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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Galatians Chapter 3 

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Paul
Date Penned: (49 AD)
Overview: Paul Refutes the Judaizers (c 1-6)
Theme: Superiority of the Gospel (c 3-4)
Message: Law and Faith (v 1-29)

Galatians 3 Commentary

(3:1-14) The Law and Faith in Christ - With the heartfelt words affirming his personal commitment to the Galatians, Paul spoke of his ministry with his Galatian friends. He remembered how clearly he had shared the message and how openly they had responded. Since they had been launched so beautifully in the Christian faith, how could they have run aground so quickly? Paul was convinced that those who influenced the Galatians acted like friendly harbor pilots. They promised to guide the Galatians’ faith by adding to their understanding of Christ an “essential component” of the law. But, instead, these pilots put the Galatian ship of faith in great danger. Paul was adamant in his response to all of this. Whatever role the law might play in a believer’s life, it did not add to or improve the salvation provided freely in Christ. To be acceptable to God, we must be justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone. The point needed to be hammered home, and Paul did this repeatedly in this letter.

(3:15-23) The Law and God's Promises - Paul turned to an illustration from the Galatians’ daily experience to help them understand the principles of law and grace. He found parallels in the making and executing of human agreements to the way that God deals with us. In 3:15-18 he used the Judaizers’ own arguments against them. They had argued that Moses’ law was a fuller and more complete expression of the covenant given to Abraham. Paul reversed their train of thought and showed that God’s promise to Abraham was a promise made prior to Moses.

(3-24-29) God's Children through Faith - While maintaining that the law was useful, Paul pointed out what a severe taskmaster it could be for those who failed to learn about grace received through faith. At this point in the letter, he shifted from a legal to a familial point of view. Once we have gained a right relationship with God, our dealings with people will be entirely different.

 


Dave Burnette's Life Application

The Schoolmaster

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the book of Galatians with Chapter 3 and in our text we see Superiority of the Gospel with how the law brings us to faith. We are not saved by the law but rather Paul explains how the law is a Schoolmaster to show us our lost condition so that we can call unto the Lord for Salvation. How about you? Do you see that the law of God shows us our lost condition? Let us learn from our text today and the words Paul shared with to the Galatian Church that we are all sinners, none of us can keep the law, but that the Law is Schoolmaster showing us our lost condition and that we need a Savior, Jesus-Christ.

 

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Galatians 3

Galatians 3

 1O 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?

 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

 4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

 5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

 6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

 7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

 10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

 11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

 12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

 13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

 15Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

 18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

 19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

 20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

 21Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.