Yes, Paul (like His Saviour) was a master at asking “questions!”

For example: “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” A query posed to these Galatian believers in the first century of New Testament Church life.

The verb Paul used here, “would learn,” is “manthano” in Greek, the very root that gives us the noun “Disciple!” (Thus, a disciple is a student of some great Rabbi!) It literally means “to understand,” to increase one’s knowledge.

I believe Paul is asking the question, not because he lacks the sought information, but he wants to incite their thinking! To provoke them to logic!

Then the verb “received” is “lambano,” that is “to lay hold” of something! To take possession, translated “to catch” three times in the New Testament! And of course it is an aorist verb, “past tense” we’d say. When one is truly saved, he or she receives the Holy Spirit … at that very moment! 

And what is the Source, the Avenue, of this Glorious Holy Spirit?

“Works,“ on humanity’s part?

Or “Grace,“ simple child-like belief in Jesus?

The “Law,“ meaning Moses’ 613 injunctions recorded in Genesis through Deuteronomy?

Or “Faith” (Grace), meaning simple trust in Jesus’ Finished Work on Calvary?

And we all know the answer to that earth-shaking question! 

The Spirit comes by faith.

By believing.

As a Gift from God!

Then … WHY … are these Galatians reverting, going back, stepping down from Jesus … and claiming (or reclaiming) Moses as some sort of co-redeemer?

What a question!

Tell the Holy Spirit today that you are thankful for His Presence in your life. Thank Him for being an integral Part of your trusting Jesus as Saviour and Lord of you life.

Question … “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

Answer … “By the hearing of faith?”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul wrote this of the Galatian Christians … “before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you.” Galatians 3:1

This almost sounds like Paul thought the Galatians had been “eyewitnesses” to the Death of Jesus, His Crucifixion!

Right “before their eyes!”

Yet, we know this is chronologically impossible, in a literal way anyhow. These folks lived too far from Jerusalem, and were born too late to have seen that Epochal Event as well. Plus, they were Gentiles, not interested in Jewish affairs at all!

Then what does Paul mean? “Before your eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you.”

Undoubted the Apostle is referring to … the POWER of preaching!

Paul and his team had so effectively (aided by God the Holy Spirit) proclaimed the Gospel (the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus) to these motley Galatians … that they (nearly) SAW Christ hanging on that old rugged Cross!

The verb translated “evidently set forth” is “prographo” in Greek! As if the Calvary Experience had been “written” (“grapho”) right “in front of, before” (“pro”) their eyes!

That’s graphic preaching, in its truest sense. 

“Among” you … “in” your very midst!

Paul had made the Cross “come alive” as he evangelized there at Galatia!

The point being, our statement in its context: having been so clearly “shown” the heart of the Gospel … how could these Galatian believers ever revert to a Mosaic interpretation of salvation? To a Law-centered soteriology?

How could they every have minimized Jesus’ vicarious Death on Calvary?

But they are in danger of doing that very thing!

And Paul is aghast!

How can one forsake the TRUTH and turn to any inferior, false substitute?

Makes you wonder!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

What a question, the one with which I have entitled today’s Bible Study Lesson!

Isn’t the truth something to be obeyed?

As in John 8:24, Jesus talking to a group of lost Jews: “For if ye BELIEVE NOT that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.” If they do not “believe” that Jesus is the Son of God, an absolute Truth for sure … they will die lost, die and go to an eternal Hell! (TRUTH TO BE BELIEVED!)

But Paul, in Galatians 3:1 implies (no, outright states, preaches) that the truth is also something to be obeyed!

Here it is: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not OBEY THE TRUTH?” (TRUTH TO BE APPLIED, OBEYED!)

So, there must be a Scriptural “linkage” between “believing” and “doing!” 

In fact, one can graph (outline) most any one of Paul’s Epistles that way. In the first half he tells us what to believe about the things of God. In the second half he tells us how to behave (obey) in reference to those things. How to react to them!

To Paul … belief must be balanced by behavior!

To Paul … doctrine must be balanced by duty!

“Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” 

Here the Greek verb “obey” is “peitho,” and it’s translated as such (“obey”) 7 times in the New Testament. What does it mean, “to trust” 8 times. Then “to be confident” 2 times! But 22 times it is translated (in the King James Version) “to persuade!”

It means to believe so deeply, to accept as true, that one is PERSUADED of a given fact! Assured of it in his or her mind!

