately the use of God’s Law is something that is largely neglected in modern evangelism, but it is absolutely necessary in leading men and women to Jesus Christ. When examining men the Lord has used mightily in the past, they had an understanding of how crucial it was to use God’s Law in preparing men and women for the Gospel of grace. Consider the following quotes: “I do not believe that any man can preach the Gospel who does not preach the Law. For the Law is the needle, and you cannot draw the silken thread of the Gospel through a man's heart until you first send the Law to make way for it.” (Charles Spurgeon) “Evermore the law must prepare the way for the gospel. To overlook this in instructing souls is almost certain to result in false hope, the introduction of a false standard of Christian experience, and to fill the church with false converts.” (Charles Finney) “I have found by long experience that the severest threatenings of the law of God have a prominent place in leading men to Christ. They must see themselves lost before they will cry for mercy; they’ll not escape danger until they see it.”(A.B. Earl) The Law plows up the hard ground of man’s heart, and allows the Holy Spirit then to bring conviction. Once a person’s heart has been prepared by the Law of God, they can then receive the grace of God through faith. At this point, it does not matter their nationality, social status, or gender, all are children of God through faith. We all get to put on Jesus Christ in the same manner. If we belong to Him we are Abraham’s children, and heirs of the promises of God. Paul will discuss more what it means to be an heir of God’s promises in the next chapter.
In closing, do not let anyone bewitch you into thinking that you have to do something to earn your salvation. If you cannot earn it by being good enough, then you cannot keep it by being good enough. Jesus plus works or other religious rituals still equals Hell, guys! It is a continual process of resting in the grace of God through belief on Jesus Christ. When we fall short of God’s holy standard (which we all do), we get to use the Christian’s bar of soap: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) If you are talking with someone who thinks they can receive eternal life by being good enough, take them back to the 10 Commandments. Explain to them how they stand condemned unless they keep the Law in its entirety. Then tell them of the Jesus of the Bible who offers them the free gift of eternal life simply by belief on that same Jesus. In the following chapter, we will see how the Law and its legalistic requirements fail in comparison to the grace of God through faith.
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