TEXT: Galatians 3:1-5

SUBJECT: Exposition of Galatians #4: The Argument from Experience

Today we return to our study of Galatians. The author is "Paul, an Apostle". Its first readers are "the churches of Galatia". Its objective is to defend the Gospel. The Gospel needs defending because false teachers had tried to change it. They were legalists who taught that faith in Christ was good--but not good enough! To find acceptance with God--they argued--and a place among His people, one needs to both believe in Christ and submit to the Law of Moses. Paul had no quarrel with the Law "if it is used lawfully". But to make its observance a condition for fellowship with God or His people is to use it unlawfully. And worse: to turn "the Gospel into a different Gospel which is not another". This is what Paul is against: Law masquerading as the Gospel.

In the first two chapters, he has argued against this idea by proving that he is an Apostle. How does one follow from the other? Here's how: Apostles were infallible spokesmen for Christ. If Paul is an apostle, therefore, His Gospel--and not the legalists'--is the true Gospel. We can take Paul's word for it because he is "an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)".

In 3:1-5, he crafts a second argument. It's the argument from experience. Deep down, the Galatians know what the Gospel is because they have felt its power. "Experience" is a much debated idea at the moment. Some believers make it "everything"; others make it "nothing". Paul makes its what it ought to be, "something".

He begins with a sharp rebuke, v.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?"

Paul's state of mind is hard to describe in a single word. He's angry and disgusted, hurt and worried. His dearly loved friends are behaving themselves stupidly. The word "fool" is literally "mindless". J.B. Phillips has it, "O you dear idiots! Eugene Peterson prefers "You crazy Galatians!" To choose legalism over the Gospel is witless, insane, or worse. They were, Paul adds "bewitched". The word means just that: under a spell or enchanted. To borrow a term from Haiti, these people were behaving like zombies. Mentally deranged!

They should have known better because "before (their) eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among (them) as crucified". Paul's preaching was a mural of words, the centerpiece of which was a crucified Savior. Negatively, he discarded other things to stay on the one thing needful. "For I determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified". This "one thing" was never stale with him; it was always fresh, ever exhilarating.

"God forbid that I should glory

Except in the cross of our Lord

Jesus Christ".

Paul hadn't gone to Galatia to improve their morals or to change their politics. He had gone to preach "Christ crucified, the Lord of glory". In so doing, he had "espoused them to one husband". But now--alas--they were forsaking their groom for another. They were breaking Paul's heart and imperiling their souls. Paul must respond; respond he does: "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth?"

Following his rebuke, Paul goes on to ask a series of rapid-fire rhetorical questions, vv.2-5.

The first, v.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?"

Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, including the saints in Galatia. "If any man does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His" says Paul in another place. When did they receive the Spirit? When they were circumcised? When they rested on the Sabbath? When they skipped a ham sandwich? No. They received the Holy Spirit when they believed the Gospel or "by the hearing of faith". If they received the Holy Spirit when they believed, how can keeping the Law be necessary for salvation? They were accepted by God before they kept any Law.

The Legalists, therefore, are wrong: Law-keeping does not make us acceptable to God or give us a place among His people.

The second question, v.3: "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"

The people had "begun" their Christian lives in the Almighty power of the Holy Spirit. Now, having begun with Him, they are turning back to themselves for growth in grace. The Spirit could "deliver them from darkness"; He could "translate them into the kingdom of (God's) dear Son". But He can't be trusted to make them holy! The Law is needed for that! Paul is shaking his head in disbelief! "Are you so foolish"? "He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ".

Again, the Legalists are wrong. The Law neither justifies nor sanctifies. "Salvation--from beginning to end--"is of the LORD".

The third question, v.4: "Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain?" By converting to Christ, the Galatians exposed themselves to many dangers. Those who turned from Judaism were expelled from their families and cut off from the life of the nation. Those who converted from Paganism were charged with atheism and subject to Roman penalties. Like others "who would live godly in Christ Jesus", the Galatians "suffered persecution" on account of it. Had they "suffered so many things in vain?" No they hadn't.

Therefore, the Legalists were wrong: Christianity is not a sect of Judaism, and therefore, is not subject to the Law of Moses. Its Mediator is Jesus Christ. He--and He alone--is the Prophet, Priest, and King of His people. The Legalists wanted to honor Moses; they ended up dishonoring Christ.

The fourth question, v.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?"

The Galatians received an extraordinary gift of the Holy Spirit who enabled them to perform miracles. This was common in early church, served its purpose, and has now ceased. We aren't to look for miracles, tongues, private revelations, and so on. However, the point is clear: "When did God supply the Spirit?" When did He perform miracles among them?" When they observed the Law? Or when they believed the Gospel? The answer is obvious: the Spirit was not poured out on the unbelievers at Pentecost, but upon "those who gladly received the Word". He was not given to Cornelius when he "gave alms" but when he believed the Gospel.

In short, the Legalists are as wrong as they can be. God supplies His Spirit in answer to faith, not as a payment for good works.

The argument is air-tight. If the Galatians would follow the Legalists, they must repudiate their own experience of God and His grace. Would they dare? We don't know.

It doesn't matter. This, however, does: Will you turn from what you once felt of God's grace in Jesus Christ? When a sinner is converted, he feels unworthy of God's favor, and resides all of his hope in Christ. But in time, he may forget that experience. After some years of growing in grace, he may begin thinking rather well of himself. He may transfer some of that hope from the Savior to himself. He won't admit it, of course. But it's true. This leads to legalism. It causes one to think highly of himself and lowly of those who don't live up to his standards. But worst of all: it obscures the glory of Christ "delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification".

Have I described you? If you feel somehow more acceptable to God than your weaker brethren, I have. If you feel more deserving of a place in the church than lesser Christians, I have. If, in short, you glory in anyone or anything but Christ, you have "left your first love". The only cure is this:

"As you have, therefore, received

the Lord Jesus, so walk in Him".