In none of Paul’s Epistles does he “fight” any harder for his people, his converts, than he does in Galatians! Fight for the purity of their faith, I mean. For their orthodoxy, “right belief!”

It is clear that infiltrators have “crept in” those Assemblies (in Galatia), several little Bible-believing Churches! (“Crept in” in Jude’s language!)

Men who say Paul has been “wrong” in his preaching, wrong about the Gospel! That salvation is NOT A GIFT! That Jesus ALONE can NOT save! That the august Law of Moses, obeying it, is the way into God’s good Favor!

And these “Judaizers” have been successful, at least to some degree, in  tragically “turning” the Galatian believers, themselves fairly new converts to Jesus!

Paul has begun to believe his loved ones in Galatia have been “bewitched!”

Or “removed” from faith in Jesus! (That they have now placed their faith elsewhere, “metatithemi” in Greek.)

To “another Gospel,” a false gospel!

They are leaving the true Faith, enough people in number, that Paul has even called them “foolish!” (As in … “have you lost your minds?”)

And by Galatians chapter 4, the great Apostle will finally admit: “I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.” See that concession? “I STAND IN DOUBT OF YOU!”

Wow!

But, and here’s the point of today’s Lesson, it took Paul quite a while to ever “doubt” his little “family” (in the Faith) there in Galatia, that whole area.

He does not “want” to concede defeat to the devil in this vital matter!

Paul is burdened, maybe even pained, over this issue.

Like a mother “in travail” with child! (“My little children, of whom I TRAVAIL IN BIRTH again until Christ be formed in you.” Galatians 4:19)

But now let’s look at today’s Text, Galatians 3:4. (We only discussed the first half of this verse yesterday.) “Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.” 

Notice Paul hopes: “IF IT BE YET IN VAIN!”

Paul does not want to give up!

“Vain” (in Greek “eike”) means “without purpose.”

Almost “to the point of failure!”

Paul may “lose” these fledgling believers … but not “yet!”

He even employs a compound word for “yet!” Three letters in English, and still “compound?” Yes!

A lot must be hinging on Paul’s “yet” here!

It’s (“yet”) spelled “eige” in Greek. A blend of “ei” and “ge,” literally. Four (4) letters in that precise language! Folks, “ei” alone is the word for “if,” but its accompanying “ge” here means “indeed, truly, doubtless!” Very strong!

See it?

Paul is reluctant to “lose” a single soul from any of his Churches!

He wants his “fruit” to “remain!” That was Jesus’ Desire for us too: “That ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your FRUIT should REMAIN.” John 15:16

But how do we apply this tenacity of Paul, this Spirit induced optimism?

DO NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR LOVED ONES, EITHER! THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWN EVIDENCE OF SALVATION … BUT ARE TOTTERING ON THE BRINK OF UNFAITHFULNESS!!!

Keep praying for him!

Talk to her and uplift our Lord every chance you get!

Build that “bridge of communication!” (That’s exactly what Galatians is, the whole Epistle! True, it is also a superb “defense” of the Faith!)

No matter how bad things look, think about them like Paul did about his beloved Galatians … “If it be yet in vain!”

“Lord, give us that kind of hope, we pray.”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Paul has become a veritable “question box!”

And he’s at it again today, in our Bible Study Lesson!

“Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.” Galatians 3:4

Yes, this particular question to the Galatian Christians does teach us something, although indirectly.

They, as a group, had apparently “suffered” (“pascho” in Greek, meaning “to hurt, endure sorrow” … the verb used of Jesus’ Suffering on Calvary) numerous things … for the sake of Christ, for the cause of the Gospel!

Remember, the Roman Province of Galatia was a “rough” area in which to live. (Maybe a little like the old, wild American West in pioneer days!) Even generally speaking “hardships” in life were normal, for everyone. And thus “persecution” for the saints … a clear and present reality!

Paul even suffered in some sense when he was in Galatia preaching. “Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.” Galatians 4:13, an upcoming Lesson, Lord willing. What that “infirmity” was, no one knows for sure.

Galatian Brethren … “Have ye suffered so many things in vain?”

“Vain” means “empty,” or better yet, “without purpose” … in Greek “eike.”

