Galatians 3:1–9 (ESV)
By Faith, or by Works of the Law?
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the
law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 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— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to
him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify
the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
This passage means a lot to me. It is built on the scripture of faith comes by hearing. This is found in Romans 10:17 which states: “17 So
faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” This is also reflected in today’s reading: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Faith is a gift and we are save by faith, not works.
The Lutherans Study Bible states: “The Galatians’ experience (vv 1–5) and Scripture’s witness concerning Abraham (vv 6–9) teach that all believers are heirs of Abraham, to whom faith “was counted … as righteousness”
(v 6). Paul warns against being mesmerized by the foolish notion that salvation is completed by works of the Law. Those who see the crucified Christ in faith, however, see their sins completely forgiven.
I pray: How blessed we are, Lord, to be the heirs of Your promises! Thank You for granting me faith through Your Word. Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House,
2009), 2007.