Lesson 8 The Spirit and The Cross
Questions 3 and 4
Notice how Galatians 3 begins with Jesus Christ being “publicly portrayed as crucified” right before their eyes. This is how and why they received the Spirit–when they believed the message of the cross. It was in taking their eyes off of the cross that they had become “foolish Galatians” who began to walk according to the flesh.
"Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:3
Question 3: What is it that makes believers “foolish” after receiving the Spirit and believing the message of Christ crucified?
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When we hear the message of the cross and believe it by faith, like the Galatians, we begin a new life where we receive and are then led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). When we continue to look to Jesus and the work of the cross, continuing to believe its message, we will not fall back into being “perfected by the flesh.” This was the foolishness of the Galatians, and any believer who takes their eyes off of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Friend, the cross is where the power is, the power to change our lives, and the power to keep us. I’m not saying that we will never sin again or fall again. But what will be needed when that happens? Yes, just like the Galatians needed to look to the crucified Christ to bring them out of their foolishness of walking in the flesh, we likewise look to the cross that puts to death the flesh and keeps us in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
"Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 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— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Galatians 3:4-6
Question 4: What about you, friend, have you received the Spirit by hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ only to return again to the law to begin walking in the flesh?
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