Galatians 3, The Law and Abraham

Paul follows his personal history (chapters 1 and 2) with a theological treatise on the work of God in a human life.  He challenges those who have received the Holy Spirit to then live daily "in the Spirit". His argument is based on both the previous experience of the Galatian converts and Old Testament passages about the father of the Jewish people, Abraham.

Galatians 3:1-5, Birth, then Growth, by the Holy Spirit 
You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

Paul's argument is a logical one -- if one understands that their salvation was not their own doing, but a response to the Crucified One, why would they expect their continued growth to be different?

Galatians 3:6-8, Looking Back to Abraham
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The 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." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The quote in verse 6 is from Gen. 15:6.  The quote in verse 8 appears in Old Testament passages Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18.  Paul argues that the Jews, who descended from Abraham, should follow Abraham's example of righteousness through faith.

Galatians 3:10-14, The Law Brought a Curse
All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."  Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them."

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 tree." 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.

With a series of Old Testament quotations, Paul emphasizes that there is a cost to following the Law, (that is, the commands of the Old Testament Torah.)  The quote in verse 10 is from Deuteronomy 27:26; that in verse 11 is from  Habakkuk 2:4; the quote in verse 12 is from Leviticus 18:5 and the quote in verse 13 is from  Deuteronomy 21:23.

Galatians 3:15-18, The Promise to Abraham
Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case.  The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed,"  meaning one person, who is Christ.

What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
   
The quote in verse 16 is from  Genesis 12:7, Genesis 13:15-16 and  Genesis 24:7.  Paul makes a subtle argument based on the word "seed" being singular!  The term can could be viewed as the singular entity of the Jewish nation but Paul is arguing that the "Seed" is the Messiah.

Galatians 3:19-25, The Purpose of the Law
What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.

Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Paul says the Law is both good and bad.  I don't find this easy to follow; the Law made us aware of our need for a savior by making us aware of our rebellion and our inability to handle ourselves.

Galatians 3: 26-29, The Purpose of the Law
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

There is a unity in Christ that transcends Jewishness and non-Jewishness, and many other divisions between human beings.

In the next chapter Paul continues his study of the Old Testament Law and its purpose.