Galatians: The Life I Now LiveSample

We ‘get on’ the same way we ‘got in’ – by faith. We don’t get saved by our efforts and we don’t grow by our efforts. But the false teachers had cast a spell on the Galatians and Paul is ready to startle the young Christians into realising it. 

In the first verse, Paul describes his own ministry among them. He had not focused his teaching on what they must do: top tips for living the Christian life or personal coaching in personal spirituality. His ministry in their midst was simple: he preached Christ and Him crucified (see also 1 Cor. 2:1–5). It was as if he had painted a huge billboard-sized poster of Christ crucified: a big, bold, vivid, striking portrait of Calvary. 

In verse 2 Paul asks whether they were saved, and therefore received the Holy Spirit, by their effort to keep the law, or by responding to his message with faith. It had been the latter. 

So in verse 3 we see the thought restated for greater impact: if you started by faith, that is, by the Spirit, do you now think that you will progress to maturity by works of the law, that is, by the efforts of your flesh? Paul calls this common approach to Christian growth foolish. 

Paul is so perplexed that they would turn their backs on the gospel so easily that he follows up with more questions. First, in verse 4, he asks if the suffering that came with their faith in Christ was really pointless since they have now turned away from the gospel? Second, in verse 5, does the ongoing work of God by His Spirit really occur due to their efforts, or by means of their faith? 

The gospel works by faith. It saves people as they believe. It grows people as they believe. In fact, Paul is so astonished by their turn from the gospel, he even points out that it has always worked this way: Abraham ‘believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (v. 6, quoting Gen. 15:6). He will develop the Abraham example in the following verses, but let’s not move too quickly past the strong start to chapter 3.

Reflection

In what ways might Paul be upset with you for starting the Christian life by faith, but then striving to grow as a Christian by your own efforts?