Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Galatians 3
Galatians 3:11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
No one can be right with God by only following rules; true life comes through trusting Him.Galatians 3:24But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
Paul explains that the Law was like a guardian or a tutor, keeping us on the right path until Jesus arrived to show us the way of faith.Galatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This is a powerful declaration of equality, showing that our identity in Christ is more important than any earthly label.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Wake-Up Call for the Bewitched
Paul is writing to people who have been 'bewitched' or tricked into thinking they need to follow Jewish customs to be 'real' Christians. He starts by asking them to look at their own lives and remember how they first experienced God's power. They didn't get the Holy Spirit by being perfect. They received it by believing the message of Jesus. Paul is trying to snap them out of a legalistic mindset that relies on human effort.
The Ancient Promise of Grace
After challenging their experience, Paul turns to the scriptures to prove his point. He goes all the way back to Abraham, the father of their faith, to show that Abraham was right with God because he believed a promise, not because he followed the Law of Moses, which didn't even exist yet. Paul explains that the Law was a temporary guide meant to lead people to the ultimate promise found in Jesus.
Understanding Faith and the Law
In Galatians 3:1-29, Paul moves from a sharp personal rebuke to a deep explanation of how God's promises work. He uses logic, history, and scripture to show that the 'rules-based' approach to God is a dead end compared to the freedom found in Christ.
Experience Over Effort (Galatians 3:1-5)
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 -
Commentary:
Paul reminds the believers that they received the Holy Spirit through faith, not by following rules.
The Blessing and the Curse (Galatians 3:6-14)
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.
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.”
3:12 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 through faith.
Commentary:
Jesus took the curse of our failure so we could inherit the blessing of faith.
The Promise is Permanent (Galatians 3:15-22)
15 To give a human example, brothers: 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.
Commentary:
The Law was a temporary tool to show us our need for Jesus, not a replacement for God's promise.
One Family in Christ (Galatians 3:23-29)
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
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 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.
Commentary:
We are now full children of God and completely equal in the family of Christ.
The Core Truths of Galatians 3
Justification by Faith
This theme explains that being 'justified' - or declared right and not guilty before God - happens only through faith. Paul shows that this isn't a new idea, as even Abraham was justified by his belief long before the religious laws were written down.
The Law as a Guardian
The passage reveals that the Law was never intended to be the final destination. Instead, it served as a protective guide that exposed our mistakes and made us realize we couldn't save ourselves, eventually leading us to trust in Jesus.
Radical Equality in Jesus
Paul teaches that being 'in Christ' creates a new identity that transcends all earthly divisions. Because everyone enters God's family the same way - through faith - there is no room for pride or discrimination based on background or social standing.
Applying Galatians 3 to Your Life
Galatians 3:3 warns against starting with the Spirit but trying to finish by your own effort. You can stop the exhausting cycle of trying to 'earn' your way to God and instead rest in the fact that He already accepts you because of what Jesus did.
According to verse 13, Jesus became a curse for you so that you wouldn't have to live under the weight of your mistakes. Your failures no longer define you. You are defined by the blessing and the Spirit you received through faith.
Verse 28 tells you that there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female in Christ. You are called to treat every fellow believer as a complete equal, breaking down any walls of prejudice or social status that might exist in your heart or community.
Freedom Found in God's Promise
Paul declares that our relationship with God is based on a promise, not a performance. In Jesus, the heavy burden of trying to be perfect is replaced by the gift of the Holy Spirit and the status of being God's child. The message is clear: you are not saved by what you do for God, but by believing in what God has already done for you through Christ.
What This Means for Us Today
Faith is an invitation to stop striving and start trusting. Paul invites us to trade our 'to-do lists' for a relationship with a Father who has already welcomed us home through Jesus.
- In what area of your life are you still trying to 'perfect' yourself through your own strength?
- How would your day change if you truly believed you were a fully loved heir of God's promise?
- Who can you share the message of 'no more barriers' with this week?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Paul explains his confrontation with Peter over the same issue of trying to force Jewish laws on non-Jewish believers.
Paul continues the theme of being children of God, comparing our new freedom to being heirs of a great inheritance.
Connections Across Scripture
The original account of Abraham believing God's promise and being counted as righteous.
A parallel argument where Paul uses Abraham's life to explain how faith works for both Jews and Gentiles.
The Old Testament source for the famous phrase 'the righteous shall live by faith' quoted by Paul.
Discussion Questions
- Paul asks who 'bewitched' the Galatians. What are some modern 'spells' or ideas that trick us into thinking we have to earn God's favor?
- If the Law was a 'guardian' to lead us to Christ, how does understanding God's rules help us appreciate His grace even more?
- Verse 28 was incredibly radical for its time. How can our church today better reflect the reality that we are all 'one in Christ Jesus'?