Have you wasted all that pain?

Trials for Jesus’ Sake, for which (if you stay faithful) you will be richly rewarded! (Jesus in Mark 10:29-30 … “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” Wow!)

Or Paul to Timothy, one short line: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” 2 Timothy 2:12

In all four cities of Galatia; Antioch (of Pisidia to distinguish it from Antioch in Syria) and Iconium and Lystra and Derbe … Paul and his company were brutally treated! For preaching the Gospel of the Grace of God … freely offered to lost sinners!

Now we apparently have learned … the Galatian Believers suffered as well. Maybe even after Paul’s departure.

You can read much of this (in more detail) in Acts chapters 13 and 14. (Paul “found” Timothy in Lystra, for example.)

Oh, today’s verse again … “Have ye suffered so many things in vain?”

Are you Galatians willing to just throw it all away, all those tests you passed, all that “gold, silver and precious stone” that you have accrued (and will be given at the Judgment Seat of Christ)?

Throw it away?

Make it vain?

By abdicating from the Gospel of Grace!

And returning to some false Gospel?

What a thought!

More tomorrow, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, IF WE FAINT NOT.” Galatians 6:9, written to these very same Christians, the Galatians! And “fainting” certainly includes “leaving the faith!” Trading Jesus for Moses!

 

Paul is frustrated!

He is such a staunch defender of the Gospel of the Grace of God!

And his congregations (plural, in several cities) in the area of Galatia have been duped into accepting (or are on the verge of doing so) the Law of Moses as an adjunct (integral companion, vital aid) to salvation!

“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” … the great Apostle writes to his converts, asks of them. In Galatians 3:3.

The adjective “foolish” (in Greek “anoetos”) means “not thinking.” It is not an accusation of immorality or filthiness as it often is in the Old Testament. Once in the King James New Testament it is even translated “unwise.” 

But Paul here intensifies the “foolishness” question by adding the adverb “so.” Furthermore, “houtos” is here placed at the head of the sentence, its very first word! This gives it even more gravitas in Greek! More weight!

Then Paul admits something. In his heart he must have believed that the Galatians were genuinely saved! He gives them this much: “… having begun in the Spirit ….” employing the root verb “archo” … from the very first of their Christian lives. In other words, the HOLY SPIRIT birthed them into the family of God!

(Elsewhere in the Epistle to the Galatians Paul seems to have begun wondering if many of the believers there in Galatia were really born-again! “I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; FOR I STAND IN DOUBT OF YOU.” Galatians 4:20)

Wow!

Sounds like Paul is sure of this fact! THE HOLY SPIRIT (THE GODHEAD) WHO SAVED US … YES, HE IS GOD … IS NOT GOING TO LATER TURN US OVER TO MOSES, TO THE LAW, TO HELP US GROW IN CHRIST JESUS!

We Christians (of course) do not mock the Law, but it is not our rule of thumb either. The Holy Spirit is our Law … since we have come to Christ! (In Romans 8:2 Paul actually mentions “the LAW of the SPIRIT OF LIFE” … that’s Him!)

Back to our Text, its last clause: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, ARE YE NOW MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH?” 

Astounding logic!

Paul now equates the Law, Moses’ alone, with the “flesh!”

Because the Law puts emphasis on the externals … shows on the outside, human behavior. That’s how Pharisee-ism became so dangerous! In the area of the flesh!

But the Holy Spirit puts emphasis on the inside! The human heart! And NOT primarily the flesh!

“Are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

The verb “made perfect” is “epiteleo.” Meaning “having come to maturity!” Having “accomplished one’s goal!” Or just “finished, accomplished, performed!”

The question, as asked, obviously begs for a negative answer!

No … only the Same Holy Spirit Who put us into the family of God, by Grace through faith … can make us perfect, “mature” us, in the things of God! 

Is the Law bad?

Paul is not saying such.

But the Law cannot saved a lost soul.

And the Law cannot bring to maturity a fledgling Christian either! 

I guess this Saturday morning in May we had best be praising God for His “Amazing Grace!”

This Saturday morning, May 26, 2018 … my 72nd Birthday in fact!

The Holy Spirit, God in us!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

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