Galatians 3 – Faith or Works of the Law?
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you…?” (Galatians 3:1, NKJV)
“The just shall live by faith.” (v. 11)
“If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (v. 29)
🔍 CAPTURE THE SCENE (What do I see?)
- Paul gives a bold and emotional rebuke: they started with faith but are now turning to law
- He appeals to their experience, Scripture, and the example of Abraham
- The law is shown as a temporary guardian — not the way to righteousness
- Faith in Jesus brings believers into the family of God and the inheritance of Abraham
📖 ANALYZE THE MESSAGE (What does it mean?)
1. You Began by Faith, Not the Law (vv. 1–5)
“Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law… or by the hearing of faith?”
Paul is stunned — they’ve gone backward
He reminds them:
- Miracles and the Spirit came by faith, not rule-following
“Are you so foolish?”
2. Abraham: The Example of Faith (vv. 6–9)
“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Faith, not heritage or works, makes someone a child of Abraham
“In you all the nations shall be blessed.”
3. Law Brings a Curse — Not Righteousness (vv. 10–14)
“Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things…”
The law demands perfection — one failure brings a curse
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse… having become a curse for us.”
Now, the blessing of Abraham comes to Gentiles through faith
4. God’s Promise Came Before the Law (vv. 15–18)
“The law… cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God…”
The promise to Abraham came 430 years before the law
And the promise was made to Christ, not Moses
5. What Was the Law For? (vv. 19–25)
“It was added because of transgressions… until the Seed should come.”
The law was a temporary guardian, pointing us to Christ
“The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ…”
But now that faith has come, we’re no longer under the tutor
6. One in Christ — Now and Forever (vv. 26–29)
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
- Baptized into Christ = clothed with Christ
- No Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female
“If you are Christ’s, you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs…”
🔁 COMPARE THIS CHAPTER WITH THE REST OF SCRIPTURE
- Faith Over Law:
- Romans 3:20 – By the law is knowledge of sin
- Ephesians 2:8–9 – Saved by grace through faith, not works
- Abraham’s Faith:
- Genesis 15:6 – Abraham believed, and it was credited to him
- Romans 4 – Abraham is the father of all who believe
- Freedom from the Law:
- Colossians 2:14 – The law was nailed to the cross
- Hebrews 8:13 – The old covenant is obsolete
🙌 EXECUTE (So what? How does this affect my life?)
Principle: You’re not saved by doing — you’re saved by believing. Stay rooted in grace.
- Stop Trying to Earn What’s Already Yours
Don’t drift into “Jesus plus…” thinking — He already fulfilled the law - Know Who You Are
You are a full heir — not because of performance, but because you are in Christ - Celebrate Unity in Christ
There’s no room for division in God’s family — we are one in Jesus - Use the Law as a Signpost, Not a System
Let it point you to Jesus — but don’t live under its rule
🗣️ GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Why do people often fall back into legalism after starting with grace?
- What does Paul mean when he says the law was a tutor?
- How does understanding Abraham’s faith help you live out your own?
- How does verse 28 speak to unity and equality in the church?
- What’s one area where you still try to earn God’s approval instead of resting in grace?