Have It Your Way

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?-- 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 7Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

 One thing, (among many,) that is certain about the Gospel is that you get to have it your way. How you respond is up to you.

This does not mean, however, that we are free to decide what the Gospel is.

This is why Paul is so incredulous with the Galatians. (And to think of his audience properly, we must imagine a whole state-full of folks, not just a single misinformed or misled church.) This is a whole region of folks who have confused the greatest story ever told for something any thinking man might design.

How could you – “you Galatians” – fall for the unfriendly trap of a ‘works-based’ trip? It would be one thing if you had never heard the truth - but since you have – it is amazing you would choose to be “bewitched” by fleshly designs and concepts.

How could you be “bewitched” by the flesh? What is the appeal? How could you receive the Holy Spirit, with all that is entailed in that, and then turn away to attempt righteousness by your own capabilities?

Actually, this happenstance Paul is experiencing is as common as dirt, and the reason is: that is what we are made of. If left to its own devices, dirt will always return to dirt. The question: “How can you clean a dirt floor?” has the same answer as: “How can a man clean up his life and make himself righteous?” There is no law which can clean dirt.

“So don’t tell me,” Paul says, “that the Gospel has anything to do with what you are now being told. Don’t tell me that having begun in the Spirit, that you can now perfect yourself, make yourself more godly, and make yourself of greater appeal TO God by works of the flesh.”

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with works. No matter what anyone says, religious practice seeking God’s favor affords you nothing. God’s favor is received only by faith in Christ. Now, what you do with that IS your choice.

-  Pastor Bill