Galatians 3

Galatians 3:1-5 – “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”

• Galatians 3:2 – The word “rejoice” here could refer to several different things:
  • Holy Spirit
  • The gospel (by metonymy)
  • Salvation that comes from the gospel
• Galatians 3:5 – They had been given forgiveness – were they now going to try and be saved by their own effort under the Law of Moses?

Galatians 3:6-14 – “it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham”

• Galatians 3:6 – Three times this is said about Abraham:
  • Genesis 15:6
  • Romans 4:18-22
  • Genesis 22 – Referenced in James 2:21-24.
• Galatians 3:7 – Confess and faithfully submit to God. This is how to be a true son of Abraham.
• Galatians 3:8 – See Genesis 12:1-7. These are the three promises to Abraham.
• Galatians 3:9 – When I have faith like Abraham, I will also be blessed.
• Galatians 3:10 – See Deuteronomy 27:1, 26. The Law was never intended as a way of justification.
• Galatians 3:12 – See Leviticus 18:4-5. If you try to live by the Law, you must perform it flawlessly. No one except Jesus ever has!
• Galatians 3:13 – No one performed the Law of Moses perfectly and thus, all were cursed (Galatians 3:10). This is quoting Deuteronomy 21:23. Jesus was innocent of our sins but was the blameless sacrifice for us. Jesus died physically so that we could live spiritually.

Galatians 3:15-19 – “Now the promises were given to Abraham and to his seed”

• Galatians 3:17 – The Law of Moses did not invalidate the promises to Abraham that predated it.
• Galatians 3:18 – Salvation is through God’s promise to Abraham, which was before the Law of Moses.
• Galatians 3:16 – See Genesis 22:18. God was talking about one seed in particular – Christ.