Unbewitched: Finding Freedom in Christ
Legalism Defined: Working in our own power according to our own set of rules in order to earn God’s favor.
Main Idea: True righteousness and the promise of the Holy Spirit are received only through faith in the crucified Christ, not by works of the law.
An Argument from Experience: Remembering Our Foundation (Galatians 3:1-5)
Paul begins with a direct and concerned rebuke, calling the Galatians "foolish" not for a lack of intelligence, but for a lack of spiritual discernment. It’s as if they’ve been “bewitched,” their minds confused and perverted, drawn away from the clear truth of the Gospel.
Point 1: The Bewitching Influence (Verse 1) Paul asks, "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified." This points to a spiritual deception, where external influences or internal desires can cloud our understanding of Christ's sacrifice.
Life Application: In what subtle ways might you be allowing yourself to be "bewitched" by popular Christian culture, performance-driven mindsets, or teachings that distract from the core message of the crucified Christ? Are emotions, feelings, or political ideologies overshadowing the central truth of the Gospel in your life?
Transitioning from this strong opening, Paul presses in with a direct question about their initial experience with God.
Point 2: The Source of the Spirit (Verse 2) Paul asks, "Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?" This question forces them to recall their conversion experience. They didn't earn the Spirit through rule-keeping, but received Him through faith when they first heard and believed the Gospel.
Life Application: Reflect on the moment you first truly understood and embraced the Gospel. Was it through your own efforts or by simply believing the message about Jesus? How does remembering this foundational experience inform your understanding of your ongoing relationship with God?
Paul follows this with a pointed question about the direction of their spiritual journey.
Point 3: The Foolishness of Turning to Flesh (Verse 3) He continues, "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" This highlights the absurdity of starting their Christian life by the power of the Spirit and then thinking they can reach spiritual maturity through their own efforts and adherence to rules.
Life Application: In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on your own strength and willpower to achieve spiritual growth or overcome challenges? Are you striving for perfection through external actions rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to continue His work within you? Remember, the Christian life begins, continues, and is perfected by the Spirit.
To underscore the importance of their initial faith, Paul reminds them of the spiritual realities they had experienced.
Point 4: The Evidence of God's Work (Verses 4-5) Paul asks, "Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 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?" He reminds them of the trials they endured, the victories they celebrated, the miracles they witnessed, and the breakthroughs they experienced. These were not a result of their perfect law-keeping, but evidence of God's Spirit at work through their faith.
Life Application: Do you ever feel like your past spiritual experiences were meaningless or in vain? These thoughts can be a sign that you are shifting your focus away from the Gospel. Take time this week to recount the ways God has worked in your life, remembering that all spiritual victories begin with Jesus and are sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit. Don't take your eyes off the cross.
Arguments from Scripture: The Priority of Faith (Galatians 3:6-14)
Having appealed to their personal experiences, Paul now turns to the authority of Scripture, specifically the example of Abraham, a figure revered by the Jewish people.
Point 5: Abraham's Righteousness by Faith (Verse 6) Paul states, "just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'?" Quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul highlights that Abraham's righteousness was not earned through obedience to a law that didn't even exist yet, but was credited to him simply because he believed God's promise.
Life Application: Understand that your standing before God is not based on your performance or good deeds, but solely on your faith in Jesus Christ. Like Abraham, we are declared righteous not by what we do, but by what Christ has already done for us. This week, reflect on the freedom and security that comes from knowing your righteousness is a gift received through faith.
Paul then exposes the fundamental flaw in relying on the law for righteousness.
Point 7: The Curse of the Law (Verse 10-12) Paul declares, "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.'" He highlights the impossible standard of the law – perfect obedience to every single commandment. Failure in any point brings a curse. He contrasts this with the principle of faith: "The righteous shall live by faith."
Finally, Paul reveals the ultimate act of redemption that frees us from this curse.
Point 8: Christ Our Redemption (Verses 13-14) Paul proclaims, "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'—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith." Jesus took our place, bearing the curse of the law on the cross so that we might receive the blessing of righteousness and the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
Life Application: Grasp the depth of God's love for you in sending Jesus to bear the penalty for your sins. Your acceptance by God is not based on anything you have done or can do, but entirely on receiving God's Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Spend time this week in gratitude for this incredible act of redemption and the gift of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Conclusion:
Are you feeling slow of heart today? Is your mind being pulled away by the affairs of this world? Remember, the criminal is you, the criminal is me – we deserve the curse for our failure to meet God’s perfect standard. But Jesus became the curse for us, so that we might be declared righteous through faith in Him. Don't let anything bewitch you and draw you away from this glorious truth. Keep your eyes fixed on the crucified Christ.
