[:en]FAITH OR OBSERVANCE OF THE LAW (vs. 1-14)
The Galatian believers knew that it was not by obeying the law but by believing that they received the Spirit of God. But when they had decided to insist on keeping the Jewish laws, they turned from Paul’s Good News to false teachings.
The Judaizers demanded that the Gentiles must become Jews in order to be Christians. Paul refuted by showing that real children of Abraham were those who had faith iin Christ and not those who kept the law. Abraham believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness (v. 6). Through faith, both the Jews and the Gentiles will be justified. Those who had faith are blessed along with Abraham.
Paul quoted Deut. 27:26: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” It means that even by breaking one commandmenmt brings a person under condemnation. Since everyone has broken the commandment, everyone will be condemned. The law cannot reverse the condemation (Rom. 3:20-24). That is why Christ took the curse of the law upon Himself when He Himself hung on the cross. He died to take our punishment. All we must do is to accept His death on our behalf as the means to be saved. Are you willing to do so?
We cannot be right with God by our own effort. Our good intentions will always fail. It is only by believing in His provision for our sins and living by His power that we can break the cycle of failure.
THE LAW AND THE PROMISE (vs. 15-25)
God promised Abaraham that through his faith, He would blessed the world. God blessed the world by sending Jesus – the Messiah through the descendants of Abraham. God always keeps his promise. He promises to forgive your sins through Christ Jesus.
The law has two functions. On the positive sidew, it shows right living. On the negative side, it reveals people’s sin. Paul compared the superiority of salvation and growth by faith over trying to be saved by keeping the Jewish laws. God knew that we were sin’s prisoners so He provide a way of escape – faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot be saved by keeping the law. We must trust in Christ.
SONS OF GOD (vs, 26-29)
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (vs. 26) Faith in Christ turn arounds all differences and makes all believers in Christ equal. There is no one more privileged or superior than anyone else. All of us are Abraham’s seed and are blessed as children of Abraham.[:]