"Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?" Galatians 3:2
Welcome back to the course!
To some, the gospel may be something that just needs to be heard once, or maybe once in a while. Others may feel like they’ve already made the decision to follow Jesus so the gospel is not necessarily for them, but for the lost. And others have “moved on to more mature things”; like learning how to live out the commandments of God personally in their lives.
There are many different thoughts about the gospel in the church today. Even using the term “gospel” has lost its meaning, and therefore its power. Many have attempted to live out their Christian life by “good works” and by “doing their best.” But friend, we need to set our sights squarely on the gospel and its power to free captives! For it is the message that changes us from who we were–to who we are in Christ.
Let’s take a look at what we see in our churches today and the absolute difference the gospel makes.
But we know that it is impossible for us to obey the law apart from the work of the cross and the Spirit. ”Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:2-4).
First, it throws the flock into confusion. Those who might have heard the gospel have become confused through “a different gospel”, and therefore have not understood the power of the real gospel personally for themselves.
Secondly, these same ones rise up to take away disciples after themselves. While scattering and confusing church members as outlined in lesson 1, their objective is to teach a different gospel and gain followers. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-7).
Even if their lives are changing slowly, they can see a change within their own heart and are seeing Jesus changing their desires. They are experiencing love and forgiveness in their hearts. They are talking about how they are experiencing power in their lives and learning to “walk by the Spirit” and not in the flesh that has held them captive. The cross has given them grace and mercy, and the love of God is being flooded into their hearts. They are really sensing what it means to be a new creation in Christ. They are beginning to experience that Jesus has cut their heart by His Spirit, and cut their iron chains of sin through the message of the cross, and is now bringing them out of their grave of death, darkness, and despair.
Dear friend, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God! This power of God is not found by relying on man or obeying the law, but by seeing the One who died so that we can be transformed into His very image (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). The gospel has power to change anyone who believes, and whoever believes in his heart the message of the cross will never be the same!
Galatians 3:1-3 ESV O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Question 1: What was the first thing the bewitched Galatians needed to hear in order for their lives to be made right again according to Galatians 3:1?
Question 2: How did the Galatians receive the Spirit, and what specifically did they hear according to Galatians 3:2?