And comprehension (acceptance) that DEEP always leads to a resultant change in behavior!

If you really believe something … you will act like you believe it!

Enough said!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Does your LIFE match your stated BELIEF?

Does your WALK match your TALK?

Wow!

“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22, the inspired Word of God!

 

Galatians chapter 3 begins with a question. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,” asks the Apostle Paul, using strange language! (Galatians 3:1)

As if someone had cast an evil “spell” on this group of young Christians, had misled them badly!

The vocative “Galatians” merely identifies the “victims” of this scheme. “Gauls” one might nearly say. Gentile inhabitants of a region of the Roman Empire, an entire Province likely! Including the Cities of Lystra and Derbe and Iconium, apparently. See Acts chapter 14 for a description of Evangelist Paul’s original visit to these places. Groups of new Believers in Jesus, they were.

But an adjective is here placed by their name! “Foolish,” spelled “anoetos” in Greek, actually means “no longer thinking!” Once in our King James Bible it is translated “unwise!” 

These Galatians have allowed false teachers to come into their Churches! And lead them astray! Telling them Paul was wrong in “his” way of salvation. That a man must obey the Law of Moses in order to be really saved! (That Jesus alone, His Death on Calvary, is not sufficient!) Indeed, “foolish!”

“Who” are these infiltrators?

We think they are emissaries from Jerusalem, from “James” the leader there, from his “camp.” Galatians 2:12 nearly says so! “For before that certain (men) came from James, he (Peter) did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.” Wow!

But now … let’s notice today’s “main” verb,” translated “bewitched” in the King James Version. The Greek has it “baskaino,” a term used only here in all the Bible, all the New Testament since we’re looking at a Greek word.

My lexicon defines it like this: “to speak ill of one, to slander, traduce him.” That’s certainly what this wicked crowd has done to Paul, belittling him in front of these Galatian (new) converts! Virtually calling Paul a liar!

Isn’t it strange that in order to uplift oneself (that act itself being a bad idea), the devil often temps us to put down (condemn) others?

“Baskaino” also means “to bring evil on one by feigning praise!” Utter flattery, lying to a person for personal gain, by heaping compliment after compliment upon him or her! Falsely doing so, not meaning a word of what’s being said! Buttering them up!

Thus, “to charm” a person!

The verb is an aorist in Greek, the action already being completed! The damage done! Can the Galatians be reclaimed? Paul is wondering that himself.

Well, there’s proof this morning!

If these men and women were truly saved in the first place … and Paul sure thought they were … a genuine believer in Christ Jesus CAN BE DECEIVED! Can be LED ASTRAY! Can be flattered into heresy! 

Oh, let’s be careful!

Do not listen to men!

Let’s God’s Word be your final Authority!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

One line again today, Galatians 2:21b … “For if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”

What?

“THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN?”

Did Paul really think that?

In other words: “If a man can get ‘saved’ by the Law of Moses … then the Death Jesus would not have been a necessity!” 

“For IF righteousness come by the law” … then there are two ways to Heaven! Jesus’ Shed Blood … and perfect obedience to the Law of the Old Testament!

Then, reasons Paul, WHY did our Lord have to suffer like He did?

The verb “vain” (in Greek “dorean”) as used in today’s Text merely means “without a cause!” 

Here’s “dorean” used that way: “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me WITHOUT A CAUSE.” Jesus in John 15:25.

Jesus died “without cause?”

“Dorean” also means “for nought,” for nothing!

Here is the one time our King James Bible utilizes the word that way: “Neither did we (Paul and his ‘team’) eat any man’s bread FOR NOUGHT; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:8

Jesus died “for nought?”

NO WAY!

Jesus’ LOVE GIFT of Himself on Calvary’s Cross … His “attempt” to save us lost sinners … then would have been superfluous! Had the Law of Moses been capable of saving those same lost sinners!

That’s how Paul is thinking here!

But wait a minute!

Jesus once said, preached: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Peter later basically echoed these words: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (than JESUS) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12, very clear!

And Paul, elsewhere? “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28, by faith in Jesus!

Enough has already been said.

THE LAW CAN NOT BRING RIGHTEOUSNESS INTO A HUMAN HEART.

IT CANNOT PUT A MAN INTO GOD’S FAMILY!

NEITHER CAN THE LAW KEEP A SINNER OUT OF HELL!

Only Jesus can do such a Thing as redeem a lost soul!

Glory to His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell