Opening Up
Member testimony: have one member share his or her two-minute story of faith.
In Galatians 3, Paul continues to defend the gospel, but he also begins to tell the long story of God’s grace, a story stretching back to Abraham and God’s promises to him. He shows how the Galatians and all who have faith are part of this story.
Read
Galatians 3:1–14
Faith or Works of the Law
3 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Digging In
What is so foolish about the Galatians’ behaviour (v.1-5)? (Note: some translations use the phrase “the flesh” (v.3), meaning the sinful nature, not the body.)
In Genesis 12:1-3 & 15:1-6, what do we read that includes us?
Looking at 3:6-9, do you consider yourself a child of Abraham? Why or why not?
In Galatians 2, we considered the attraction of law- keeping. Here in Galatians 3, Paul spells out the stark reality of that path.
In 3:10-14, why is anyone who relies on “works of the law” (v.5) for their justification under a curse?
How do you respond when you read that Jesus became a curse for us (v.13)? What does that say about the nature of his love?
Why is Jesus the key to the fulfilment of God’s promises to Abraham?
What message of hope does this passage have for friends and family who don’t know Jesus yet?
Taking it with you
Nominate someone to give a two-minute testimony at the next study.
Share one thing from this study that you can share with someone at home or elsewhere.
Pray that we, as a church and as individuals, would grasp the significance of God’s promises to Abraham and how they are fulfilled in Christ.