Christ in the Law: A 5-Day Plan to Delighting in God’s LawSample

Day 2: Command of the Text

Galatians 3 brings us face to face with questions about the interplay between faith, the law, and God’s promise to Abraham. If it’s a promise, then why do we need to obey? If we can only receive God’s blessings through obedience, but we know we cannot be perfectly obedient, then are we doomed? And where does faith come in?

These are all valid questions that Paul addresses to a church that is being influenced by a group called the Judaizers who were trying to convince them that the only way to be righteous before God was through obedience to Jewish traditions and law, such as requiring circumcision before one could become a Christian. Paul exposes the true intent of the Judaizers as both pride and fear. They wanted to avoid persecution for teaching the cross of Christ by outward shows of obedience meant to impress others (Gal. 6:12–14).

Paul zooms back and tries to lay some theological foundations upon which the church should place their understanding of the interplay between law and faith. He calls the church back to the basis of their own salvation and takes them to the law itself and to the example of Abraham who first received God’s promise to show how God’s plans and purposes have not changed. He explains the Old Testament teachings about righteousness, faith, the law, the gospel, the promises of God, as well as our union with Christ and with other believers, whether Jewish or Gentile.

Read Galatians 3:

According to verses 2 and 14, what is the connection between the Spirit and faith?

In verse 3, what is the connection between faith and the beginning and ending of our spiritual lives?

How is God’s role described in verses 4–5?

What were believers like under the law according to verses 23 and 24?

What are believers like under Christ according to verses 25–29?

In the midst of the Judaizers’ confusing, divisive teaching that one must basically convert to Judaism and adhere to Jewish traditions and laws in order to become a true Christian, Galatians 3 reminds the church that God justifies believers by faith in Christ and gives us His Spirit by faith, so that we might be free from the law and free to live as God’s diverse people united by that same faith. Take a moment to thank God for this freeing truth.