GALATIANS 3 HEIRS ACCORDING TO PROMISE

[Doug]

Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

The Galatians were being removed from the gospel of grace unto another perversion of the gospel (Galatians 1:6-7). Paul affirmed that the gospel he preached was not after man, but revealed to him by Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:12). Some were saying that circumcision was necessary for salvation and were thus perverting the gospel (Acts 15:1).

3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith

The working of the Spirit toward the believers is not by the works of the law, but rather by faith.

3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Not only the believing Jews were counted as being the children of Abraham, but all those who follow in the footsteps of faith are the children (Galatians 3:26 Romans 4:11-16).

3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

There is more than one gospel in the Bible, as God deals with mankind differently in each dispensation, and progressively reveals salvation. The gospel preached to Abraham is simply as stated "In thee shall all nations be blessed".

All nations were to be blessed through Abraham and his seed, which was to include the Gentiles.

3:9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

All those of faith are blessed along with Abraham.

3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

If the Galatians were circumcised and placed themselves under the works of the law for justification (Galatians 5:4), they would bring cursing on themselves (verse 10). Justification is by faith (verse 11). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (verse 13) that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ (verse 14). The blessing of Abraham is the receiving of the Spirit through faith (verse 14 Ephesians 1:13-14) and the covenant God made with Abraham in promising blessing can not be made void, nor added to by circumcision (verse 15).

3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

The promises were made to Abraham and his seed. Not all the promises were made in regard to the descendants of Abraham, but unto the seed, which is Christ Jesus.

God promised that from the seed, Christ would establish his kingdom (Samuel 7:12)and all the nations would be blessed by Christ, the seed of Abraham (Genesis 22:18). Abraham was promised to be heir of the world through the righteousness of faith (Genesis 12:3 Romans 4:13).

3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).

3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

We are Christ's by faith (1 Corinthians 3:23).

As children of God by the faith of Christ (Galatians 3:26), we are made heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We are blessed in being justified by his grace that we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).

We are heirs according to the promise found in Genesis 12:1-3 below whereby we are blessed along with Abraham.

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:

12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

The Galatians received the adoption of sons and had the Spirit of his Son sent into their hearts (Galatians 4:6). They were not to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage of the law by being circumcised (Galatians 5:1); they were encouraged to be led of the Spirit (Galatians 5:18 Galatians 5:25).

 

[Davy]

Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

The Galatians were being removed from the gospel of grace unto another perversion of the gospel (Galatians 1:6-7). Paul affirmed that the gospel he preached was not after man, but revealed to him by Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:12). Some were saying that circumcision was necessary for salvation and were thus perverting the gospel (Acts 15:1).

And that idea is no different from what I found you preaching here on this forum in threads like Jesus and the Twelve Preached a Different Gospel.

You are pushing John Darby's (1830s) false Dispensationalist doctrines he devised to help support the false Pre-trib Rapture theory. His theory was taken by those later into a double gospel idea, like by E.W. Bullinger, Charles H. Welch, J.C. O'Hair, C.R. Stam, etc. The dual gospel leaven doctrine was created to help support pre-trib's idea of a restored kingdom of Israel on earth while Christ and His Church reign from Heaven, their thinking the Church having been raptured prior to the tribulation (which is about a false pre-trib rapture).

In reality per God's written Word, Christ's Church will go through the "great tribulation" event Jesus forewarned of, and only His faithful among that Church on earth will 'wait' for His return. At His return on the "day of the Lord", i.e., the LAST day of this present world, He will gather His Church from both Heaven and from the earth, and He and them, will continue unto Jerusalem on earth, where He and His elect will reign over all... nations and peoples on earth, His kingdom established literally over all the earth. This is what the Old Testament prophets showed, including David in the Psalms, it is what our Lord Jesus showed, and it is what all... His Apostles showed, including Apostle Paul.

 

[shnarkle]

Some were saying that circumcision was necessary for salvation and were thus perverting the gospel (Acts 15:1).

