April 18, 2022

Think You Can Change Yourself? Are You So Foolish? Stop Striving—God Loves You!

Galatians 3

Carl Littrell
Monday's Devo

April 18, 2022

Monday's Devo

April 18, 2022

Central Truth

All who place their faith in Jesus can stop striving to be perfect and truly rest in knowing that they will be transformed into Christlike perfection because of the love of God the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit.

Key Verse | Galatians 3:3

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Galatians 3

By Faith, or by Works of the Law?

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by 1 3:3 Or now ending with the flesh? Did you suffer 2 3:4 Or experience so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify 3 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24 the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Righteous Shall Live by Faith

10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 4 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall 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 hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit 5 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Law and the Promise

15 To give a human example, brothers: 6 3:15 Or brothers and sisters even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave 7 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Footnotes

[1] 3:3 Or now ending with
[2] 3:4 Or experience
[3] 3:8 Or count righteous; also verses 11, 24
[4] 3:11 Or The one who by faith is righteous will live
[5] 3:14 Greek receive the promise of the Spirit
[6] 3:15 Or brothers and sisters
[7] 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

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Dive Deeper | Galatians 3

I remember when I was strongly corrected by someone I admire. I imagine that's how the original listeners felt when their role model Paul asks them rhetorically, "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" (Galatians 3:1), and "Are you so foolish?" (Galatians 3:3). Ouch!

Why would Paul use such harsh words toward these people he loves enough to call "brothers and sisters" (Galatians 1:11)? This local church was under theological attack from a group of converted Jews who were incorrectly teaching that, in addition to faith in Jesus, they still needed to do more to achieve their full status of right relationship with God (namely, to continue to practice the Law according to local religious customs). Paul hears about this and has strong words to say!

Just like we are saved by faith alone, we also now live by faith alone (Galatians 2:20). The message is simple, but profound—for those who have put their faith in Jesus, there is nothing more to be gained! He reminds them (and us) that just as we received the Spirit by faith and not by works, we are also carried through life and transformed by the Holy Spirit at work in us, not by the works we do.

The spiritual disciplines (e.g., reading the Bible, prayer, confession, etc.) are good. But we must not become confused and think our actions have any impact on the way God accepts us as His children. The beauty of the gospel is that GOD LOVES YOU so much He would go to the greatest lengths to save you. And as His children, He gives you His Spirit to carry out the transforming work He started in you when you were saved! Jesus told us on the cross, "It is finished" (John 19:30), so that we can stop striving to be accepted and instead rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). So the next time you sit down and open God's Word, take a moment and reflect on your motivation for doing so, and remember the only reason to do so is because God. Loves. You.

Discussion Questions

1. When you fall short, how do you think God feels about you in that moment? Do you think He feels disappointed, angry, or upset with you, and therefore you feel the urge to distance yourself from Him? Or do you think He feels unconditional love, acceptance, and pleasure toward you, and therefore makes you want to grow closer to Him?

2. In what ways does the unconditional love of God motivate you to spend time with Him?

3. Where are you still striving to gain acceptance from God? Are there any areas of your life that you feel are "too far gone" for God to still love you? How does the gospel free you from both striving and rejection? (Hint: God loves you!)