Law or Spirit – Galatians (NIV)
Law or Spirit – Galatians (NIV)
* Another Gospel
* Paul’s Past
* Jerusalem Approved
* Paul Rebukes Peter
* Dead to Self, Alive in Christ
Galatians 3
* Perfected by Law?
* Righteous by Faith
* Neither Jew nor Gentile
* Slave to Heir
* Do not return
* Ishmael and Isaac
* Free for Freedom
* Law or Christ
* Fruit of the Spirit
* Bear One Another’s Burdens
* God Will Not Be Mocked
* Circumcision or Holy Spirit
Paul starts Galatians out with a bit of a rebuke. The Galatians had started to listen to "another gospel" and Paul needed to address it. Paul then gave some clarification to his past and growth. He wasn’t even a product of the other apostles – his revelation came directly from Jesus.
He then wants to point out that previously they were under the Law but the Spirit showed them the truth in the gospel. So it doesn’t make sense to then return to the Law to continue the process of growth and sanctification. In fact, the true righteous people will live by faith, not the Law. The Law is done and so is the division of Jew and Gentile.
He uses the illustration of a slave compared to a child. When the time comes, the child becomes free and an heir. It doesn’t make sense to then return to being under the control from before. He uses the illustration of Hagar/Ishmael (slave, Law) and Sarah/Isaac (free, promise).
We weren’t freed from the Law to be subject to it again voluntarily. We were set free for freedom. And if we choose to follow the Law, we choose not to benefit from Christ’s payment. It’s one or the other. And we haven’t followed the Law and we can’t do it perfectly. The Law can not produce what we would hope. But the Spirit produces fruit of high value.
In the Spirit, we can live together and help one another. And despite what we might see in the world, God will not be mocked. He is patient and merciful but eventually evil will be judged.
We all need to choose which "system" to follow: Law or Spirit. Slave or free. The choice always seems obvious when it’s put that way, but day by day we make little choices along the lines of earning our righteousness. Galatians is a great reminder that the two don’t mix.
We can receive righteousness free in thanksgiving. We can become an heir with no effort. We shouldn’t let the gracious, effortless offer fool us – we need to take it very seriously. It’s one or the other: Law or Spirit