They could have just as easily said that refraining from theft, bribery, or adultery was necessary for salvation, and Paul would have responded the exact same way. It doesn't then follow that the laws against theft, or adultery are now done away with. It is not an invitation to steal or fornicate. This is why Paul says: "3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them." He's not doing away with any of the commandments. He's pointing out that those who keep the law through Christ's faith are redeemed from the curse or penalty of the law, not the obligation of the law.

"3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:

3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions,

He's asking what's the purpose of serving this law of sacrifices? There's only one reason, and that's if one has not taken hold of Christ's sacrifice for transgressions.

"The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).

This word "schoolmaster" is the Greek Paedegagos, and has nothing to do with the teaching of the Mosaic law. The idea of learning or teaching has nothing to do with this word. It was the reason people stayed in line. They didn't want to have to offer a sacrifice for their sins so this was what motivated them to refrain from sin. It didn't work all that great, but Christ's sacrifice not only covers sin, it motivates the child of God to remain obedient through Christ's faith.

So far from an invitation to ignore God's commandments, it is spotlighting it as the means by which we can now keep it perfectly. Paul verifies this by keeping the feasts of the Lord as well as religious vows, and even takes Timothy to be circumcised. He does all of this by faith, not as a means of justification.

He even asks what value circumcision has, and answers it by pointing out that it is valuable to those who keep God's commandments, and those who keep it are necessarily part of the New Covenant. They're the only ones who can keep God's commandments.

 

[Doug]

They could have just as easily said that refraining from theft, bribery, or adultery was necessary for salvation, and Paul would have responded the exact same way. It doesn't then follow that the laws against theft, or adultery are now done away with. It is not an invitation to steal or fornicate. This is why Paul says: "3:12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them." He's not doing away with any of the commandments. He's pointing out that those who keep the law through Christ's faith are redeemed from the curse or penalty of the law, not the obligation of the law.

"3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:

3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions,

He's asking what's the purpose of serving this law of sacrifices? There's only one reason, and that's if one has not taken hold of Christ's sacrifice for transgressions.

"The law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20).

This word "schoolmaster" is the Greek Paedegagos, and has nothing to do with the teaching of the Mosaic law. The idea of learning or teaching has nothing to do with this word. It was the reason people stayed in line. They didn't want to have to offer a sacrifice for their sins so this was what motivated them to refrain from sin. It didn't work all that great, but Christ's sacrifice not only covers sin, it motivates the child of God to remain obedient through Christ's faith.

So far from an invitation to ignore God's commandments, it is spotlighting it as the means by which we can now keep it perfectly. Paul verifies this by keeping the feasts of the Lord as well as religious vows, and even takes Timothy to be circumcised. He does all of this by faith, not as a means of justification.

He even asks what value circumcision has, and answers it by pointing out that it is valuable to those who keep God's commandments, and those who keep it are necessarily part of the New Covenant. They're the only ones who can keep God's commandments.

All I was saying was that in Galatians 1:7 some were perverting the gospel by adding to it

 

[shnarkle]

All I was saying was that in Galatians 1:7 some were perverting the gospel by adding to it

There are also those who refer to a specific law, and suggest that it is done away simply by pointing out that no one is saved by keeping that one law. No one is saved by keeping any of God's commandments, but Paul himself points out that those who keep the law will most definitely find circumcision beneficial.
That is what those who change the gospel never point out .

 

[Davy]

All I was saying was that in Galatians 1:7 some were perverting the gospel by adding to it

Yes, certain converted Jews among the Galatians were spying out in the bathroom to see if members were circumcised...

Gal 2:3-4
3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
KJV

Paul later rebuked Peter, because when his Jewish brethren from Jerusalem came for a visit, they and Peter separated from among the Gentile Galatians.

Gal 2:11-14
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
KJV

So that matter was how those Jewish converts were using the law to isolate themselves from Gentiles while trying to get the Gentiles to keep the law. What The Gospel teaches is that there is no difference between Jew or Gentile.